I don't own anything from FFVII or FFXIII-2

I never thought that Cloud would survive the past few onslaughts. Oh well, more fun for me. I constantly slashed at the blonde boy, but he became a little more determined than before to beat me. We clashed swords and I decided to play mind tricks on him.
"Tell me what you cherish most. Give me the pleasure of taking it away." I taunted him. I smirked as I noticed his grip on his blade weaken.
"You already have. Now, it's my turn to take what you cherish." Cloud replied. I was surprised by his reply. I pulled Masamune away and he landed on the ground. I then plunged to the earth and landed on my own two feet, unlike Cloud who landed on his knees. He got up and pointed his fusion blade at me.
"I don't cherish anything." I retorted and tried to strike him with Octaslash. He blocked almost every blow and then stood at a distance from me.
"What about your girlfriend from high school?" he asked with a sly smile. He remembered her.
"I thought I killed her." I replied, hoping he was referring to Aerith.
"Wrong one." He said. I tried not to make it look like it fazed me, but I was getting a little anxious.

"What are you talking about?" I asked in reply.
"Oh, I don't know... Lightning." He replied.
"Who?" I questioned. He shook his head at me. "
You're lying. You know perfectly well who I'm talking about. The girl who you took to prom. The girl who had to move back to her hometown after your senior year. Claire Farron or Lightning as she liked to be called." Cloud replied. My pulse raced. Alright, he knew me better than I thought he did. But I wasn't going to let this little blonde haired, blue eyed puppet turn my mind tricks back onto me.

He picked up his blade and the fight began again. He began to slash at me and I failed to block his blows on a number of occasions. I never realised how much bringing up memories of her would throw me off. Cloud slashed at me multiple times and I couldn't keep up with his attacks. I saw my life flash before my eyes once again as Cloud dealt the final blow. I felt the Lifestream pull me outside the planet once more.

I woke up on a dark beach with a large building in the background. I stayed on the ground and observed the sky. A white dragon was being chased by a bigger black dragon overhead. I watched the beasts duel. The white one seemed to be winning, but only just. A figure jumped from the white dragon's back and landed on the ground before me. The figure wore a silver armour and had white feathers falling down the right hip like a ray of light. I stood up and came face to face with the knight in shimmering armour. Her ice blue eyes tore my heart in two. Her hair fell down one side of her face like a pink waterfall. Her refined eyebrows showed every confused muscle in her face. Her lips were perfectly shaped, just like I remembered them. She stared at me with disbelief.
"Lightning?" I asked and she smiled at me. Then, a man with purple hair dropped in front of her and drew his blade.
"Caius?" I asked aloud. A thud sounded behind me. I turned to find that blonde puppet point his blade at me.
"Cloud?" I asked in surprise. He ran right through me and lunged at the same time Caius did at Lightning. Suddenly, my vision went black.

There was shouting and guns blazing. The shriek of monsters and the war cries of humans filled the air. I awoke on a beach surrounded by a war between man and beast. There were people with guns, but there was also a pink haired girl with a bow blade and a brown haired boy with two blades. I instantly recognised the girl. It was Serah. I never expected a girl like her to take up a weapon. I got up and when I turned, a little bug type monster tried to pounce on me. I whipped Masamune around and decapitated the bug. A group of the bug type monsters flocked to me. I held Masamune out in challenge and struck the bugs down within one fell swoop. Serah turned around and gasped. I put Masamune down. Her bow became a little moogle and she stared at it in wonder.
"I'm Mog, kupo." The moogle replied.
"I'm Noel. Who might you be?" Noel asked.
"I'm Sephiroth." I replied. Serah giggled.
"You haven't changed since high school." She chuckled. I shook my head at the cheeky pink haired girl. She smiled at me and then Mog hid behind her.
"He scares me, kupo!" Mog exclaimed. Serah glared at Mog.
"Don't worry, I get that a lot." I replied with a half smile.

"What is this place?" I asked and looked around. I saw Cocoon being held up by a crystal pillar and then looked at my surroundings. It was a beach, similar to Costa del Sol but nothing like Bodhum.
"This is New Bodhum." Serah replied. I turned back to Cocoon and then back to Serah.
"What happened to Bodhum?" I asked.
"Long story short, Cocoon fell and Gran Pulse had been renamed the New Cocoon." Serah replied. A blue haired boy ran up to us and stared at Noel, Mog and I as if we were aliens.
"Hey Serah! You ok?" the boy asked.
"I'm fine Yuj." Serah replied with a smile. They brought us into a big hall looking building. Noel explained how he got there and he also explained his situation to us. He was told by Lightning to bring Serah to Valhalla and to change the timeline. That must have been the dark city she fought Caius and Cloud in.

