Disclaimer: Don't own, why would I need to?
Summary: It should have been this way from the very beginning but it didn't. But now as he awakens, he's about to change the course of everything. And together they will build a shining future for themselves. Advent Children as it should have been.
Author note: This story is dedicated as a birthday present to my best friend whom you all know as Nephilim Rising. I really thank her so much for every effort she puts in writing us such great master pieces and being such a great friend. This story will be continued and some parts will be changed possibly but still it will be a gift-fic for Nephilim rising.
This story is rated R for extreme violence and multiple character deaths. Those who cannot tolerate seeing Cloud or his friends dead can press the back button on their browsers.
This story is my first story and I really want to improve my English. So, constructive criticism is very much appreciated. Enjoy the story!
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Two years had passed since he last saw Banora. Sun shone brightly in the cloudless welkin, bathing the villagers in warm rays that penetrated through Banora White trees' branches. The villagers' houses were built on the lush green hills, the windmills' blades revolving slowly in the gentle breeze that brought a myriad of scents; of the pies Angeal's mother baked, of the fresh grass, of the dumbapples. The dumbapple orchards had grown thicker than what he remembered. The trees bowed under the heavy load they carried. He looked around, joy made his azure eyes shine brighter than usual. Finally he spotted what he was looking for. After a few graceful strides, he reached out and took the purple apple that caught his eyes. His hands subconsciously examined the apple for imperfections as he enjoyed the apple's fragrance. He willed his wing to extend from his back and flew, leaving the cascading ebony feathers as his only witness…
He descended on the lush hill exactly where he shared apples with Zack. He smirked bitterly as he realized how foolish his act was, but he understood too late. Thus was the reason he imprisoned himself in the underground cavern. He sat under a tree and took out his favorite play. On the velvety cover it was embossed: Loveless.
"Infinite in mystery…" He recalled…
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"…Is the gift of the Goddess, we seek it thus and take to the sky."
He saw Sephiroth turn around, a pleased smile playing on his lips as he walked towards them. Cumulus clouds were painted a vivid hue of sunrise colors."Ripples form on the water surface, the wandering soul knows no rest."
"Loveless, Act I."Sephiroth said.
"He remembered it." He thought but it seemed he had voiced his thought aloud as he heard Sephiroth's deep voice ring in the air.
"How can I not when you've beaten it into my head."
Sephiroth swung his sword in a silent challenge, his smile never fading.
"This is all I need to become the hero." Genesis thought with pure anticipation. He went headfirst for the challenge, Angeal's advice adding more to the flame which was burning inside him, setting it ablaze, making him more determined to at least win this spar. The heat of the spar was intense, the three of them knew that they completed each other; Angeal hit Masamune with force several times and was thrown aback, Genesis used the opening and swung at Sephiroth but he deflected them all. It was a game, they all knew it but Genesis knew better, he was going to show he was worthy enough to step out of Sephiroth's everlasting shadow and be the day's shining star.
"The world needs a new hero." He said as he drew his hand over the length of Rapier, making all the encrypted symbols shine with raw power. He watched unbelievingly as Sephiroth smiled arrogantly.
"Come and try."
"How dare he mock me?!"Genesis thought, infuriated. Sephiroth knew that playing like this wouldn't benefit either of them; it would only enrage Genesis and he did that on purpose.
"So smug… but for how long?" He said as he was set aflame yet he didn't let any of the blazing inferno creep to his face. Genesis lashed at Sephiroth with renewed strength that matched his adversary's. Their swords clashed several times as Sephiroth grew tired of Genesis' petty acts and sighed, "So be it." Sephiroth thought, Genesis signed his own defeat.
Genesis was thrown to the sky, he could see as Sephiroth came after him. Their blades collided in midair, once, twice, Genesis was losing the count; he was getting tired of swordplay.
"Let's play my way." He yelled inwardly as he threw the scorching balls at Sephiroth which he dodged a few and parried the last one. Genesis willed them to return.
"Surprise!" He thought devilishly as Sephiroth was engulfed in the burning sphere of fire. Genesis had one last shot till the victory when Angeal interfered. He wasted his last shot on Angeal and watched his childhood friend fall.
Suddenly he was taken aback by the powerful wave of energy that was nearing him second by second, he averted it hastily in the last moment. He parried the other two but they cut the cannon as Sephiroth came out of the blazing heat and landed on a slice of descending cannon a few moments after him.
Genesis watched intently as Sephiroth went down, a dangerous smile playing on those pale lips of his. Something inside Genesis warned him but he paid it no heed. That was until a jet of sparks and tiny pieces of metal shot in front of him.
Sephiroth's face was cold and it was enough for Genesis to understand the outcome of this brutal duel. He saw he had already lost. Sephiroth's strikes were deadly and he was slowly feeling an uneasy sensation settle throughout his body. Suddenly he felt dreadful for the first time in his life; it seemed Sephiroth was ready to kill him here and now, he desired bloodshed and only Genesis' blood.
He was thrown feet aback as he stumbled to stand on his feet. He was fast enough to notice Sephiroth coming at him at an alarming speed as he held Masamune behind, ready to strike hard. He prepared his beloved Rapier and blocked Sephiroth's sword with all he could muster, saving himself from inevitable death. Raw energy surged around them, causing the surface of the cannon to curve inwards.
Finally he gave up, let Sephiroth push him back, giving his body a chance to gather his energy again for another powerful clash. He marveled at the thought of feeling that raw power which radiated from their last powerful collision again, but was disappointed when Angeal interfered again. He heard Sephiroth say his friends name as he was irritated at Angeal's sudden intervention but he was furious at his childhood friend.
"Out of my way!"
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Cloud Strife folded his phone after receiving another one of Tifa's messages. She told him Rufus wanted a delivery. He sighed and was going to start his motorcycle when those painful flashbacks came again. He groaned yet started the engine and headed to Healin Lodge.
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Kadaj kicked Buster sword, watching with intense joy as he saw the city of Edge.
