Disclaimer: *insert professional-sounding disclaimer here*
*cough*
I'm simply FANFICTIONing. If I did own them, Cloud would be one insanely miserable sex slave puppet for good ol' Sephiroth and I'd thoroughly enjoy every millisecond of it whilst apologizing to Cloud for the unfair, crude, sexual treatments.
Prologue
"I will… never be a memory."
Cloud kept his face and mind blank as he stared up at the man wrapped in his own black, one wing. The vast darkness that had enveloped The Planet was now lifting fast, revealing the bright sky – a stark contrast to just seconds ago when his enemy had the upper hand. The dissembled swords plummeted from the sky with smoky, trailing blue lights and drove easily into the metal flooring, surrounding him like a rain of shrapnel. First Ken's red hilt landed powerfully in his readied hand.
Black feathers drifted aloft one by one as if plucked by an imaginary draft to uncover the young, silver-haired remnant who remained afloat for a short moment before dropping from on high. Cloud caught the misguided youth and laid him before Cloud.
Yes, once upon a time, I was also a puppet, Cloud inwardly agreed as the sudden downpour of healing rain dripped down his face and pelted onto Kadaj's. Like me, your importance was only a stepping stone.
"M… mother?" Kadaj's eyes wandered searchingly.
As if seeing someone, he reached toward the sky. The curative rain was now literally disintegrating him into nothing, starting from the tips of his outstretched hand. Cloud remained silent. It was depressing to watch another person yearn for a sense of belonging and desire to be cherished. They were emotions he was well acquainted with. His heart squeezed tightly for a brief second before he stood. Kadaj had vanished into nothing. The rain water felt cool and refreshing as it pelted the blood off his cheeks.
Aeris…
He could feel her presence in each drop of rain. They were telling him that he had done a good job and everything was going to be all right from there on. The thought of her usual cheerful self brought a faint smile to his lips before a thunderous clap jerked his body forward and stole him from the serene reverie. His chest hurt. Cloud whirled around to find the other two remnants, materia stacked in their arms and fighting to remain materialized, guns raised.
"Let us… all go together…" Yazoo struggled alongside Loz.
It's me, or them. Now, or never. Sephiroth, or the world. Cloud tightened his grip on First Ken and charged the two men. He lept furiously toward the two and their guns went off. He swiped his blade cleanly across both bullets, splitting them into halves. The brothers were now clearly at a disadvantage, not having anticipated Cloud's reaction and had lowered their guards. Both blinked tiredly as Cloud cut horizontally through both. Their bodies swayed like liquid water when the blade sliced through, then like Kadaj, dispersed. The ammunition exploded around them, and Cloud found himself melting away with the brothers, falling into one last peaceful haze. He imagined that if Aeris hadn't sent the rain which had called the remnants home, he would have been done for.
But what difference would it have made? I'm done in, regardless. I'm tired. And weak. And dying would be the rest I long for.
A warm and loving feeling touched his forehead. Relief and the feel of unconditional love flooded his senses. The large imaginary boulders he had been carrying on his shoulders felt magically lifted. It felt like… home. He parted his lips.
"Mother…?"
"Again? Why is everyone calling me 'mother' lately?"
"I guess they must be fond of you."
"This one's a little too big to adopt."
"Tough luck, friend. Sounds like you don't belong here."
The sound of water rippling from afar gradually became louder and the faint sound of children playing drifted into his ears. Cloud blinked his eyes wide. Several of Edge's children were looking onto him with their hands placed gently over his sides. Feeling slightly abashed, Cloud allowed his drifting log-like form to stand upright in the waist high waters of the slum church. Familiar voices carried over and he spun around to find his friends cheering from the sidelines as children danced and played around the water. He took small steps toward Denzel and brought him down into the water gently, cupping two hands full of the purifying liquid and drizzled it slowly over the boy's head. Denzel was a bit startled but relaxed and peered at his reflection below. Sure enough, the Geo-Stigma evaporated from his forehead behind his soft brown side-swept bangs.
Cheers resounded in the broken church as Cloud's eyes surveyed his surroundings. Everyone seemed relieved and excited. Smiles adorned all of their faces. He wanted to smile from the bottom of his heart too, but something made him feel anxious. Something didn't quite feel right… His eyes travelled to the entrance of the building and his heart lept. The figure was walking away, but there was no mistaking that gait, those clothes or the long, silver hair.