"So, what do we do?" Serah asked.
"We change the future." Noel replied.
"Isn't that dangerous?" I asked.
"Could be." Noel replied.
"Right, so where do we find an artefact?" Serah asked.
"An artefact is an item not from this time or place, kupo." Mog replied.
"You're not leaving yet. Rest up and then start looking." The man named Gadot said. Serah went into her bedroom with Mog. The NORA members headed to bed. Noel laid down on one of the tables and I got comfy on a couch. Noel started snoring within seven minutes and I found it really hard to close my eyes. The beasts howled into the night and cats meowed loudly. New Cocoon wasn't a very quiet place to sleep. Suddenly, I heard a familiar song play in my mind. It was one that I usually heard Lightning playing when Genesis, Angeal, Lightning and I stayed at her Bodhum house back in high school. 'A Prayer for You' was a song written by Storm Blade's lead singer for his daughter, Claire. The lyrics waltzed around in my mind as finally closed my eyes to sleep.

I felt something try to burrow into my chest. The song still played over and over again. I must still be mad. I opened my eyes slowly. I heard a sigh and then looked down towards my chest. Lightning was sleeping against my chest. I smiled and then kissed her head. She stirred and then snuggled in closer. I chuckled quietly, but Lightning woke up.
"Hello, sleepy head." I chuckled. She kissed my cheek and then pressed her lips against mine. Her lips were warm and soft, just like I remembered them. She released my lips from hers and then cuddled me. I could feel her heartbeat from underneath her armour. Then, I realised that I forgot to give her something when she left for Bodhum after high school.

"Hey Claire?" I asked.
"What's up?" she asked, her ice blue eyes twinkling with glee. I reached in my pocket and pulled out a long box.
"I forgot to give you something before you left Gaia." I replied and handed the box to her.
"Happy birthday. Sorry, it's a little late." I said with an apologetic smile. She kissed my cheek and gave me a hug.
"You didn't have to give me anything." She replied.
"I did too." I said and kissed her briefly. She opened the box and gasped. It was a silver bracelet studded with pure thundaga materia.
"It's beautiful. Thank you Sephiroth." She replied and kissed me again.
"Can you put it on for me?" She asked with an excited glint in her eye that I hadn't seen in years. I made my pulse race and my spine tremble. I nodded and put it around her left wrist. Thank goodness it fit. She sat there and admired it for a few seconds before turning back to me. She kissed me and then laid her head on my chest.
"I missed you." She cooed. I wrapped my arms around Light and kissed her head.
"I missed you too. I missed you more than you would ever know." I replied and kissed her lips. When I pulled away, she brought her lips up to my ear.
"I love you." She whispered.
"I love you too." I replied and she snuggled into my neck.

"Claire, why do want Serah and Noel to change the future?" I asked. She shifted uneasily and then sat up and looked me in the eye.
"Because, the timeline was warped after Cocoon fell. I want Serah and Noel to correct the timeline. I would do it myself, but I can't leave Valhalla. Because if I do I put the goddess, Etro at risk." She replied. I kissed her forehead and she sighed heavily.
"Babe, don't worry. I'll help them and protect them. And I'll protect you. I promise." I whispered and pressed my lips up against hers. As our lips constantly locked and unlocked, Light's hands tried to tangle themselves in my hair. I placed my hand behind her neck and continued to caress her. Our lips then parted and pulled me in closer.
"I'll see you soon, Sephiroth." She replied and kissed me briefly. The way she said my name sent shivers through my body. My vision then blacked out.

"He's not awake yet, kupo." I heard Mog say. I opened my eyes to find Serah, Noel and Mog staring at me from above. I sat up slightly and looked around. I sighed and lent back. I whacked my head against something hard. I looked behind myself and found that I had fallen off of the couch in the night and I didn't realise. I stood up and rubbed my head. I grunted and Serah giggled.
"Let's start looking for this artefact." I said and we wandered outside into the sea breeze.

My vision began to swirl. I had to blink a few times before my vision returned to normal. I looked towards a palm tree and I saw a glint of something shiny. Moments later, Mog's crystal began to glow and then he flew towards the tree. Serah, Noel and I followed the moogle and then Serah picked up a weapon of some sort.
"It's Light's survival knife. What's it doing out here?" She asked. She pocketed the knife and turned to Noel.
"Maybe it's connected to the warped timeline?" I suggested. They looked at me with confusion. I sighed. I felt like an alien. A stupid, psychologically challenged alien.

