Chapter Text
Space was cold.
All seven wings flapped slowly, just enough to propel their owner forward in the vastness he was now lost in. He didn't dare go fast, not when he didn't know where he was going. Where was Earth? More to the point, where was his Earth? This galaxy really did not look like the one he had studied after their arrival there. He didn't see any of the planets he recognized. Maybe the void had opened into yet another dimension.
He definitely saw planets, however. This universe, wherever it was, seemed to have more planets than the Milky Way—big ones and so many little ones. Was this the galaxy where Gaia was? That madman had been trying to open a portal between Earth and Gaia. Perhaps he had succeeded at least to the point of getting the correct galaxy.
He had better stop somewhere and ask for directions.
With that decision made, he flew down to the nearest planet—a smaller one, yet one that resembled Earth from space, at least. As he entered the atmosphere, beautiful blue canyons were visible just outside of a bustling town. This really didn't look anything like Earth. But he was here now, so he might as well stay and learn. Hopefully they would at least know how to get to Earth.
What if they didn't even believe in life on other planets, which was how both Earth and Gaia were?
Well, then they were about to get a crash course in the truth.
He glided to a graceful stop just at the edge of town, all seven wings majestically spread. But before he could pick a road to travel, a long sword was suddenly held across his neck from the side.
"Well, well. You certainly know how to make an entrance. I'm impressed."
The voice stabbed him in the heart. What on any planet?! It was his own voice.
"Who are you?!" he demanded.
The sword was withdrawn and the speaker stepped into his view. This man's wings were blue and not black and white, and his coat had a red hem and bizarre bat wings on the sleeves, but he was clearly recognizable as another Sephiroth. The hair was just as long and silver, the eyes green . . . but wait, the pupils were normal, not cat-like. The bangs were much shorter, only to his chin and not halfway down his chest. But he was the same height and looked to be as muscular. Was he as strong?
He gave a grim smirk. "I think we can each clearly see who the other is. Don't you?"
Gaia Sephiroth grunted. Indeed, he doubted anyone other than another him could have got the drop on him so easily. But it was still surreal. "Then you are the Sephiroth of this dimension?" He looked around. "This looks nothing like either of the planets I have called home."
"This is Radiant Garden," the second Sephiroth answered. "I have always believed I am the Sephiroth of this dimension, at least." Still smirking. "What are your homeworlds like?"
"They are very similar to each other in terrain and flora, although the fauna is very different in some respects," Gaia Sephiroth said.
"You talk like a scientist," Radiant Garden Sephiroth remarked.
"I was raised by scientists," Gaia Sephiroth said, his voice darkening a bit.
R.G. Sephiroth's eyes flickered. That meant something to him. "I see," he said quietly.
"The first world I called home was Gaia. The second is Earth. I am trying to return there. Do you know the way?" Gaia Sephiroth studied his counterpart, still somewhat wary. This other him was the same and yet different. He hadn't quite put his finger on the particulars yet.
"Unfortunately, you must be in the wrong dimension," R.G. Sephiroth said. "In this world, Earth has been split into many smaller worlds, including this one. None of them, however, are actually called Earth, to my knowledge."
Gaia Sephiroth's stomach dropped. Not only was it the wrong dimension, but it must be one he had never been in before. This was most likely not the dimension where Gaia was, not when the Sephiroth of this dimension lived here.
"Then . . . what should I do to return home?" he asked.
"Can you make portals?" R.G. Sephiroth queried.
"Yes, but I need to know the coordinates before I can successfully open a portal to a specific place," Gaia Sephiroth said.
"Making a portal is still your best bet for getting home," R.G. Sephiroth said. "If you concentrate on thinking of the place you want to go, the correct portal may open even without knowing the coordinates."
"I see," Gaia Sephiroth frowned. Concentrating hard, he thought of Cloud, of Zack, and the world they were on. A portal started to open in front of him.
R.G. Sephiroth walked forward to peer curiously into the hole in space. His wings twitched. "I don't think that is your world," he remarked.
Gaia Sephiroth went over beside him, looking through at the image beyond. A third Sephiroth was talking to Cloud inside the Shinra building, arms outstretched. "Embrace me."
This Cloud stared at him for a long moment and then lunged with the buster sword.
The portal snapped shut. Gaia Sephiroth rocked back, not even sure what to make of what they had just seen.
R.G. Sephiroth smirked at him. "That Sephiroth seemed to be having fun, at least."
