Disclaimer: I do not own FFVII or any of characters.
Author's Note: Somewhere this week I'm gonna upload a side story to this chapter, for anyone interested.
"No offense people, but, we really need to get down to business… We don't have all the time in the world to solve this, it has to be today!"
"Aerith… why does it have to be today? I don't… remember anything special about today. So, what are you talking about?"
"Exactly eleven years ago you were only a month away of being enrolled into the SOLDIER project. This is the best date as of yet, over a month you'll be in Midgar and you will need all the time you can get to get used to that life again before you actually enroll, besides, it's best if you wake Vincent up before you leave Nibelheim. So, we need to do this, now. Any other day might be too late."
"Then we'll begin, please tell use what we're supposed to do, Aerith. Before we left the Lifestream, you did not explain it very well to anyone of us." Sephiroth stared at the Cetra girl for a moment before fixing his gaze on Cloud once more. The blond was still standing close to him, as was Vincent, although he seemed to have calmed down a lot.
"Okay, we'll need to form a circle. Vincent, it's best if you stay away from this for now. I don't want to poison you by coming in contact with the Lifestream but…"Aerith shrugged apologetic.
"I understand, will you call for me when it is done? I'll stay close so I can hear you." Vincent stepped closer to Cloud after he saw Aerith's nod and smiled at his friend. "That we may meet again, Cloud, in better circumstances this time. Be well my friend, we'll miss you." Cloud smiled back at the man before pulling him in a hug. Vincent pulled away almost immediately and in a black and red haze he was gone again.
"Now, Cloud, you should stand there so we can form a circle around you. Everyone, we've got to hold hands for this, it's the easiest way for the Lifestream to transport through us. Zack, Yazoo, give me your hands. Now close your eyes and focus on the Lifestream inside of you, I'm taking it from you." Aerith glanced around the circle before locking eyes with Cloud, he smiled and nodded at her and she too let herself slip into a trance.
Slowly growing green waves were dancing just inside the circle, almost touching the edges but always pulling back just in time. They started circle around him, going left at full speed before suddenly breaking of by going right again, all the while the waves got higher and higher until Cloud could see nothing but green dancing around him. In the distance he could hear Aerith's voice telling the others what was happening and what they were supposed to do. Then the waves suddenly stopped, they crashed down to the ground and a thick stream of green continued circling him with a sickening speed. He looked up into Aerith's eyes and she smiled at him, full of confidence and he knew this was going to work. The green had pulled up tighter around him and slowly started to climb up, covering his body with a thin layer of Lifestream.
"You should say goodbye now." Aerith voice became part of the Lifestream almost and wrapped around him in a secure blanket, protecting his soul almost.
"Stay safe, Spike. Don't let me push you around so much again."
"Save the world, Cloud. Save me."
And then everything went green. Zack's and Sephiroth's voice had joined Aerith's in the secure blanket around his soul and with a little force he managed to get Vincent's voice to join them. They protected him as the green swallowed him and spit him out, wave after wave. It felt like he was torn apart limb for limb over and over again. At the same time it felt like he was taking a hot bath after a hard day's work. His life kind of flashed in front of his eyes.
He saw his mother how he'd known and remembered her; as a strong fierce woman, only slightly taller then he was and always there for him with what ever he needed. She didn't once blame him for getting picked on so much; instead she waited for him with band-aids and false promises no one could ever fulfill of freedom and hope.
He saw Zack, his savior when he had just joined the ShinRa army. The man had always cheered him up and protected him from every kind of danger. It had been Zack to give his life so Cloud could live on, and right now he could see Zack dying again.
He saw Tifa, how she had been when he was younger, and how she had been years later, in their hunt for Sephiroth. She'd grown up in some ways, but from time to time he still resented her for wanting him, merely because of what he survived.
He saw Aerith, smiling gently at him and taking his hands. She protected him also, always had. From the moment they first met to this very moment, she'd always been there for him, floating in the back of his mind as a sweet memory.
He saw Avalanche how it had been before the final battle. One by one their faces came by, smiling at him and supporting his decision. They pushed him forward and covered his back when he needed them to do so. He'd defiantly miss them.
Then he saw Sephiroth, walking through the hallways of the ShinRa headquarters with Zack beside him. The man wasn't smiling but Cloud knew, it was the closest he ever got. His eyes twinkled and the right corner of his mouth was slightly curling upwards. The hallway started to disappear and the twinkle left Sephiroth's eyes.
The man was now holding Masamune tightly in his hand with a smirk on his face but his eyes, they were empty. He started coming closer and Cloud could see himself retreat. He got younger with each step backwards, until he was barely twelve years old. Masamune had disappeared as well and Sephiroth pulled Cloud in his arms.
And then Cloud started to change, his hair fell down straight and grew until it reached his lower back. He buried his face in Sephiroth's chest but was turned around so he could stare himself in the eye. His eyes, which had been bright blue just a few seconds ago, were now as green as Sephiroth's were. The image started to twist and turn in the background and suddenly there he was again. Looking normal but with one hand on his lower stomach and an arm around Sephiroth's shoulders.