"Hey Kadaj, is that Cloud's city?" As if having heard his thoughts, his brother asked.
He subconsciously confirmed, his mind full of different amusing ways to make those insolent traitors tell him about Mother's whereabouts, to torture them.
"Do you think he'll welcome us?" Yazoo asked playfully as he suppressed a laugh.
"Not a chance."
"Don't cry, Yazoo." Loz answered, teasing.
"Mother's with him, right?"Yazoo teased back, knowing that he touched the elder's soft spot.
"Who knows." Kadaj answered indifferently as Loz was beginning to cry.
"Don't cry, Loz." Yazoo said, trying to stop Loz from making a scene.
A moving black dot attracted his attention."So willing to go headfirst into the trap. Humph, as expected from an idiot." He smirked devilishly at his own thought. He inclined his head in a silent order and his beloved brothers went after the easy prey.
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Genesis Rhapsodos watched as the two silver-haired young men beat the blond as the third one was so busy on the phone that when the strange ghosts pounced in union on the blond, he didn't pay a heed. He seemed to be the leader of the trio even if the other two seemed older and skillful, "Skillful but not skillful enough." he thought smugly. After they beat him enough, the youngest called them back and they headed for an unknown destination. He walked to the blonde's side or better to say the beaten rag doll as he had curled himself into a ball in a vain attempt to suppress his tears yet the way his frame was shaking with sobs betrayed him.
"No such luck, kid, no such luck…" He whispered as he remembered his own bad luck…
Minreva closed her eyes and the air around him changed. He was vacuumed into the nothingness below as the streaks of planet's life form engulfed him. He was rejected by his goddess. The deity he had served for so long, had rejected him. He felt like he was hopeless now, like a moving dead. Maybe he was worthless that his goddess rejected him. But as the time passed his sadness transformed into something deeper with more meaning: Hatred. He now hated the very being he so cherished. Because that being hurt his pride after it was hurt by his defeat at the hands of the puppy."So be it." He thought bitterly as he, after all what happened, understood Sephiroth was right, was always right. He wanted to follow Sephiroth's lead now, like him he wanted to be no one's pawn, neither the goddess' nor Jenova's. He was going to make up for everything he did to Sephiroth; the way he betrayed him and his feelings, the way he was determined to hurt his pride and the cruel way he told Sephiroth about his origins. He wanted to fix everything and also thank him for the guidance. He knew Sephiroth would forgive him; He would understand what he's been through, he would understand how much pain- mentally or physically- the deterioration had caused him…
It was the reason he refused his brethren and waited in his crystalline prison on his own volition until now. It was the stirring he felt in his own Jenova cells and the Mako that surrounded him. Sephiroth was doing something inside the Lifestream yet he didn't know until he saw the boys, how they were like Sephiroth, especially the youngest. At that time he decided to repair his relationship with Sephiroth yet he didn't know how he was supposed to do it until now that it was as clear as the cloudless welkin above he soared towards.
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When the trio arrived at Edge, Yazoo went after a truck to bring children, especially those two whom Cloud looked after. Kadaj saw as Loz went towards the Forgotten Capital, he was supposed to have quite a talk with Vincent. He went after Rufus; He called him back there in the outskirts of Midgar and found out that he now lived at Healin Lodge, a place for those who suffered from Geostigma.
Midway Loz called and told that he was going to assist Yazoo in searching for Mother. That would cause a delay in the plan but now it was about Mother, the sooner they found a trace of her, the sooner the Reunion would be and they will be a whole. When he arrived at the place, he overheard Reno and Rude talking. He stepped in and knocked the two stunned Turks out rather easily. Rufus seemed a bit alarmed without his guardians yet it wasn't apparent under his whitish cloak. He was feeding him with lies again and he hated lies.
"I apologize, I'll tell you the truth this time, it seemed we dropped it from the helicopter while trying to run from you." Then he added, "It's quite a ridiculous excuse, I'd say."
"He's so alarmed that he doesn't know what to say anymore. Now I'll make him realize feeding me lies isn't an option."
Rufus was there when they kidnapped Tseng and Elena yet he didn't know about the little game they played.
"Really? Then swear on these." He tossed their blood-stained ID cards at his feet. He could sense the aura of terror around Rufus.
"I swear."
The answer caught him off-guard."What's your objective?" Rufus asked yet Kadaj wasn't going to answer that question.
"I need Mother's power. It's absolutely necessary for Reunion." Kadaj knew the word would raise questions in Rufus' mind.
"Reunion?"
"After all the lies you told us do you think you deserve the answer of that question? After all the things you've done to us, to mother, to him, do you think you're worthy enough to be privy to such things?" Kadaj added, "You know that someone hid Mother yet we don't even know where Mother is. It's a shame but it can't be helped. We're just remnants and until we find Mother, we can't be complete." Kadaj barely could control himself.
"What are you talking about? Who's this he?" Rufus pretended, bringing a smirk to his thin lips.
"President, you've already realized, haven't you?" Kadaj approached the man on the wheelchair, intending to make him understand not to play with them, to make his suffering complete and confirm the worst of his nightmares. He kneeled with his head bowed.
Rufus could feel as the air around them shifted, Kadaj's dark aura transformed into something deeper, darker, more enigmatic, his body went taut as the aura engulfed him, an indescribable terror coursed throughout his body, making his mind freeze. Kadaj wasn't Kadaj anymore, he was a part of someone with more depth, someone greater than him, someone Kadaj felt in his whole existence, Kadaj was Sephiroth. Rufus pressed his lips into a tight line as he saw the latter smirk, enjoying every moment of his suffering. He wasn't going to let him take his pleasure by seeing him in this state. He suddenly remembered when Shin-Ra headquarters collapsed; he was trying very hard not to let anything show on his face, the pain became unbearable as the black Lifestream engulfed him. The world went black.
