FINAL FANTASY VII-VIII

TWO WORLDS

AN:This chapter turned out longer than I expected, and a lot more grim than I expected as well. Not really anything else to say other than please enjoy.

Chapter 10

Cloud woke up to see the apologetic face of Doctor Kadowaki looking down at him. He turned his head, and winced at the lances of pain that shot through his body.

"Take it easy, you were in bad shape. I need to run a quick test, is that alright?" Kadowaki asked.

"Sure." Cloud responded as the pain faded. He stretched his limbs a bit. They were a bit sore, but nothing to bad.

Kadowaki cast a Scan spell, then after a moment of looking confused, she cast another. "That can't be right, according to these spells you're already mostly healed."

"I've always been a fast healer." Cloud shrugged.

"Still, try not to push it for the next few days." Kadowaki said, then added "You might want to get ready. Squall is on his way to speak to you."

Cloud sighed as he allowed his mind to replay those agony filled moments when Sephiroth had poisoned him. He knew Sephiroth was responsible. Dread filled him at the prospect that even here in this unfamiliar world he was still uanble to escape that man.

"About what happened earlier?" Cloud guessed.

"I don't know, but its a safe bet." Kadowaki said.

Squall chose that moment to walk in. His face held a carefully neutral expression, but it was impossible to miss the anger in his eyes.

He glanced briefly at Kadowaki. "I would like to speak to him alone."

Kadowaki sighed. "Fine, but don't push to hard." That said, she departed from the room leaving the two of them alone.

Squall took a seat in the chair beside the bed as Cloud met his gaze. Finally he said "Tell me about Sephiroth."

Cloud was silent for several moments. He had expected this conversation. He remembered yelling that name.

"Its a personal story." Cloud told him.

"Not anymore." Squall informed him coldly.

Cloud raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"

Squall seemed to consider his response, as if not sure how much he should reveal to Cloud. "At the moment, the government of Galbadia believes Sephiroth is in league with Balamb, and responsible for sabetouging their attempted counter-attack on Timber, a smaller nation that was subjegated by Galbadia years ago, and has recently entered into a state of rebellion. If we can't prove that Sephiroth is not working with us inside of forty-eight hours, Galbadia will declare war on Balamb Garden."

"I see." Cloud said.

"I need to know everything I can about Sephiroth if I'm going to catch him." Squall insisted.

"You won't be able to catch Sephiroth." Cloud told him simply.

"Why not?" Squall asked.

Cloud remembered words Sephiroth had once spoken to him, and relayed them "To change ones voice, looks, and words is the power of Jenova."

Squall frowned. "Jenova?"

"Jenova was a calamity that struck my world thousands of years ago. She was more or less a virus, only on a planetary scale. Sephiroth is, in a sense, her son. She didn't give birth to him, but he received her cells when in the womb, and has inherited her abilities." Cloud explained.

"The cells were injected into him when he was in the womb? So he was a genetic experiment of some kind?" Squall asked.

"Yes." Cloud said shortly. "As I said he can change his form at will. You won't see him unless he wants you to."

"There has to be a way." Squall insisted. "You have had conflict with him in the past right? What did you do?"

"I played right into his hands, and gave him exactly what he needed to win." Cloud replied simply.

Squall tried to keep his frustration in check "He has to have some weakness."

Cloud considered that for a moment. There was one weakness that Sephiroth had. "His pride. He views himself as being above other lifeforms. He doesn't consider anyone to be a threat to him."

Squall tried to think how they might be able to use that against Sephiroth. "If he knew where to find Rinoa, would he come after her for stopping him?"

"Probably." Cloud decided after a moments thought.

Squall stood from his chair. "Robby and Jenny are waiting to take you back to your room so you can get some rest."

Squall turned to leave, but Cloud spoke "I'll do my best to help you, but I'll need my sword back."

Squall glanced over his shoulder. "I'll see what I can do."

Cloud waited a moment, before moving out to the hall where Jenny and Robby were waiting.

"Hey man, you alright?" Robby asked.

"You scared the crap out of us." Jenny added.

"I'm fine now." Cloud said running a hand through his hair. "Lets go."

