Standard Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H., Final Fantasy, or any of their related characters/concepts, nor any other properties whose characters/concepts appear in this story. This is a work of fan fiction.
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"Guardians of the Multiverse"
Book One: "The Pending Storm"
Chapter Two
Heatherfield. Chen Lin was gathering supplies from the Silver Dragon basement when a flash of light from the next aisle over drew his attention. Stepping around the corner he found the Guardians stepping through a fold along with some of their boyfriends and Zach. "You been gone?" He asked. "What's wrong?"
Knowing how easily upset her father became, Hay Lin answered "Nothing's wrong Dad. We just had to pick up Zach here for dinner."
"And that took all of you?" Chen asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well you know how it is with us ladies." Irma said. "It's like how we can't even go to the restroom alone."
"Right..." Chen replied. It was clear he didn't quite believe Irma's excuse, but surprisingly he let it go and carried his armload of paper towels and other kitchen supplies up the stairs.
As soon as he was gone, Cornelia slapped Irma across the back of her head. "'You know how us ladies are'?" Cornelia demanded. "Thanks a lot Lair, that little comment just set stereotypes back ten years!"
"Is it really a stereotype if it's true?" Miranda wondered. "I mean, I've been here close to a year now and I have to say I've never once seen any of you go to a restroom alone."
Cornelia glared at her, but everyone else laughed. "She's got a point Corny." Will said. "It really is the rule and not the exception."
"Whatever." Cornelia fumed. "Let's just get upstairs and order."
They climbed the stairs and made their way out into the Dragon's dining room, where they were happy to find that the largest table, the only one big enough to seat the whole group, was unoccupied. A waiter approached with menus, but when he recognized the girls set them aside, knowing that they would already know what they wanted to order. Meals were ordered and delivered, and small talk was the order of business as everyone wanted to cheer up Elyon who was still distress by her dream.
"So how much longer before you'll be joining us at school Zach?" Martin asked.
"Sometime next week they think." Zach answered. "Heh, I don't really know anything about computers but I guess there's some new security technology to get around in order to put my made-up information in."
Makes sense." Taranee said. "Computer hacking and viruses are endemic on Earth. The security stuff is annoying but necessary."
"I'm in no rush." Zack said. "I mean, it'll be fun to hang out more and get out of that stuffy fortress, but school? Classes? Homework? Not really my thing."
"Hear hear!" Will and Irma agreed.
Even Elyon laughed at this. "I don't think it's anyone's thing. Except maybe Tara."
"Hey!"
"Sorry, it's true Taranee." Alchemy said.
"In any case, it's school. There's no way out of it. And we'll all be glad of it when we're adults."
"Speak for yourself." Irma answered.
As they were speaking, the front doors opened and three people entered. "Hey, there's that new guy." Elyon said. "And that must be his parents, though they don't look anything like him."
Will looked over her shoulder and saw the new student, Sephiroth. The man with him was shorter, with slick black hair pulled into a ponytail and a skin tone that suggested an oriental heritage. The woman was slightly taller than the man, and had a regal bearing to her walk, but also a look of sadness on her face. Nevertheless, she was the most beautiful woman Will had ever seen, reminding her of her own Mother in some ways. But even Susan had never been THIS stunning.
"That's him alright." She said. "How did you say his name was pronounced? "Seckirat?"
"Sephiroth." Elyon replied.
At this answer, Zack leapt up from his seat. His eyes opened wide, and he stared across the room at Sephiroth, and then at the man with him, turning ghostly white as he did so. He managed to whisper-murmur "It can't be..." before falling to the floor unconscious...
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Another time. Another world, Gaia by name. Aboard the Airship Highwind the members of Avalanche were celebrating the salvation of their world. Sephiroth and Jenova had been vanquished. Gaia was battered, metaphorically bloodied, but it lived and would repair the damage in time.
But the celebrations had been interrupted by the arrival of Gaia's protector, Minerva. She had come to reveal that the identity of the world Jenova had fled to was confirmed. And she had a request, a request which made at least one member of the group uneasy...
"I do not understand your reticence." Minerva said. "I had expected you to be encouraged by the opportunity to take part in the quest to destroy Jenova once and for all."
"It's not that." Christian answered. "I'll follow anywhere in order to put a stop to her. I think we all would." All around the rest of the group nodded. "But you're also asking us to be de-aged into teenagers? Why?"
"You will have to work with that world's protectors." Minerva answered. "Ganthet believes that will work best if you are the same age they are."
"That makes sense." Yuffie said. "You know how a lot of kids have trouble working with adults."
"What's wrong love?" Aeris asked. "This is bothering you more than I've seen anything bother you before."
Christian laughed slightly. "Let's just say high school wasn't my thing."
"Oh, school!" Aeris exclaimed. "That's a bonus for me. It's not like I was able to do school here, what with all of them controlled by Shinra."
"You never went to school!?" Cloud asked.
"No. Mom bought home all the books she could find; I had to teach myself as best I could."
"That's terrible." Tifa said.
"Well..." Christian mused, "At least it'll be school without the people I had to go with before."
"That's the spirit!" Aeris said.
"Just tell me there's not any side effects or anything."
"That depends on how you define 'side effects.'" Minerva answered. "The process does not have to be permanent, though even if it were you would return to your normal ages at the usual rate. I must admit to you that this process can temporarily strip a subject of their memories. But this only happens if it is forced upon an unwilling person."
"I guess that'll have to do then." Christian agreed. "What about support? You said we were going to a version of Earth in my time period right? They don't let teenagers run around without adult caretakers there you know."
"Ganthet assures me that a member of his Tempus Council will fulfill that role. I understand he has also prepared a 'front' for your presence."