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Yazoo sped in city's streets, carefully looking for the kids who suffered from Geostigma, talking to them and promising them what they desired the most, a cure. Then he went straight to Seventh Heaven, he stopped at the bar. Suddenly the door opened and a brunet kid peeked at him, he smirked at the boy who looked like Cloud in some way and sped away. Soon he rented a truck and stopped near Seventh Heaven, searched for the right kid to gather the ones he talked to before and the ones he missed and he spotted a somber girl curled up beside a wall. He bent in front of her and smirked at the ragged moogle doll in her hand.
"Hello little one. What's your name?"
She sobbed in his answer. He caressed her hair and placed his hand on her tiny shoulder. She winced and recoiled from the touch.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to hurt you. You have Geostigma?"
The girl backed away from him, "WHAT? Do you want to tell me to stay indoors and not infect your world and run off? LEAVE ME ALONE!"
She screamed as tears ran down her cheeks and tried to run away but Yazoo gripped her wrist and wiped her cheeks.
"Don't worry, little sister, we can help you and all your friends. We'll cure your Geostigma, I promise. Then you can play like the others your age and be happy."
She looked at him with tearful eyes."Trust me, I understand you, so go and tell your friends. Then come here."
After a few seconds she nodded, wiping her eyes with her hands, a new glow shining dimly in her tearful eyes. Yazoo stood up, smiling that he had accomplished and went back near the truck, calling Loz.
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Loz was heading towards the Forgotten Capital until Yazoo called him. Yazoo told him to come back and look for Mother in Midgar ruins. But he was supposed to talk to Vincent, Kadaj told him so. He complained but Yazoo told him to inform Kadaj about the change and said brother won't mind that. He braked, hard. His mind was searching where to look for her first. Shin-Ra building wasn't an option, the Shin-Ra guys must have searched that place, the slums' people houses weren't an option either because most of them were crushed under the weight of the fallen plate during Meteor fall. "I'll see if I find some special place, some different place. Why would I search whole slums? I would need an excavation team for doing so!" He thought, irritated at the difficult task. He took out his phone and dialed Kadaj's number.
"What is it?" Kadaj asked impatiently on the other end.
"Yazoo called and told me to suspend the plan we had in store for Vincent for some other time and instead investigate Midgar for Mother." he growled as he added "he also said you won't mind the change, but I was supposed to…"
Kadaj cut him short "Don't worry, Yazoo knows what he's telling you to do. So just do it and don't bother me more than this."
He heard Kadaj hang up. He should have been infuriated but he seemed calmer this time, his tone so calm that it didn't match his fiery behavior he always showed. Loz shrugged as everything was rather confusing. He turned around and sped up back to Midgar.
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Cloud came back from Healin to Zack's death place for some time alone and for doing some thinking when he found Buster sword lying on the ground. He took it and placed it upright in its original place. He remembered Zack when he had a severe Mako poisoning and Zack was trying very hard to save them both from the Shin-Ra's claws. His friend died to save him and he promised to be his living legacy. Suddenly his knees buckled as his weight pushed him to the ground; his eyes were unfocused as he was lost in the myriad of flashbacks. He saw Sephiroth as the flames let him pass, then he saw one of those silver haired men, Zack yelled at him to run, then again Sephiroth back in the hellish flames of Nibleheim as he smiled nonchalantly at him, telling him his but a puppet. His voice echoed painfully through his head as he struggled to stand back on his feet, but to no avail. He leaned to Buster sword and tried to stand, gripping the hilt. He finally stood, still unstable, everywhere he landed his eyes upon was aflame as he saw Sephiroth go towards the reactor, he felt the immense heat scorching his skin, he was sweating, he tried to run but was pinned to the ground, he tried to yell, scream, beg for Sephiroth to stop haunting him but his voice failed him. He collapsed, unconscious.
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Genesis had a hard time choosing which of the trio he should follow. He wanted to know more about these young mysterious boys but they were as enigmatic as their sibling or so he thought. He saw the muscular one cry at the mention of his Mother, but the other two weren't as emotional as this one. Emotions always led people astray, those who placed logic as their lead survived. Emotions were a weakness; a weakness he had and he was happy about it. It made him different from everyone; the way he expressed himself and his feelings was unique, even his behavior. The passionate way he loved his prized poem and the way he enacted it, all made him a unique individual, just like his friend. The emotional one was bound to make a mistake, he just had to follow him before he disappeared from his sight. He pursued the latter in the sky, at a safe distance. Both from the risk of being noticed by the boy and some stupid kid who tugged at his parents hand if he saw him and saying:"Mommy, there's a big bird in the sky." And that was enough for the whole Gaia to notice whether their Nightmare was back or his fellow commander, whom no one remembered, much to his dismay. Though it wouldn't take that long before all their biggest fear came true;
"That would make a big surprise!"
He smirked devilishly at his own thoughts. They were heading towards the Forgotten Capital. He didn't knew what the boy had to do in that place but it was a disadvantage for him because he had to land and play hide and seek between the trees with the boy. Also he couldn't be as fast as the motorcycle the boy was insanely speeding up every second. He was about to land when he saw the boy stop abruptly. He landed near him passing by a few bizarre crystal trees in order to get nearer to see what was going on. He heard the boy talking angrily while he mentioned some names. Among them was Vincent; the name rang a bell. So he came here to do something with this Vincent he was talking about. Then he was going to help him. The one the boy was talking about was a Turk back then before Sephiroth's birth but due to some experiments, done to satiate Hojo's never ending curiosity about human beings, he ended up containing a group of monsters within himself. He could understand how he had felt, also his reason for shunning out the world and imprisoning himself in a coffin at the hideous mansion in the godforsaken village. But more interesting was the fact that he was rumored to be Sephiroth's biological father. Maybe that was why the boy was here, seeking him or the power stored within him. Perhaps they wanted to bring him back to the place he belonged; with them, Sephiroth's look-alikes and with his son and use that power to their advantage. Maybe he could reason with the man and talk some sense into him. They were just like each other; guilt-ridden, driven by madness, affected by people's silly ideas, but not anymore; he was going to prevent the man from repeating his mistake. He might be younger but sometimes world's cruelty makes those who are younger bear more hardships thus making them more experienced.