Then a group of kids ran up to Serah and one of the kids started saying something that made Serah a little peeved off.
"Meanie Miss Farron!" The group chanted and Serah tried her best to calm them down.
"You don't want me to get angry, do you?" Serah asked with a strict tone. The kids shut up and shook their heads.
"Good, off you go!" she exclaimed and they ran off to play a ball game.
"My students." She said with a sad smile.
"How strict are you on these kids?" Noel asked.
"Enough to make Gadot say that I'm quite a bit like my sister." Serah laughed. I seriously could imagine that.

I looked to the sky and saw a thick mako green line carving its way through the sky.
"The Lifestream." I uttered.
"Kupo?" Mog asked in confusion. The other three looked up to the sky and then to me in confusion.
"Mog, do you know what kind of place Valhalla is?" I asked the little moogle.
"Valhalla is the final resting place for the dead at the end of time and it is ruled by the goddess of death, Etro, kupo." Mog replied.
"The Lifestream is heading towards Valhalla. That's where Lightning is. If we ever need to find her, just follow the Lifestream." I said.

Serah and Noel looked at me as if I was crazy. Maybe I was, maybe I was in the Lifestream circling Gaia and this was all a dream. I looked up to the Lifestream and decided to see if I could get any information as to where it ends. I tried contacting Zack or Aerith, but they shut me out. I wouldn't blame them; I would've done the same. I tried contacting Genesis and Angeal. Suddenly, they appeared before me as solid as a normal human being. The only problem with that statement being that the three of us aren't human or normal for that matter.

"Seph! Long time, no see. Have you lost weight?" Angeal asked. I chuckled at him.
"You haven't changed!" I exclaimed. Serah, Mog and Noel stared at them in confusion.
"Serah!" Genesis and Angeal exclaimed.
"Genesis, Angeal! Haven't seen you guys in years! You both look good!" She replied.
"Do you know where the Lifestream is heading?" I asked and they both shook their head.
"Sorry, Zack and Aerith don't tell anybody anything." Genesis replied. Then one of the NORA members, a blonde kid named Maqui ran up towards us.
"That kid running into the outskirts stole something from my workshop. Can you get it back?" he asked. Serah nodded and we ran after this boy.

I easily beat the other three to the boy. He looked absolutely terrified.
"Don't hurt me!" he pleaded and placed his hands over his head. I got down to his level and placed my hand on his shoulder.
"I'm not going to hurt you. You took something from Maqui didn't you?" I asked with a cheeky smile, trying to make the child see that I wasn't going to hurt him. He stayed silent. I sighed.
"I won't get angry if you said yes. Please tell me the truth." I replied and the kid took a deep breath.
"Yes! Please don't tell Miss Farron!" he exclaimed.
"I'll take you down to Maqui so you can apologise, ok?" I asked. He nodded and handed me a silver necklace. It looked a lot like the one of Cocoon Serah wore. I stood and the boy followed me back to the beach.

"Found him." I said and handed the necklace to Serah. She inspected it and then I ushered the boy only before Serah could lecture him about stealing. I brought the kid over to Maqui and he looked furious.
"Do you have something to say to Maqui?" I asked.
"I'm sorry I stole the necklace from your workshop. I don't know why I did it, I'm so sorry. I won't do it again. I promise." The kid replied. Maqui's frown left his face and he gave the boy a high-five.
"It takes courage to do apologise. Run along now." Maqui chirped and the kid ran off to join his friends playing on the beach.
"Serah has the necklace." I said.
"Thanks Sephiroth." He replied and then ran off towards the NORA house. Mog flew towards me.
"Kupo?" he asked.
"Yep, Maqui's cool." I replied as Serah and Noel finally caught up.
"All good, kupo!" Mog chirped.
"The necklace, Light's knife? What does this mean?" she asked.
"Maybe that they're alive and out there somewhere waiting for you?" I suggested. They looked at me like I was an idiot.

Genesis and Angeal came up to me again with Zack and Aerith in tow. Serah's eyes lit up and she squealed.
"Aerith! I haven't seen you in ages!" Serah exclaimed and hugged Aerith.
"Thanks guys." I replied and Genesis leaned up against a palm tree with Loveless in his hands. Angeal shook his head at the literature lunatic and Zack chuckled.
"Aerith, where is the Lifestream heading?" I asked. She turned and stared at me with wide and frightened eyes like a juvenile chocobo in headlights.
"Uh... Valhalla! Don't hurt me!" she replied and hid behind Zack. I rolled my eyes at my ex.
"Thanks, that's all I needed to know." I said and she sighed with relief. She headed back over to Serah and they began to catch up. A ginger cat wondered up to Serah and rubbed its cheeks over her leg.
"Snow!" She exclaimed and picked up the cat.
"What?" Noel asked.
"I named my cat after my fiancé." She replied and gave the cat a kiss before setting it back down on the sand. I looked over at the NORA house and there was something about it that made me a little suspicious. Genesis, Angeal, Zack and Aerith headed back to the Lifestream.