Gaia Sephiroth facepalmed. ". . . Is it true then?" he wondered, opting not to address the specific scene they had intruded on. "There are many dimensions, many worlds?" Many hims?
"Countless," R.G. Sephiroth said. "Although I must admit, I've never met another me before. Now suddenly I've seen two more within the space of five minutes. I wonder if that's a new record."
Gaia Sephiroth suddenly realized he was red. He scowled. "Do you have a Cloud here?"
"Of course," R.G. Sephiroth said. "Here he comes, in fact."
Gaia Sephiroth turned to look . . . and then stared. This Cloud was wearing something that looked like Vincent's cloak over his dark clothes. Most shocking of all, a bat wing protruded from his left shoulder. He gripped a buster sword bizarrely wrapped in bandages as he approached the scene, eyeing both Sephiroths in wary disbelief. "What's going on here?"
R.G. Sephiroth smirked more. "You have quite a treat, Cloud—two of me to enjoy your company. And we just saw a third through a portal who was even more overt than I am."
Gaia Sephiroth gawked at him. In one way it was similar to things he had said to Cloud in his insanity, but it was different as well. He had spoke in all sincerity, while this one was clearly teasing.
At least, he thought the other was teasing.
Cloud stopped walking and just rolled his eyes. "What are you talking about?"
"This Sephiroth is trying to get home," R.G. Sephiroth said, gesturing at Gaia Sephiroth. "He stopped by to ask for directions." A very casual way of saying he had just entered the atmosphere from outer space, to be sure. "He tried opening a portal and instead we discovered another dimension. The me in that world wanted his Cloud to embrace him. His Cloud wasn't thrilled with the prospect." More smirking. "But oh well, maybe he'll come around later."
"Ugh." Cloud shook his head and looked overwhelmed.
". . . Is he always like this?" Gaia Sephiroth couldn't refrain from asking.
"You're not?" Cloud replied.
"No, not really." Gaia Sephiroth frowned. It was hard to picture himself talking so flirtatiously with Cloud, especially as a joke. Now that he was sane again and the weight of his sins was on him, he surely wouldn't dare. He was too awed and humbled by the fact that Cloud cared about him at all. He rarely even made jokes anyway, aside from a few well-placed sarcastic cracks.
. . . That was what was different. This Sephiroth was sane, but he didn't have that weight on him. He was at peace.
Cloud looked curious now. "So where're you from, anyway?"
"I am originally from Gaia," was the reply. "Right now I live on Earth. My Earth looks far different from yours, however." He glanced around. "My Earth has red rocks, not blue."
"And it's probably not broken in pieces," R.G. Sephiroth remarked, finally serious again.
"It's not," Gaia Sephiroth agreed.
He suddenly realized Cloud was staring at his wings. ". . . What is it?" he asked.
"Seven?!" Cloud said in disbelief. "How do you have enough time to take care of them all?!"
"He wonders that enough about me with my three," R.G. Sephiroth smirked, folding his arms.
"I don't keep my wings out all the time," Gaia Sephiroth explained. "Usually they're all retracted."
R.G. Sephiroth looked shocked at this. "You don't even keep one out?!"
"Not usually," Gaia Sephiroth said. "You do?"
"Of course. My top wing doesn't retract, but even if it could, I doubt I would ever use that function," R.G. Sephiroth said. "I rarely ever retract the lower two. I can't imagine living without any wings at all. I don't even want to think about it."
Another very glaring difference. Sephiroth hadn't even liked his original wing for a long time. But he hadcome to like it, even deciding to create six more wings for himself in his insanity.
"What's your Cloud think of all the feathers everywhere?" Cloud had to ask.
". . . I don't believe he's ever said," Gaia Sephiroth said.
"Well, he must certainly be more easy-going than mine," R.G. Sephiroth smirked. "Or more quiet."
"He's not really quiet," Gaia Sephiroth said. "If he doesn't like something, I always know."
"I used to hate finding feathers all over the place," Cloud admitted. "They'd get stuck in everything." He finally smiled. "But I don't mind it now."
"What changed?" Gaia Sephiroth asked.
"I thought my Sephiroth was dead a while back," Cloud explained. "I couldn't take that. Finding more feathers means he's okay."
Gaia Sephiroth smiled a bit. It was good to see they were on pleasant terms here. He hadn't been sure.
"As long as you're here, why don't you come back with us for a meal before you resume your journey?" R.G. Sephiroth offered. "I know Zack would love to meet you."
Another, fonder smile. "You have a Zack as well," Gaia Sephiroth said.