Genesis began wandering through the crystal trees, searching for Sephiroth's rumored father meanwhile wondering why he would be here when he heard some moans; remaining in his safe hideout behind a whitish dull trunk, tilting his head slightly to see what was happening, his auburn locks standing out in contrast with the snow white tree. A raven haired man along with a blonde lay on the ground, their dark suits looking a shade darker from the blood stains and soil. He was about to approach them, their unconsciousness a benefit for him to perform his little devilish plan, when he noticed a crimson cape squatting on the ground, his jet black hair cascading over his back, trying to carry them somewhere. Genesis froze, remembering who he was spying on: Vincent Valentine.
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Vincent Valentine found Tseng and Elena while he was looking for the source of anxiety that was hanging in the forest's atmosphere for some days. People mostly didn't come here only Cloud sometimes came and shared his burden with him, but that was all. The only one living here was him and the emptiness of the forest was soothing, slowly freezing his past, his present while clawing its icy claws at his future. He felt the unusual uneasiness, heard the crackling decrescendo of trees until he heard them. They were no normal human beings, their strong dark aura streaked throughout the forest; aura so strong that affected everything and it was the cause of the forest's agony. The trees' soul withered when the aura licked at them, their combined fading voices echoing in the forest to warn other trees but there were no exceptions. Their darkness reminded him of someone but he couldn't understand it; whenever he tried to penetrate into its layers, it mystified him, everything suddenly becoming vague as Chaos threatened to emerge. They were a group of three young men so much like Sephiroth.
Everything was about to click as the past was trying to take a hold of the present. Suddenly a wave of unknown guilt washed over him but he dismissed the unexpected turn his train of thought had gotten and crouched near them, inspecting their wounds.
"They must have tortured them, but what for?" he mused as he took Elena's body off the ground in his arms while he wrapped his cloak around Tseng and leaped off the ground, jumping from one tree to another. He heard the swish in the air behind him also another set of branches cracking under the weight of something. He suspected one of the trio behind him, following him to retain their prisoners but he was someone else. Someone from the past which no one liked to remember, but it was impossible for him to be here. They had searched everywhere but there was no trace, not a single clue to point out where he was hiding. They thought he was dead from Cloud's obscured memories but this was totally the opposite.
Genesis was in hot pursuit, making his presence known for the first time. Genesis jumped on a branch a second before Vincent, causing him to lose his balance and fall. Vincent hit the ground hard and Elena and Tseng rolled out of his hold yet he managed to jump back and stand on his feet while his body reflexes brought his hand to Cerberus and took it out, aiming at the descending redhead.
Genesis held Loveless open in his hands, his ebony wing mingling with the darkness of the night, making his descend as smooth as a feather.
"My friend, the fates are cruel, there are no dreams no honor remains, the arrow has left the bow of the goddess, my soul corrupted by vengeance, hath endured torment to find the end of the journey…"
His melodious voice filled the silence of the forest as Vincent was gazing at him, his gun dangerously aiming for his head; he smirked as he held Vincent's gaze with his own and slowly began circling him.
"Why are you here? How did you get back?" Vincent asked as anger was filling him, gripping his dear Cerberus till his knuckles went white.
"How interesting; why would a man like you, surrounded by so many friends that hold you dear, stay in such place, alone?" he watched the elder intently to see how would he react to the words he said, yet he knew the outcome.
"It's none of your business; you must say why you're back and what you want." His finger inched to pull the trigger.
Genesis smirked; he wouldn't get out of here until he was done with the man, "Then tell me why you betrayed Lucrecia?"
At the mention of the latter, Vincent gasped, inaudibly, his eyes growing wide as his hold on his gun loosened, "How do you know her?" he asked warily as his thoughts drifted to Mako cave where his beloved Lucrecia was resting in a temporary peace.
"Why, with such a strong love toward her and her baby, did you leave them? Betrayed them both?" Genesis tried his best to suppress the smirk that was touching his lips.
Confusion bloomed in those ruby eyes as the uncertainty was settled in Vincent's heart; he was beginning to doubt everything, every single thing he had done in the name of the planet, in the name of peace for the people…but no, he was right, Sephiroth wanted the destruction of the planet and the elimination of its innocent people, he was insane, but… who was to blame? May be it was because he trapped himself in his coffin, regretting and blaming himself for 30 years but never once trying to come out and take some action, he was too frightened, too coward and too unrealistic for not helping his beloved's son in the least. Suddenly he remembered Genesis, his eyes coursing everywhere until he spotted the redhead in front of him, relief feeling him that he hadn't escaped but that was until he saw the smile on the redhead's lips and noticed his gun wasn't aimed at Genesis anymore, his hand resting by his side.
"I know how you felt and feel now because like you, I'm considered… a monster by people and by the planet, we're both rejected, unwanted and junks for humans to experiment on and then to throw out in the trashcans or be left for death in the coffins. But together we can build a shining future where there won't be such disrespectful remarks about us and we'll live happily ever after."
He stretched out his hand, a Banora White resting on his palm in a silent deal.
Vincent was reluctant; an unceasing battle was roaming throughout his mind and soul and the redhead's offer added more to it, his hand, unconsciously spread out to take the apple when he pulled it back. He eyed the redhead, trying to find any trace of deceit or some hidden conspire but he found none so he said, finally relaxed.
"What do expect me to do?"
"Nothing, but whatever happened do not try to interfere or our deal would be no more."