"That sounds smart. So, what can you tell us about the locals? The local heroes I mean." Tifa asked.
Minerva answered "Very little. Ganthet insists that it is best for the two groups to find each other on their own. I can tell you that you are looking for a group of young women known as the Guardians of Infinity. Each of them holds a specific magical power based upon either an elemental or a positive emotion."
"Interesting." Red mused.
"So when do we go?" Yuffie asked.
"You do not. At least not as yet. Christian and Aeris shall go alone at first. Though I suspect that the rest of you will be needed soon enough."
"Scouting first. No arguments. But Yuffie's question is still kind of valid. When do Aer and I leave?"
"Whenever you like." Minerva said. "Though the need is not so immediate that you cannot stay the remainder of today to celebrate with your friends. I will cast the spell now..." She motioned widely with her arms, and a shimmering multicolored wave passed over Aeris and Christian, "And you will both awake in the morning at your new ages."
"Will you be sending them?" Cloud asked.
"There is no need. I have imprinted the world's location into the Transit Materia Aeris carries. She will be able to see to the transfer herself, once they are prepared."
Yuffie said "Then I guess we're done! Let's Party!"
Aeris interrupted her. "Not so fast Yuff. There's one more thing we need to discuss."
"I was thinking the same thing." Red agreed. To Minerva he said "When Cloud struck the killing blow upon Sephiroth something unexpected occurred. As his form disintegrated, we saw the swirling green of his lifestream energy as well as a dark miasma which I suspect was the shadow of Jenova's influence upon him. The darkness was pulled down into Gaia's core, but contrary to what should have happened the lifestream energy was not. It seemed to hover in the air for a time, before seeming to evaporate."
"That was strange..." Cloud agreed.
"Yes. Most unusual." Minerva agreed. "I will look into this at once." And with that she vanished from their sight.
"This is gonna be weird..." Christian mused.
"Hey, better you than me, yo." Reno said.
"We'll worry about the weird in the morning." Aeris said, taking her husband's hands. "For now, let's do as Minerva suggested and enjoy the celebration."
As he turned and wrapped his arms around her, Christian agreed. "You're right. As usual..." As Yuffie started music playing he smiled. "Care for a dance?"
"Love to..."
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As Zach came to, the first thing he saw was the concerned faces of the Guardians leaning down over him. Alchemy in particular looked concerned. "Whuh happened?" He asked.
As she and Will helped him sit up, Alchemy said "That's what I wanna ask you! You just went pale and fell over. You've been out for like half an hour."
Looking around, Zach saw that he had been moved. He was lying on a cot in the Dragon's basement. "Weird... I'm not sure..."
"It's never happened before?" Taranee asked.
"No, never. At least not that I remember, not since I woke up in that forest... What was I doing before it happened?"
Will explained "We were eating dinner. A new guy from school came in with his parents, and when you saw him you freaked out then fainted."
"He freaked out when he heard the name Will." Elyon said. "Let's try it again: Sephiroth."
Zach's eyes opened wide again, but he didn't faint this time. A swirl of memories teased the edges of his amnesia: Sephiroth, Genesis, Angel... Hojo. "Hojo..." He whispered.
"What?" Irma asked. "Hojo? What do Howard Johnson hotels have to do with this?"
"Howard who?"
Cornelia punched Irma, hard. "Ignore her. You're remembering something aren't you?"
"Yes and no. I mean, yes, but it's disconnected, without context." He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "It's weird... The name Sephiroth, I think I knew someone with that name, and that guy looks like him, but it can't be him. For one thing, I think the Sephiroth I knew was, like, in his thirties."
To the other Guardians, Taranee thought "But remember, Zach has said he seems to remember being older himself, before he was bought here."
"That's true." Miranda agreed, "But didn't this Sephiroth seem to have memories of being from here?"
"He said his family moved here from the east." Elyon thought to them. "But he was flighty... weirdly nonspecific... I dunno..."
"If it wasn't him, what upset you Zach?" Hay Lin asked.
"His father. I'm remembering another name, Hojo. Professor, I think, Hojo. And I think there was something terrifying about the professor, and I think this Sephiroth's dad looks just like him."
The girls all looked at each other at this, and suspicious thoughts passed between them. Then Elyon took Cornelia's hand and said "Come with me, I've got an idea. The rest of you wait here." The Queen led Cornelia up the stairs back to the dining room and looked around. There. There across the room sat the new student with his parents. Walking to them with Cornelia in tow, she stopped at the table and said "Hi! Remember me from school today?"
Sephiroth glanced over. "Indeed. Elyon, was it?"
"Yes. I just wanted to introduce my friend! This is Cornelia."
"A pleasure." Sephiroth answered. He frowned. "Is your other friend well? I noticed him become ill as we arrived. Perhaps my father could have a look at him, or mother. Both are doctors." He motioned to them. "My father, Hojo, and my mother Lucrestia." Elyon couldn't help but notice that the mother seemed concerned, but the father merely annoyed.
"No, thank you. He just ate too much wasabi. We tried to warn him. Anyway, we'd better be getting back but I hope to see you again tomorrow."
The girls returned to the basement and revealed all that had happened. "It could still just be a coincidence." Irma argued. Everyone stared at her in disbelief. "Well it could!" She insisted.
"It's not impossible Irma." Taranee agreed, "But can we take the chance?"
Elyon was adamant: "No, we can't. We need to start keeping an eye on them."
Will agreed. "But only one eye. If they are innocent the last thing we need is to be so focused on them that we miss the real threat. Like when we thought Joel was working for Phobos."
"Alright. It's settled then. We'll work out a plan tomorrow..."