"Sure thing." Robby said, then added "But do you want to stop and get something to eat first." Cloud decided that he did.

–

Three of the original eight members of the hunting party make it back to Balamb. One was mauled badly and is rushed to the hospital. Another has a bite wound on his arm that he keeps hidden. The last was unharmed. The two decide to go to the coffee house to cool down. The unharmed man calls his wife to tell her he is ok, and that he will be home in a bit. The other isn't married, and his parents are in Dollet on vacation. Soon, the man with the wound begins to feel dizzy. His vision blurs. A voice whispers cruel things in his ears, claws at the inside of his skull. His friend notices something wrong, asks if he's ok. But the wounded man doesn't see his friend before him, he sees an enemy.

KILLKILLKILL demands the voice. His hunting rifle falls unnoticed to the floor as he jumps over the table and attacks the other, clawing and biting and shrieking like an animal. The other patrons move to stop him. He keeps clawing and biting until he is eventually killed by a blow to the head. His friend is dead already.

In the hospital, the mauled man can't stop coughing. Pain builds in his right arm. The doctors are horrified as it mutates into a tentacle with a fierce barb at the end. It snakes out and slices a surgeon in two. The doctors run as the man rises up with unnatural strength. The police are called. By the time they arrive four people are dead, and six more wounded. KILLKILLKILL goes the voice, and so the man does until several rounds form the police bring him down.

The people being questioned by the police at the coffee shop start to feel strange, as do patients and doctors alike in the hospital. Random people in the street who had only passing contact feel an itch in the back of their skull. A family boards the train heading out of town, they feel a strange crawling sensation under their skin. A man rides on the ferry to Dollet on a buisness trip. His throat is scratchy, and its getting hard to breathe.

The virus spreads.

–

Squall looked up at Zell, Selphie, Irvine, and Quistis. He had called all of them to his office. They had saved the world together, and he knew that they were the most elite team on the planet.

"Why are ya callin' us up here at this time of night man!?" Zell complained.

"Yeah, I need some beauty sleep!" Selphie whined.

"You don't need beauty sleep, you look sexy all the time." Irvine assured her.

"There is a difference between sexy and beauty." Selphie informed him.

Hoping to cut in before he lost all control of the conversation Squall said "As interesting as this conversation is, there is an important reason I called you here."

Seeing that he had their attention he said "Quistis already knows some of it. Recently, a man named Cloud appeared inside Garden. When he awoke he claimed to be from another world. He seems harmless enough. However, it seems another man, by the name of Sephiroth has followed him here."

"Wait, he's claiming to be from another world!? I don't buy that!" Zell declared.

"Whether its true or not, we need to find this Sephiroth soon. He's been causing trouble for Galbadia." Squall replied.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Selphie asked.

"It might be, except that Galbadia thinks he's in leage with us. If we can't prove otherwise in forty-eight hours, we will be at war." Squall gave that a moment to sink in, then passed out manila folders to each of them. "This contains all the information on this matter we have so far, memorize it."

Talking amongst themselves, they left the office.

–

After a decent meal, Cloud returned to his room, and was immensely pleased to find the Buster Sword resting against the wall. He picked up slowly, almost reverently, viewing it as one might view an old friend. He checked it for materia. His old materia was still there, but it didn't seem to hold any magic. Not surprising since he was in another world. The materia probably couldn't connect with the lifestream anymore. With a regretful sigh, he tossed the orbs aside.

"Oh well, I'll just have to rely on my own abilities." He muttered, then gave a couple of practice swings with the sword. It felt familiar, and comfortable. Cloud also noticed that the books he had been intending to check out were stacked on his desk.

"Might as well read up on my history." He took a seat at the desk, leaning the Buster Sword against the side of the desk, and started reading. First he memorized the planets geography, and the locations and names of major cities. Then he began reading up on recent history, roughly the last twenty years or so. It was almost three in the morning when he dozed off.

–

Cloud soon became aware of his surroundings. To his surprise he was not at his desk. He stood in the middle of a swirling green light. He glanced around as the air seemed to fluctuate.