His offer was still in his hand as he was growing tired until Vincent took the apple. He was taking the first bite when Genesis flew…
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The church was bathed in brilliant light and the flowers glowed, the childish hum the little girl was singing filled the space, making it warmer, more welcoming. Tifa Lockheart was standing there as though guarding the little brunette that was playing with the flowers, caressing them gently. Suddenly the doors flung open, the old rusted hinges threatening to break. Marlene jumped to her feet and ran for the unseen person, suspecting Cloud to be the one. She ran mirthfully but was confused when Tifa held her by her shoulders both of them retreating as the intruder came nearer. He wasn't familiar also he had odd features that reminded her of her worst nightmare. Dread filled her as she realized who he was like and she desperately tried to overcome it for the sake of Marlene at least. The stranger had some strange instrument attached to his left forearm; he came forth and as he stretched his other hand.
"Shall we play?"
Tifa quizzically stared at him as her grip on Marlene tightened.
He dropped his hand as his cheerfulness slipped from his face and advanced, his voice tinged with disappointment."I see, you don't want to, huh?" and added, "Where's Mother?" He suddenly noticed the flowers, their strong aroma filled his nostrils, poisoning his breath and he pinched his nose, "Hey, where's Mother?"
Tifa didn't know what to answer him, she didn't understand who he was talking about."No one's here!"
He opened his arms and said "Then, let's play!"
Tifa pushed Marlene to the side where she was safe and took her gloves out of her back pocket as she held his curious gaze with her own, she took a stance, her hands clenched into fists.
"Well, this is exciting." He smirked, his voice joyous.
Tifa attacked first yet he got her fist but she punched his chin and he was forced backwards. She used the opening for her benefit and punched him several times then she kicked his face twice yet what she missed totally amazed her. When the strange instrument touched her face, a great amount of electricity coursed throughout her body, hurling her backwards. She struggled to hold her balance as her feet found a solid ground beneath them, suddenly becoming dizzy. She tried to concentrate and make her body obey her mind. She saw him laugh evilly as he was satisfied with the results. Angered, she aimed for his legs and kicked but he jumped forward. His back was facing her and when he turned around she punched his face with enough force that sent him flying to the wall. Tifa jumped from one column to another as he hurriedly backed, kicking him in the jaw and sending him flying backwards. He again stood on the ground yet again received two powerful kicks to his lower jaw. Everything happened in a blur of motions but he decided to make this insolent girl behave. She came back again but she blocked her with his dual hound, happy that it was his turn. Again he shocked her as she was trying to free her hands and threw her back into the wall. He struck with his dual hound but she dodged and it was stuck in the wall. She kicked his chest, making him fly across the passage between benches and was about to jump out of his reach when he suddenly gripped her ankle and swung her above his head once, twice, thrice and as she was counting the merry-go-round she was sent flying to the wall and she stood there, watching through the rain of flower petals as he smiled evilly with wicked delight. She darted towards him and dragged him on the floor and sent him crashing to the last row of benches.
Relief filled her as Marlene called her name and came out of her hiding place, cheerfully running towards her. She opened her arms in an embrace that never came. All her senses were alarming her as the ringing tone echoed through the church, something wasn't right. Wood scraps burst from the place the stranger fell, Tifa's eyes went wide.
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Loz didn't like the way his fight with the girl had went and he was going to take revenge on her. His phone rang, filling the tranquil silence. He mustered all his energy and hurled the wood scraps in one powerful burst enough to scare the two.
He flipped it open and answered Yazoo, disappointed."Looks like this isn't the place." and again when Yazoo went on teasing him, he shouted back angrily."I'm not crying!" Yazoo mentioned some girl with brown hair and a young lass that the others said were Cloud's friends and asked to bring the little kid with himself. He looked at the girl who matched Yazoo's description and suddenly felt joy building up inside his heart."Fine, I'll take her." He hung up.
But before taking the kid he had one other thing that needed to be done; knocking out the girl named Tifa and then taking the kid with himself.
He came forth as he readied his dual hound."Let's continue."
He made a quick plan to finish this stupid game. He kicked a bench towards the girl with enough force. He knew she would handle that well but she wasn't ready for what was coming. He darted forward, with an inhuman speed that even after he was behind the girl, she didn't knew he was there, still looking straight at his last place, he smirked and hit her and she only noticed when a click sounded and she fell, yet again he took her and pushed her into a column, again shocking her with enough electricity that brought the whole stone column down and then threw her like a trash into the flowerbed. She moaned and he slowly came to her side, sitting on the ground and lifting her off the ground by her collar, with his readied dual hound at her temple. Suddenly something hit his head from behind and he reacted, quickly releasing all the energy that was stored in his dual hound in a split second. The girl's body went still in his hand as he turned around to look at the sobbing little kid then looked back again at the unconscious girl. A pleased smirk formed on his lips as he let her collapse back on the ground and stood. A predatory evil smile playing on his lips as he overwhelmed the girl that was tightening her hold on a dirty band and helplessly called their hero but no one came, no one would. Then he looked back at the Materia chest next to her, two aims with just one shot.
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Cloud went to the bar but silence greeted him. He called out for Denzel, Marlene and Tifa but no one was here.
Coming out, he began asking other neighbors. They said that Children went playing somewhere but they saw Tifa as she was heading for the slums. Alarm rang through his mind."Tifa shouldn't know about the Geostigma!" He ran for his bike and went straight to Aeris' church.
He found the doors completely open and he came in, his steps echoing in the empty church. He glanced at the dirty sheets that served as his bed and the chest was missing…"It's supposed to be there!" His eyes darted around the church but then he noticed a black hump surrounded in the flowers. He rushed to it and froze as he saw Tifa.
"Tifa!"
No response, again.
"Tifa!"
He was really getting worried.
"TIFA!"
He ran to her side, paying no heed to the flowers crushed under his feet and took her in his arms, he shook her gently, once, twice, but there was no response. He was about to stand up and carry her with himself to some medical lab, when a screech sounded, shattering his eardrums and extreme agony set his nerves on fire, his hand began trembling. He looked at it as dark, clotted water oozed from it on the flowers, withering them. He didn't know what to do and his mind went blank as the pain intensified, his eyes staying unfocused as flashbacks clawed at his mind, mixing the past and present until it was no longer possible to make out either of them. He lost his balance and hit the ground, Tifa falling out of his arms.