"Of course," R.G. Sephiroth said.
"I would like to meet him," Gaia Sephiroth said. "But perhaps first I should do this." A glow surrounded him and the wings vanished, replaced by his normal black clothes. "I'll be creating enough of a scene as it is if people see we look alike."
R.G. Sephiroth looked him up and down and shook his head. "No," he remarked. "I don't like the idea of not having wings at all."
". . . If I may ask, does everyone here have wings?" Gaia Sephiroth eyed Cloud's bat wing again.
"No," Cloud said. "Just us, as far as we know. It's a long story."
They headed home together, with Gaia Sephiroth's new friends telling him of their homeworld and creatures called Heartless and hearts so powerful they could create wings along the way.
Gaia Sephiroth was stunned and amazed. So much to learn and get used to!
"Do all hearts have such powers?" he asked.
"Only the strongest," R.G. Sephiroth said. "There are mad scientists who try to research hearts and their abilities, but that never goes well for anyone involved."
"Mad scientists' research always tends to go poorly," Gaia Sephiroth grunted.
"It's led to this world no longer having a ruler," R.G. Sephiroth remarked. "We're still rebuilding from the Heartless attacks and don't yet know what we're going to do about that."
"Strange," Gaia Sephiroth remarked. "In my original world, a corrupt company was the closest thing to a ruler they had. Now that it's been dismantled, most of the world is also ruler-less, to my knowledge."
"An odd coincidence that we have that in common," R.G. Sephiroth said.
When they arrived at the house on the hill, the front door was swiftly flung open. "Cloud! Seph! . . . Seph?" Zack stopped, blinking in bewilderment as he really took in the sight of two Sephs.
"He's visiting," R.G. Sephiroth explained.
Gaia Sephiroth nodded. "I'm trying to find my way home. It's . . . a long story."
Zack beamed. "The more Sephs, the merrier! Come on in!" He tugged on both Sephs' hands.
Gaia Sephiroth was amused and touched both. Zack was Zack, no matter the dimension.
The meal was delicious and Zack was the life of the party, as always—asking plenty of questions about the new Seph as well as volunteering a lot of information about him and his Seph and Cloud. Gaia Sephiroth answered as best as he could while tactfully sidestepping the more awkward information. Going insane and trying to blow up a planet was hardly what he wanted to share around the dinner table. Or at all, really.
After the meal, however, while Zack recruited Cloud to help with the dishes, R.G, Sephiroth led his counterpart into the living room and then down the hall to the den.
"We can tell you're sorrowing about something," he said quietly. "Something in addition to missing your home and your loved ones. Zack wanted me to ask you, and I am wondering myself. I won't pry, but if there is anything you would like to talk about or share . . ."
Gaia Sephiroth sighed. ". . . You seem so happy," he remarked. "Not just to have this peaceful life with Cloud and Zack, but also . . . I noticed the photographs on the walls. You grew up normally with loving parents. It looked like you even chose to become a hero instead of having it forced on you, as I did."
"Yes, I did," R. G. Sephiroth said. "When you mentioned being raised by scientists, I was afraid you had not experienced that same love. I didn't want to ask about it. I know my life might have been much the same as yours if my birth mother hadn't removed me from the same situation and taken me to loving adoptive parents."
Gaia Sephiroth stared at him. "She did?!"
"Yes. And while I think of my adopted parents as my real parents, I will always be grateful to her for what she did," R.G. Sephiroth replied.
Gaia Sephiroth nodded, unable to conceal the longing in his eyes. What if his birth mother had done the same? Why hadn't she? Why couldn't he have had the same happiness?
He sighed heavily. "If only an unhappy childhood was my only sorrow," he said. "I continued to cling to some level of hope even after I was forced into the role of a hero. I wanted to use that to protect people. But when I learned as an adult that I had been groomed to be the perfect monster, I . . ." He choked on his next words. "I lost my mind and became that monster. I massacred Cloud's hometown and later tried repeatedly to destroy the planet."
Now R.G. Sephiroth was the one staring. It was hard to say if his expression showed more horror, disbelief, or outrage. But then the look faded, replaced by kind and sad understanding.
"It seems we are fated to cause heartache and sorrow, no matter our dimension," he said. "In the past, I became bent on finding a solution to the Heartless problem. I believed seeking out a particular artifact was the key. Zack repeatedly tried to warn me, but I foolishly refused to listen. And when I finally found the object I sought . . . it took me over. I also started massacring, not just Heartless, but humans as well. Zack tried to stop me, but he could not break the spell. It was only when the Heartless drove him to a cliff and he fell that I . . . came back to myself."