"I know this place." He said. There was a sudden surge of light, like a camera flash, and he was standing in the town square of Nibelheim. It appeared to be night.

"Cloud." A voice spoke from behind him. He whirled to find Sephiroth standing at the top of the stairs that led towards the Shinra Mansion.

"Sephiroth!" He shouted as he reached for his sword. It wasn't there.

Sephiroth smiled as he observed the blond. "Ha Ha Ha.....You seem to be missing something."

Cloud growled. "What do you want!?"

A chuckle. "What I want? I want you to get on your knees and beg for my forgiveness."

"Beg for your forgiveness!?" Cloud growled in a rage. "After all you've done you want me to beg for your forgiveness!?"

Sephiroth laughed, and with a sudden flash they stood in the City of the Ancients, on the very alter where Aerith had been killed.

"You think the life of this girl mattered?" He asked with amusement as an image of Aerith appeared, kneeling on the platform.

Cloud felt his knees go weak as he saw her, but kept his glare on Sephiroth. "Of course!"

"Why?" Sephiroth asked. "She was an inferior being."

"She was a human being, and the last Cetra, and my friend. Damnit I loved her!" Cloud growled.

"You are a puppet, Cloud. You cannot feel love." Sephiroth told him.

"Shut up!" Cloud growled. Sephiroth chuckled as once again the scenery changed. Nibelheim was burning. Cloud felt the heat, and the old pain in his heart.

Sephiroth stood in the spot where he had years ago just before walking into the fire, looking calmly down at Cloud.

"Why do you continue to deny your nature?" Sephiroth asked. Images of Cloud's companions flashed on all sides. "You are alone in this world. Nobody here understands you, or knows you. Except me."

"Its because of you my friends aren't with me." Cloud spat back with a snarl. An incredible sadness filled his heat as he spoke. "Its becase of you that I could never speak with Aerith again, or hold Tifa, or argue with Barret. Share a beer with Cid. Put up with Yuffie, or talk with Nanki, or glare at Cait Sith, or just stand around with Vincent. Its because of you I don't have a home anymore, or my mother. I will never forgive that, and I will never be your puppet!"

Sephiroth tilted his head slightly and shrugged. "They mean so much to you?" There was a flash. Tifa stood behind Cloud. "I could give them to you." She whispered.

Cloud whirled and suddenly it was Aerith there. "You could enjoy everything you missed."

Cloud turned back towards Sephiroth. "How dare you!"

Yuffie was at his side "Hey Cloud! See any cool materia?"

"Stop it!" Cloud growled, pressing his hands to his ears.

Another flash. Cloud stood in his house. His mother was there. "Oh, hello Cloud." She said. "Its been forever since I saw you! How are you!?"

"Enough!" Cloud fell to his knees.

"Cloud, are you ok?" His mother asked.

"Please, leave me alone." He said weakly.

"Its alright. Here, why don't you sit down for awhile." She helped him into a chair. He tried to resist Sephiroth's temptations, but this was so real! It felt so nice. How could he turn away from this? He could have his family, and his friends. All he needed to do was help Sephiroth, and was that really so bad? He was destined to rule the pla-

"Get out of my head!" Cloud roared as he surged to his feet. He was in the blazing Nibelheim again.

Sephiroth frowned at him. "You still deny who you are?"

Cloud growled. "I don't know a whole lot about the people of this world, and I don't really know them. But anyones better than you!"

Sephiroth chuckled. "What will you do when those people are gone?"

"They won't be gone." Cloud said defiantly.

"How ignorant." Sephiroth scoffed. "The cycle has already started." Before Cloud could say anything else the Masamune appeared in Sephiroth's hand and the Silver Soldier flew across the intervening distance to fast for Cloud to react. Just as the Masamune made contact with his chest, he awoke to find himself slumped on his desk. There was a moment of silence as he leaned back, gasping for air and wiping the sweat from his brow.

"Just a dream." He said, then "No, not a dream. A vision."

What did he mean by'The Cycle'? Cloud wondered. He thought about it for a moment, and suddenly his eyes widened with alarm and he sprang to his feet.

He raced to the door where Jeny was standing guard. "I need to speak with Squall, now!"