Nothing but painful flashbacks were surrounding him in his unconscious state; he was yanked into one, forced to experience the same agonizing events and hurled out with tears running down his face. Everything was Nibleheim in flames. He saw himself calling his mother's name as their house burnt and crumbled to the ground, and he sat in front of it, bereaved of all powers as his strength was shed into tears and wished to die. He even looked for something that he could finish himself with but found none. He sat helplessly, waiting for his idol to come and grace him by killing him but he never came as he was knocked out by hyperthermia.
He opened his eyes, flinching as the pain in his arm still lingered. He sat on the bed as he noticed the familiar room, it was Marlene and Denzel's room. He glanced at Tifa who was still unconscious, blaming himself for his own lack of understanding.
"You were heavy, dude."
The familiar voice rang from behind, taken off-guard, he turned around to see Rude and Reno. Cloud still had problems with comprehending how they got here and where the kids were.
"You were living with kids, right?"
"The place is empty."
His heart sank and tears were welling up in his eyes."How am I supposed to answer Barret? Where's Denzel? What's happening here?" His head hung as he was struggling to fight tears back, realizing how helpless he was."What am I going to do?"
"Are you okay with this?" Rude asked.
"I…" He was ready to voice his helplessness but he remembered how Tifa used it against his own. The silence became unbearable. He heard the redhead sigh heavily and impatiently exited the room.
"How irritating."
He stood by the window till night helplessly counting the people passing by and waiting for both Tifa to wake up and for Rude and Reno to come back. Tifa was still unconscious, making him more nervous minute by minute. He was going to do some thinking but he just couldn't, his mind staying blank."I have Geostigma. Something unknown worldwide, with no cure, no information about it. The only good thing about is that finally I'll be granted my wish. But before that…No, I can save no one. I was trying to save Aeris when that happened or Zack. I'm the cause of all this. I can't do anything right." He remembered how Tifa used to encourage him by smacking his helplessness at his face. He heard the door creak and turned around.
"You couldn't find them?" he asked as he remembered the neighbors telling him that they went playing.
"There was someone who saw those guys take the children with them." Reno said.
"To where?"
"The Forgotten Capital, Agito."
He stared blankly at Tifa, waiting for her to wake up, say something but she never did.
"I'm going to see Rufus."
Suddenly, Reno chuckle darkly."Thanks to you, he was kidnapped!"
"Kidnapped?!"
His eyes went wide as he remembered Rufus' last words about needing a bodyguard.
"Who did it? What are they going to do with him?" he asked.
"Kadaj,…" Reno was interrupted as Rude punched him lightly in the arm, he groaned."Okay, okay! Look Dude, go to Agito. Go there." Then both of them exited the room.
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Genesis was coming towards the city when he noticed a truck filled with children just heading to the place he was before. He also noticed a motorcycle just behind it;"Ah, the emotional one!" he changed his mind and turned back, following them in the air as the night's veil hid his presence.
By the time they reached the place where Vincent found the Turks, the leader of the trio was there. Genesis descended and hid between the trees. The younger that was called Kadaj seemed infuriated and was about to yell at the emotional one until he saw the huge chest in his hands and curiously snatched it away, traces of the forgotten fury still visible on his young face. He opened it, all the fury forgotten, a grin formed on his lips as he took one Materia in his hand, carefully examining it.
"Soo, Cloud was hiding these. The power that was created from the Lifestream. With these Materias, we'll gain new powers."
Then he placed the Materia in his forearm, cheerfully jumping on his bike and asked his brothers to follow him and sped up.
Genesis was getting quite tired by this hide and seek but he decided to wait and see how Vincent was going to keep his promise.
The trio took the children with them to a strange celestial marble monument. The structure was totally otherworldly, enigmatic, attracting everything towards itself as though encouraging them to interpret the secrets encrypted within it. Around it was a lake, reflecting the monument on its surface as it challenged the silver full moon in a silent rivalry. The younger stood across from the children in front of the entrance of the structure with his oldest brother by his side, a brunette clinging to his side for her safety, remaining quiet.
His other brother after letting the kids out, jumped back by his other side, all of them ready for the younger to start his speech.
The cool night breeze was caressing their faces and the full moon shone overhead, setting the whole forest alight. The white monument behind Kadaj had an otherworldly glow. This night was special; as though the whole world knew so they were preparing for their new heir, this night everything became clear, especially the outcome of the upcoming battle.
"I have been granted Mother's special power."
Kadaj's voice rang through the forest, shaking by so much joy as he was talking about his Mother and his plans to the children, his arms wide apart above his head as though he was about to receive a heavenly offering.
"Making humans suffer…It is the power I received to fight against the planet." His gaze hardened at the children, as he continued."The truth is, you all have received this power, too."
He paused, and Genesis mused how much the younger's acts were similar to his.
"Yes,…We are all brothers and sisters, we are chosen brothers and sisters who have inherited Mother's genetic remnants which are infused within the Lifestream." His back was facing the kids as they, puzzled, looked at him, all the while listening to his words carefully."However…" He turned around, those catlike green pupils iced over in cold anger,"The planet is getting in everyone's way, it's trying to stop our growth!" His hand darted forward, pointing at all the kids in front of him and his voice was rising in both pitch and volume as his anger poured into his words, "That's why you're body aches and you feel like your heart is getting crushed!" All of their eyes went wide as he was telling the truth about their living hell.
Kadaj smiled, "I will heal it for you," his physical form began wavering as raw energy was emitting from his body, "Then let's go to Mother's place!" He lifted his hand to the air as he gazed upward hatefully as he was releasing his anger in the most bizarre way, "Let us combine powers as a family and take revenge on the Planet!" A burst of energy shot in the sky as he shouted, his voice echoing through the forest and children watched with unblinking eyes, fear and worry mingling with little rays of hope in their childish eyes.