Gaia Sephiroth was in horror now, thinking both about the anguish of this experience and the agony of when he had thought his Zack dead in the same manner. At least in his case, however, he didn't have to think or know that it was his fault Zack had fallen. He wasn't sure he could have taken that.
"But . . . Zack was alright?" he cautiously asked.
"I didn't find him for years," R.G. Sephiroth said. "I knew he was likely dead, but I couldn't bring myself to believe it. I kept searching. Finally, not long ago, he came back. He had amnesia, but somehow he still remembered me and Cloud enough to come home when he saw my picture in the paper. It's . . . a long story. He remembers everything now, thankfully, and he has forgiven me wholeheartedly, even though I don't understand how he possibly can."
"I don't understand how my Zack has forgiven me either," Gaia Sephiroth said. "Or Cloud. It took a very long time with Cloud, but by now we couldn't be closer."
R.G. Sephiroth nodded. "It also took years for my Cloud to forgive me and acknowledge that he loves me. We haven't been living together as a family that long, really.
"I'm strong enough now that nothing can ever take me over again. I can even control the Heartless. But all of that power came too late. I will always be haunted by what happened that day at the cliffs. That Zack is alright is a true miracle."
"It is," Gaia Sephiroth agreed. "I am very happy for you. For all of you."
"And I am happy for you that even with such a weight on you, you have loved ones waiting for you," R.G. Sephiroth said. "Perhaps Merlin could help you get home."
"Merlin?" Gaia Sephiroth repeated.
A nod. "A great wizard. He loves using portals as well. I'll take you to him."
"Thank you," Gaia Sephiroth said with cautious hope.
"Do you want to walk . . . or fly?" R.G. Sephiroth smirked a bit. "I've never flown with another version of myself before. The thought intrigues me."
Gaia Sephiroth finally smirked as well. "We can fly," he agreed.
He had to admit it was an interesting journey. He had never before flown with anyone, really. In SOLDIER, Genesis had been too bitter and angry and Angeal hadn't known about the wing. And now, well, he hadn't ever asked Angeal to fly with him. Spreading all his wings and just soaring while his counterpart was clearly enjoying every moment . . . yes, this was something he had never experienced. He had only flown for necessary reasons, or reasons he deemed necessary. He hadn't even ever considered flying for fun.
After a while, R.G. Sephiroth came alongside him with a pleased smirk. "You like it, don't you?"
"I do," Gaia Sephiroth admitted. "I never realized it could make me feel so . . . free."
"Try it when you get home," R.G. Sephiroth encouraged. "Perhaps take Cloud or Zack with you."
"My Cloud doesn't have wings," Gaia Sephiroth said. "Nor does Zack."
"Then take them up in your arms if they're not opposed to that," R.G. Sephiroth said, still smirking.
Gaia Sephiroth had to smirk too. "Zack would be fine with it. Cloud . . . would be embarrassed and awkward, but at this point I believe he would like it as well." And the idea sounded nice, really. He would like to share this newfound freedom in flight that he was discovering.
Seeing that he appreciated the idea, R.G. Sephiroth was further pleased. "We're coming up on Merlin's house now," he said. "I see Leon on the porch." He flew lower.
Gaia Sephiroth did as well, and then started as Leon came into view. "Squall?!"
Leon looked up with a jerk. "You know I don't go by that name anymore," he said. "Sephiroth, what . . . .?!" And he trailed off, staring as two Sephiroths landed in the front yard.
"Iknow," R.G. Sephiroth deadpanned. "This one doesn't. He's visiting from another dimension. I brought him to see if Merlin can help him get home."
Leon looked the newcomer up and down. "So you know some other version of me?" He looked wary, confused.
"Apparently so," Gaia Sephiroth said. "You've never been to World B, have you?"
Leon shook his head. "No. Never. What is it?"
"It's a world where the gods pull fighters from other realms against their will to fight for them," Gaia Sephiroth said.
Leon scoffed. "Sounds like a pain."
Gaia Sephiroth smirked grimly at that. "It is. But good came of it." It had been his first step on the road to recovering his sanity, so he couldn't ever look at the experience with contempt—even though he still didn't agree with the gods' methods of conducting their wars.
At that moment, the door opened and an old man with an incredibly long beard appeared. "Well, what's all the hubbub . . . ?! My stars, Sephiroth, what did you do?! Don't tell me you used a duplicating spell!" He stared in indignant shock.