Cloud screamed.
Aerith watched as Cloud fell to his knees and screamed. She wanted to rush towards him and help him up and she knew that she wasn't the only one. Cloud's screams got louder and blood started to trickle down Cloud's chin. Aerith wasn't sure where it came from; maybe he just burst his lip or a vein popped in his throat. She wasn't worried though, not yet.
The Lifestream was now completely covering Cloud and shaping around him to keep him covered no matter what. It wouldn't be long now, and Cloud's soul would slowly be separated from his body. While Angeal, Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz focused on protecting Cloud's body with the Lifestream and supporting the others, Zack, Aerith and Sephiroth focused on protecting Cloud's soul and carefully freeing it from his body because they knew him best. They knew what he went through and what he had to do. They knew his life and how hard it had been, they knew of his scars, both inside and out. Those three together knew Cloud better then Cloud knew himself and they knew which parts of his memory and soul they needed to save and protect. He would be kept safe by them, no matter what.
Slowly the green started to seep into Cloud, straight through his body into his soul. His body started to relax and straightened itself until he was standing up again. The Lifestream inside of him lifted him up until only the tip of his toes barely touched the floor. His head fell back and his back arched slowly, lifting him even higher of the ground. Slowly he started to spin circles in the circle of protection as a thin green stream left his lips and floated above him. With every bit of green that left Cloud's body, a perfect replica was built above him by the green smoke, containing his soul.
Carefully Angeal and Kadaj let Cloud's body lower to the floor while Loz and Yazoo had already joined Zack, Aerith and Sephiroth in protecting and helping Cloud's soul survive the separation. Cloud's body lay on the ground, the eyes wide open but not seeing anything. The eyes were empty, only the feint glow of mako remained.
Straight out of Aerith's heart came a string of the purest Lifestream since the existence of the Planet which wrapped itself around the green cloud that contained Cloud's soul. Slowly the Lifestream pulled Cloud's soul towards Aerith until it was floating in front of her. She smiled and gently placed a hand against the green cloud. From the inside out she could feel a slight pressure against her hand, as if Cloud was aware of her action and tried to touch her.
"It's all going to be okay Cloud, we'll meet again soon."
The Lifestream and Cloud's soul entered her and used her body as portal to the real Lifestream which flowed everywhere and easily passed the boundaries of time and space. Aerith felt Cloud pass through her, felt his regret for leaving them all behind and his excitement for getting another chance to make everything up to everyone he had hurt.
And then he was gone.
The Lifestream left the people in the circle so they were invisible to the living beings once more. Only Aerith was faintly visible, as always. Vincent joined them again the moment Zack stepped forward and took Cloud's body in his arms, there were tears in his eyes. Angeal didn't waste a second to comfort his friend and sat down beside Zack, wrapping one arm around Zack's shoulders, the others just watched.
"He'll be fine, Zack. He'll save us all because now he knows what to do. He will protect you this time around, and you won't even know it. All you have to do now is keep an eye on what remains of him, while he saves the entire Planet again, before it can be destroyed." Sephiroth smiled slightly before walking back into the Lifestream, followed by his brothers and Angeal, giving Aerith and Zack the chance to say goodbye.
"You better watch over him damned well, Vincent, or I'll come back to haunt your ass! He… he deserves this; he deserves the happiness he'll get in that other world. Maybe that way, he'll finally forgive himself." Zack sighed and kissed Cloud's forehead softly. Then Zack too, stood up and left, he wasn't even able to wait for Aerith any longer, seeing Cloud's empty body cut him deeper then he had thought it would.
Aerith turned around to face Vincent and she carefully took his hands in hers. She wasn't sure why but she was actually still half solid, a little see through probably, and not visibly to people who weren't looking, but she could still touch. Vincent looked at her expectantly, as if he knew there was more coming then anyone else had anticipated.
"I know what happens to Cloud when he calls for you, Vincent, there's no need to explain… I just hope he won't have to go through that again now. Maybe we stopped it from happening this way, we'll know in time I suppose." She let go of Vincent's hands and sighed softly as she turned back to Cloud and picked him up gently. He weighed little more then a feather now. "I have one last thing to ask of you before I go, it won't be an easy job either. Are you up for it?"
Vincent nodded and took Cloud's body from her arms. "Yes, ma'am, what is it?"
"Someone needs to tell his friends about his… crossing over. Suicide is the safest path to go with I suppose. No one would believe he got killed by a monster, not after everything he already lived through. He wasn't happy here, everyone knows that, they'll understand… eventually."
"I will pass the message on, Aerith. But you should not worry about this Planet for any longer; danger has left a long time ago. It is time for you to enjoy the paradise you've been given. Zack'll need your support as well. Cloud will be save with me, I promise."
Aerith smiled at the man in front of her, before returning to her lover. She did not envy Vincent, even if he was alive. He was burdened for ages to come for taking care of Cloud's body, he would have to see Cloud age slowly, while Cloud would never be actually there. And then there was Tifa, it was his job now to tell her about Cloud's supposed suicide. Aerith could only hope the Planet would cure this as well, over time.