"Follow me."
Kadaj said as his features softened yet again, none of those volatile emotions lingered on his face. He stepped in the shallow lake, crystalline water turned ebony as his master's dark aura poured in it, changing it. He cupped his hands and brought the water to his lips, and as he drank he felt complete, he let his hands fall in the cold soothing water and watched the children follow his example, specially Cloud's little kid and felt very pleased, "Mother would be proud of me!", a smirk touching the corner of his lips and he heard the girl call the boy, silently begging him not to drink the water and he was suppressing his laugh at her vain efforts to stop him.
Genesis watched from the far as the younger's plan succeeded but he wanted to know how he would react to the menace that was coming their way, "This is becoming interesting." The sound of the motorcycle engine was nearing.
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Cloud was riding between the snow white crystal trees, their color in a wild contrast with the dark earth and cloudless firmament. The silvery full moon bathed the forest in its light, making the trees shine dimly, setting the whole forest alight. The sheen of the trees gradually overwhelmed his front and he looked in disbelief that he was riding through whitish blankness, his motorcycle suddenly disappearing into nothingness and he was about to fall yet kept his balance. White and yellow flowers spread under his feet as he felt something shift in the air, coolness of the night's air changing its place with a welcoming warmness.
"You came," his eyes went wide as Aeris' voice filled the silence, "even if you're about to fall apart, right?" he felt her light hand on his diseased arm and recoiled slightly from the pain.
"It's probably a good thing.""Question!" She said childishly, "Why did you come?"
He was reluctant what to answer, "I think I want to be forgiven." swallowing the lump that was forming in his throat, he nodded."Yes, I want to be forgiven."
What he didn't see coming was this, "By whom?" He looked over his shoulder but everything faded back to normal. Disappointed, he focused back on riding when two shots just reflected from his motorcycle. He saw the trio whom Rufus called their leader, Kadaj. They continued shooting and he drew two of his swords to use them as a shelter. The middle one came forth as he unsheathed his double-bladed sword and waved his hand, gesturing for, goddess knows what, to come, and suddenly he saw the children of the neighborhood block his way, and in the front were Marlene and Denzel. The boy seemed completely oblivious to what was coming his way and Cloud let go of his bike. He crashed to the ground, his swords flying out of his hands as he was rolling and rolling until he reached a stop. His bike screeched as it horizontally skidded on the ground, and Kadaj jumped on it and again next to Cloud.
Cloud miserably tried to lift himself off the ground but Kadaj couldn't help but make it more miserable for him, sarcastically he spat at him, concentrating to cause him more pain, "You showed up after all!"
Cloud winced as his hand began to ache again, an ear splitting screak filled the air, he groaned."I came to pick up the children!"
Kadaj introduced him to the kids that were gathered around him, "This man here is our big brother, But…" Kadaj was circling him like a vulture would circle its prey, his sword ready for strike, "Unfortunately…" he held his sword at his neck, "He's a traitor."
He turned around to sever his head in a powerful strike when he heard the girl's voice calling Cloud and he grimaced. Behind him, Cloud reached for his sword and swung at him yet he foresaw his move and jumped back. Bullets rained on Cloud from his brothers as they continued his uncompleted battle. Loz darted forward as Yazoo distracted Cloud and kicked him which Cloud dodged, he kicked again several times and finally hit him with his dual hound, sending him backwards. He smiled mirthfully as Cloud moaned and leaped in the air, aiming his sword at him but he kicked him and sent him flying to the ground. Yazoo came fast as Cloud was still getting up and kicked him in the chin, firing bullets at him which he deflected them all and then Cloud came at him with his sword; Yazoo jumped on Cloud's sword and then behind him, kicking him several feet away. Meanwhile, Loz gathered all his energy and struck the ground, sending a huge wave of both energy and stones towards Yazoo and Cloud. Yazoo smirked and jumped back while firing at Cloud. Cloud averted them and used his limit break. An explosion sounded throughout the forest and a fountain of dirt rained on them as two opposing energies impacted. Through the rain Loz came at Cloud, fast, shocking him and Cloud flew backwards, then Yazoo took his brother's velvet nightmare and fired at him while Loz sped back past Cloud and sent him up in the air, Yazoo used his brother's arm as a lever and followed Cloud in hot pursuit. He kicked Cloud's sword out of his hand and fired at it, sending it crashing through one of trees. Cloud ran on the branches as he arrived by his sword but then saw Loz beside the tree which he was on. With a vicious smile on his face, Loz hit the tree with his dual hound and with a huge crash the tree descended to the ground. With his sword stuck in the trunk and with another one averting Yazoo's bullets he didn't know what to do before he was doomed when out of nowhere Loz came and thanks to him, his sword broke free. He swung his swords at the two of them and they dodged and he was kicked the next moment, using his swords as a shelter from Yazoo's endless rain of bullets. He stood on the tree, fastening his swords together as he aimed for Kadaj who was awaiting him with a dark smile and leaped at him. But midway his hand went aching again, paralyzing him for a moment as he winced in agony. Kadaj parried his blow easily and instead he was the one flying backward, in a blur of motions, he vaguely saw himself defend and suddenly Kadaj was in front of him with his sword raised above his head and then everything went black.
Cloud crashed to the ground and Kadaj descended just by his side. They didn't want to kill everyone's hero here, they wanted all the people to see who was the one they were holding faith in and their disappointed faces would be a sight to see. They were finished here so they picked up the children with themselves and the president and headed for Edge.
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Genesis witnessed it all in amused silence as the trio did a perfect job. He walked towards the blond, a look of disdain clearly visible in azure eyes as he took a handful of the boy's hair and stared blankly at the childish face and grimaced. He knew that Vincent was here, he knew he was watching closely, he knew that there was an immense battle going on in his head between helping his blond friend and siding with his beloved's son and he was going to make sure whatever happened, Vincent wouldn't let Lucrecia down after all. Using that handful of hair, he carried the blond towards the shallow lake. He heard the boy moan in pain as he was gaining his consciousness. By the lake he let go of the boy's hair and instead brought him off the ground by his collar, punching his chest forcefully that sent him flying in the air and there was a crunch, possibly a few ribs broke under the impact and for making sure, with a powerful kick Cloud was thrown towards the calm water surface. Genesis' wing jutted out of his back, as if in triumph, and he leaped for the sky. The dark ebony feather rippling water surface.