"Of course not," R.G. Sephiroth retorted in mild annoyance. "This is a me from another dimension. I thought you might know how to get him home."
"Oh." Merlin relaxed. "Oh, why of course! I can see you're both different now. Come in and we'll see what we can do!" He gestured to the open doorway.
Gaia Sephiroth went up the steps in relief. "Thank you. I hate to impose, but I need to get back."
"Of course! Your Zack and Cloud will be worried, no doubt!" Merlin said.
Gaia Sephiroth had to smile-smirk that Merlin took it for granted he would have a Zack and Cloud. "They are," he agreed.
"Well, how on Earth did you end up here?" Merlin asked.
"It's a long story," Gaia Sephiroth replied. "Basically I fell into a void fighting an enemy of ours and I came out in this universe. I've been traveling for quite some time."
Merlin paused and looked at him. "Through outer space?!"
"Yes, that's right," Gaia Sephiroth said.
"And without a ship?!" Merlin shook his head. "Your powers must be unheard-of, almost like the Mt. Olympus gods!"
"I'm just a man," Gaia Sephiroth said awkwardly. How ironic indeed.
"Of course, of course," Merlin said. "Well, hmm. Where are you trying to get back to?"
"Another version of Earth," Gaia Sephiroth replied.
Merlin sighed. "There are so many Earths, I'm afraid. Tell me more about it and I'll try to pin it down."
Gaia Sephiroth wasn't sure how long he spent describing his Earth and everything he felt was a unique feature about it, as well as Gaia when asked. Merlin listened, making notes on his computer, and finally leaned back with a frown.
"It's bad?" Gaia Sephiroth frowned, his heart sinking.
"No . . . it's just . . . I'm still not sure which Earth is yours," Merlin admitted. "It may be one I haven't even documented yet! It will take me some time going over all of this. Maybe I'll have Leon help me."
"How long do you think it will take?" Gaia Sephiroth asked.
"Come back tomorrow," Merlin said. "I should have it all sorted out by then!"
R.G. Sephiroth nodded. "You can come back with me tonight," he said. "We have room."
"Thank you," Gaia Sephiroth said. He had been prepared to ask for a hotel, but it was nice to know he wouldn't have to.
As they headed out of the room, he nearly walked right into Cid, who stopped and stared in shock. "There's two of you now?! What the heck?!"
"I'm from a different dimension," Gaia Sephiroth grunted.
R.G. Sephiroth nodded. "Ask Merlin about it," he added.
"Well, whatever," Cid snorted. "Are you plannin' to hang around here?"
"I need to get home," Gaia Sephiroth retorted.
"Good! It'd be way too confusing to have two of you around!" Cid said. "How would Cloud even figure out which one is his?"
"Oh, I'd be sure to let him know," R.G. Sephiroth smirked.
Gaia Sephiroth waited to comment again until they were outside. "Your interaction with Cloud is . . . interesting," he said.
"Not what you expected, though?" R.G. Sephiroth surmised.
"No, not quite," Gaia Sephiroth said. "Do you . . . have feelings for him?"
"I have plenty," R.G. Sephiroth said with a wicked smirk. "But not the way you mean. I'm just kidding with him. He knows that. He used to react much more strongly, but now that he knows I truly care about him and he feels the same, it doesn't really bother him anymore."
Gaia Sephiroth slowly nodded. "I see."
"If I may ask, what is your interaction with him like?"
"Usually much more serious," Gaia Sephiroth said. "I make some sarcastic comments but otherwise don't joke much anymore. I feel . . . astonished that he can love me after everything I did."
R.G. Sephiroth sobered. "I understand. Had we been through the same as you, our interaction might be similar."
Gaia Sephiroth nodded. "When I was insane, I teased him sometimes but was completely sincere if I spoke of my feelings. I don't know how he would take it if I teased as you do."
"You should do what works best for you," R.G. Sephiroth said. "While we are in some ways the same, in others we are very different. We have separate souls."
"Yes, that's true," Gaia Sephiroth said.
"When you get home, will you tell him about us?" R.G. Sephiroth asked.
"I'm sure I will," Gaia Sephiroth answered.
"Then perhaps, if you want, you might also ask how he would feel about such interactions," R.G. Sephiroth said.
"I might," Gaia Sephiroth acknowledged with a nod. Although he was quite sure his Cloud would not know what to make of such a shift in personality from him. He wasn't sure hewould know what to make of it.