I wondered over to the NORA house and peeked into Serah's clean room. All seemed to be normal until I came across the mirror. It glistened with an unearthly golden glow. I reached out to touch it. The glass felt cool against my glove. My reflection was of myself before the Nibelheim incident. My hair was shorter and I didn't look nearly as sinister as I do now. I pulled my hands away and the mirror's golden glow faded. My reflection showed me as I was now. Serah and Noel walked in and Mog inspected the room. I looked at the bronzed edging of the mirror and the Mog's bobble began to glow as he rushed to the mirror. In a burst of grey light, a green crystal appeared in the mirror. As I reached out to touch it, my hand went into the actual glass. I went to pull my hand out with the crystal in it, but something grabbed my hand and pulled me into the mirror.

The land inside the mirror was darker than Valhalla. I heard a familiar hiss, put the crystal into my pocket and drew Masamune.
"Turning on me are you?" the voice hissed. I remembered that hiss; it was the same hiss I heard that night before setting Nibelheim on fire. The creature stepped into the light and I couldn't believe what I saw.
"I knew you were joking. Why did you lead me here? I like it better here. Help me take over the planets known as Cocoon and Gran Pulse." Jenova hissed and held her hand out to me. She had taken form of one of the residents of New Bodhum. I stumbled backwards.
"Why these two? Why not Gaia?" I asked. She wondered around me and then laughed.
"Gaia is already doomed. Besides, can't I help one of my own?" she asked in reply.
"One of your own?" I asked uncertainly.
"Yes, one of my own. The blonde one." She replied. Mother's helping Cloud?! I must be dreaming.
"Why?" I asked with confusion.
"Because you failed me, again!" she hissed in reply.

I began to look around for a way out of the darkness. I closed my eyes and opened them again, hoping that my new eyesight would find an exit for me. Sadly, no way out yet. I tried to call out to the Lifestream and I heard no answer. I held the crystal in my hand and took a deep breath. Jenova stared at me with her cold eyes. She left the body of the citizen and slithered into another nearby. I creeps me out every time she does that.
"Sephiroth?! Can you hear me?" I heard Serah's voice shout.
"Yeah! Get me out of here!" I exclaimed in reply. Jenova shook her head.
"Running away won't make me go away, Sephiroth. You of all people should know that." Jenova smirked.

She circled me like a behemoth would a dying chocobo.
"You used to be so obedient... what happened to you?" she asked and tried to stroke my head. I stepped backward and almost fell over the corpse she had left moments ago. She looked into my eyes and turned her back on me in disgust.
"Something's wrong with you. I can sense it. It's your eyes. They aren't what they used to be." She replied and then circled me again.
"What do you mean?" I asked and eyed her. Something's up with her.
"You can see things, can you not? Things that even a Cetra would not pick up. You have been touched by another force. Your mind has been corrupted." She replied and then turned back around to me.

Then I thought of Lightning and how I promised her that I would help Serah and Noel fix the timeline and that I'd protect her.
"You can't stand it. I've changed and you can't stand it. You're not a mother, you're an imposter." I mocked. I enjoy mind games. Jenova hissed and threw a fire materia at me. I moved my shoulder and it missed me completely. Got you.
"That's right. You thought I wouldn't figure it out, but I'm smarter than you think. You never treated me right. I was nothing more than a puppet, I now realise that." I replied and spied a golden gate in the distance. I swerved past her and made a run for it. I touched the gate and I fell out of the mirror. I looked at the crystal in my hand and smiled.
"I got an artefact." I mused.

Serah took it from my hand and I got off of the floor. Noel patted my back and I chuckled. Mog waved his staff in the air and cheered.
"Now to find the gate." Serah said and we wondered to the meteor impact site. Serah stopped just behind us and looked at Lightning's knife.
"Hey, Light's knife has been sharpened. And the chain on Snow's necklace has been fixed. And the cat was brushed. Something's up." She commented. We heard a meow come from behind us and the NORA gang came up to us. Yuj held Snow in his hand and they said goodbye. Serah held the artefact up to the gate and we warped into a tunnel.

"This is the Historia Crux. Everything is connected to here. We can go anywhere into the past, present or future." Noel explained. The area was either golden or bronzed. The four of us floated through the tunnel and fell out of the tunnel into a different time and place.