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Vincent didn't really know he was doing the right thing or not. Genesis was right; they both were monsters, especially himself. He was the one who left Lucrecia and Sephiroth; He was the cause that Sephiroth now stood against the planet. If he just waited for the boy to grow up a little and then flee with his beloved and Sephiroth, all of them could live a happy life instead of living a bizarre nightmare. All the efforts he put in sewing his old wounds close all these years was turned to dust by the short confrontation with the ex-SOLDIER. He was going to think it thoroughly and watching the sadistic redhead toy with the blond didn't help him either. He turned on his heel and vanished between the trees in a whirl of crimson and black.
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Yazoo and Loz gathered all the kids in Edge's main square, the memorial of Meteor impact, which was built to remind the people of how close they were to death.
All the people also were gathered to take back their kids and some others simply watching. The parents were protesting about their act, not letting them concentrate and see whether Mother was here or not. With his patience ran out, Yazoo brought his hand up, and the people's noises went silent. There was a stirring beneath their feet and the next moment Shadow creepers appeared out of nowhere and began dishevel the group. People ran in frenzy, some running for their lives and some picking their kids up and then running away. Using the tumult to their benefit, Yazoo began pulling the chain along with his brother when two other bothersome people interrupted their search.
"What are you doing?" the redhead asked.
"Mother is here, isn't she?" Yazoo said with hidden joy.
"Why?"
This time Loz answered, eagerness sipping through his words."This, Well…Monument. Shin-Ra made this."
The redhead's face lit up as the smile on his face widened."Whoa now. You used your brain." He tapped his oddly styled hair with his index finger as his friend continued.
"However, you're wrong."
"We don't know where it is, dude."
And he burst into laughter. Loz frowned and Yazoo answered in his place, his voice becoming threateningly low."What's this? I don't believe you guys at all."
The redhead's laughter died as he understood what he meant and his bald friend became nervous, toying with his cravat as his redhead friend looked back and forth between he and them, his mouth agape. With a battle cry he charged forward and his friend followed the example.
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Cloud eyes went wide as he ran out of air and tried to get out of the water. He stood as he hungrily breathed mouthfuls of air, coughing water all the while. He clutched at his chest when it started aching, his coughs becoming tinged with crimson. He miserably got out of the lake and towards his motorcycle when he heard a soft sobbing between the bushes. He neared it and with his hand moved the branches apart and saw Marlene. Upon seeing him, Marlene jumped to her feet and embraced him as she cried freely. He crouched and hugged her, wincing from the pain in his chest but took her towards his motorcycle. With one hand he held Marlene and with the other he straightened his motorcycle. Then he noticed the kid had fallen asleep in his embrace. Poor girl had searched the whole forest from the night to dawn for Cloud but found no trace of him. Disappointed she came back to the place of the ancient monument in a hope that Cloud would come back. He sat on his cycle and cradled Marlene to his aching chest and sped for Edge.
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Genesis watched the vehement frenzy with wicked excitement as the people ran away for their lives, meanwhile listening carefully as Kadaj moved the president's wheelchair on the floor above. The cool wind gently played with his auburn locks and from time to time he had to put them back in place, yet it was soothing. The president broke the silence that hung in the air.
"Hey, Kadaj. Tell me one thing."
The boy began walking again, his footsteps echoing through the metal surface."Just one thing."
Permission granted, Genesis smiled sarcastically, "Look who's asking for permission now!"
"You said you wanted to get your hands on Jenova's cells so that you could become complete. What does that mean?"
There was a pause.
"He is…"Kadaj hesitated a bit, unsure whether he should reveal their common goal or not, "coming back!"
Genesis swore under his breath as he hoped that the boy wouldn't ruin anything or Kadaj will be damned.
"Sephiroth. A nightmare."
The president was a smart man indeed, if it was Cloud it would have taken eras for him to understand even if he saw Sephiroth face to face.
"Seems so." Kadaj said indifferently.
"Seems so?"
And again the boy went on explaining."I don't know Sephiroth. Yeah, I only feel him." Suddenly Kadaj's tone changed, emotions making his sound waver as if he was about to cry, "It pisses me off. Who did Mother choose, me or Sephiroth?"
"Pitiful Remnant."
Rufus said and Genesis grimaced as his own memories flashed through his head upon hearing those spiteful words. Rufus did a very bad mistake by saying those things.
"Regardless, the fate of humanity will be the same! Mother spent a long time travelling to this planet, to remove you fools from this universe. But…You understand, right?" Kadaj spat angrily. Rufus was silent so he went on."This place hasn't changed since Mother arrived. That's why I'm going to make Mother happy. I'll do anything Mother commands me to do."
He could imagine that Rufus was smirking."Humph, that nightmare all over again, huh?"
"As long as you people are around, the same thing will occur over and over."
"Let it happen as many times as it wants to, we will follow the path of destiny and for that reason, we will always try to stop you guys." He sounded too confident and he was sure that wouldn't be long to see that arrogant façade break and reveal the turmoil behind.
"President…is that your excuse for having Mother all to yourself? The truth is you're feeling remorse, aren't you?"
Genesis could feel Kadaj was about to lose his patience.
"Remorse? I'm having so much fun it's hard to contain."
A blue hue shone from the floor above as Genesis felt the air stir, as again he heard footsteps.
"That's good." He heard Kadaj's voice, filled with malice, "Then how about I go ahead and end this?"
A strong current of air flowed through the floors, streaks of Lifestream flowing through the ceiling and Genesis guessed what the boy was exactly about to do.