"Or perhaps not, if you'd rather not," R.G. Sephiroth mused.
"We'll see, I suppose," Gaia Sephiroth said.
It was strange and surreal, to be in a house owned by another version of himself. Gaia Sephiroth had been told he was welcome to take a shower if he wanted, and he had gratefully accepted. The available shampoo and conditioner wasn't his usual variety, but it was close enough. He showered and spent time drying his hair while visiting more with his new friends. They regaled him with the very strange story of how Cloud had believed the R.G. Sephiroth was literally the physical manifestation of his darkness, and how eventually they had begun to grow close in spite of that and finally were able to move past it.
Even with all the Gaia Sephiroth had seen, and with knowing of the power of hearts in this universe, this was a very odd thing to him. It was almost incomprehensible to him that anyone could believe another person was actually a part of themselves. Still, he appreciated that they were sharing all of this with him, and he was happy to hear of how they had become a family with Zack.
When his hair was at last dry, he laid down in a guest bedroom intending to sleep, but his mind was still far too strongly awake.
"What are you doing tonight, Cloud? Zack?" he whispered. "I've tried to let you know I'm alright, but have any of my messages made it through?" He doubted it. Cloud was probably desperately sending through their bond, still trying to contact him, and he certainly hadn't received any communications.
Would he ever even make it home? Merlin might not find the right Earth. He would never give up; he would open portal after portal to find the way home.
What if he stumbled into a dimension like that strange one from earlier that day? If that Sephiroth and Cloud were in the middle of the events leading up to Meteor, him barging in could be disastrous.
He sighed and closed his eyes. No matter what happened, somehow he would get back to where he belonged. He had to.
The following morning, Zack prepared a delicious breakfast and all of them shared it before it was time to see Merlin.
"So, what're you gonna do if Merlin hasn't found your Earth, Seph?" Zack asked in concern.
"I will try again on my own," Gaia Sephiroth replied. "I can't stay here. You've all been more than kind, but I have to get back."
"I understand completely," R.G. Sephiroth said. "That's how I felt when I was apart from these two and I was thought dead."
Cloud nodded. "Yeah. You definitely need to get back as soon as you can. But they'll understand if it's just not that easy."
"They no doubt think I'mdead," Gaia Sephiroth said. "I can't bear for them to suffer."
"When something like this happens, it's agonizing for all concerned," R.G. Sephiroth agreed.
After the meal, Gaia Sephiroth prepared to leave with R. G. Sephiroth. Zack smiled encouragingly at him. "Good luck!" he said with a thumbs-up.
"Thank you," Gaia Sephiroth smiled.
"Hey, drop us a line if you can!" Zack chirped. "We'd love to know you got back safe and just hang out with you and your Cloud and Zack!"
"I'll keep your coordinates in mind," Gaia Sephiroth said. "I'm glad to know there's a friendly place so far from home."
Cloud nodded. "Sure." He smiled a bit.
The second flight was also enjoyable, just as yesterday's had been. But when they landed at Merlin's, the wizard was standing on the porch and looked regretful. "Oh, Sephiroth," he said. "I'm afraid I still haven't found your Earth! There's just so many to go through and even this computer Cid swears by hasn't been able to pinpoint the right one!"
Gaia Sephiroth sighed. "It's alright. Thank you for trying. I will just go back to looking myself."
"I did find one thing!" Merlin added. "It might not help, but it's the coordinates for what I believe is the universe you originally hailed from!"
Gaia Sephiroth perked up at that. "Really?" If worse came to worse, perhaps he could return to Gaia and search for a portal to his Earth.
Merlin nodded. "I went and looked myself this morning. I landed on a planet with another Leon and he remembered you when I asked!"
Hope washed over Gaia Sephiroth. "Thank you so much," he said. "I'll continue my search there."
Merlin smiled. "I'm glad I could do some good!" he said as he handed over the printout of the coordinates for that universe.
"Good luck," R.G. Sephiroth told him.
Gaia Sephiroth nodded in acknowledgment. "Although I wish the circumstances were different, I'm glad I met you . . . all of you." He began to open a portal.
"It was enlightening," R.G. Sephiroth agreed. "I would like to meet your Cloud and Zack someday."
"I know they will be interested in visiting," Gaia Sephiroth said.
"Goodbye, Sephiroth!" Merlin said. "And remember, we're always just a portal away!"
"I will," Gaia Sephiroth smiled as he stepped through the portal and into the next leg of his adventure.