Final Fantasy VII (c) Square Enix. Character design by Nomura Tetsuya. No profit is being made out of this fanwork.

For blahrius. Sort of! XD

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Sojourners
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Chapter Twenty-Five
Time changes everything.

Zax tied the last of the tranquillised men onto the pillar and stepped back to admire his handiwork.

When Vincent and him had arrived at the location the Seek materia had pointed them to, they found no materia of the black or white kind. Instead, there was a small nest of surprised rebels, who quickly and effectively got themselves ready for a sudden attack from the enemy.

Not that Vincent and Zax had been trying to attack them, but the Bazookas were having none of their 'excuses'.

Thankfully, Vincent had a magazine of tranquillisers ready. He sedated most of the rampaging Bazookas without much difficulty, whereas Zax took care of the rest. After that, they tied the unconscious men onto the pillars of the cave they were in, to prevent a re-enactment of what had just happened when they woke up.

After that brief review in his head, Zax now turned to look at Vincent. "This wasn't supposed to happen, was it?" He asked. "The Seers said the Seek spell will direct us to the black or white materia."

Vincent was reloading his gun. At first, it did not seem like he was even paying attention to Zax. After he slid the ammunition into position with a sharp click, however, he addressed Zax in a sombre voice, saying, "That is what we had been led to believe, yes. Instead of finding the black or white materia for us, the Seek spell directed us towards a Bazooka hideout. Now, this can only mean two things. One, is that the Bazookas have the materia. The other, is that we have been deceived by the Seers."

Zax scratched the back of his head with a sigh. "Given their track record, I'm inclined to believe the latter. The Seers want to vanquish the Bazookas and will stop at nothing to achieve their aim. But... maybe we should give them the benefit of the doubt. So... I guess we'll have to either wake one of these guys up to ask about the materia, or ransack the place ourselves, huh?"

"That won't be necessary," Vincent replied, while looking at the Seek materia in his hands. "The Seek spell is completely silent now. If it was really designed to locate the materia for us, it would still be guiding us until we find it. This silence can only mean that..."

"That the Seers purposely made the Seek spell lead us here, so that we can clean the place up for them," Zax narrowed his eyes unhappily. "That's not what was supposed to happen. They promised Cloud they'd let him handle this!"

Vincent kept the yellow orb. He turned on his heels and walked towards the exit of the room without a second thought. "So they did. However, speculation will get us nowhere. I am sure the Seers will be more than happy to provide us with a much clearer picture. Once I get my hands on them, that is," there was a hard, dangerous glint in Vincent's eyes as he said this. "And I've arranged with Cloud to meet back at the Woodlands Area in three days time, anyway. One more day left now."

Zax had been following the ex-Turk. He, too, saw no reason why they should remain in the enemy's hideout any longer. At the mention of Cloud's name, however, the SOLDIER stopped walking abruptly. He had been thinking about the boy, but things had been moving along too fast for him to ask any questions. And then Sephiroth had to go and drop the bomb on Project War Blocks. Quickly driving that thought out of his mind, he said, "That would mean that Cloud and Sephiroth are doing battle with the Bazookas now too, wouldn't it?"

In front, Vincent paused in his step as well. He resumed walking soon enough, however. This time, with a quicker pace. "You're right," he mumbled. "That would certainly be the case."

Zax continued walking as well, and soon the duo were out of the stuffy cave and basking in the rays of the sun. They had been directed to the archipelago of Wutai by the Seek materia. Most of the Wutai continent had always been a desert, even during Zax' time period. Apparently nothing much had changed from his time on this island.

As Vincent faced the low-lying area below the outcrop they stood on and considered their fastest route back to the Woodlands area, Zax turned towards him. "How long have you known Cloud?" Came the sudden question.

Derailed from his line of thought, Vincent blinked at Zax in split second surprise. He then schooled his features into nonchalance. "Do you perhaps mean to ask, how long has Cloud been living?"

The SOLDIER pursed his lips, slightly annoyed yet relieved at Vincent's perceptiveness. Then he threw both his hands up into the air. "Yes. Yes, I'm just curious. You can't expect me not to. Did you know, that just a few days ago... a few days before I got pulled forward in time, that is... I went for dinner with Cloud at Sector 5? He was as shy and good-natured as usual; didn't talk much but when he did, it was always about the kind of cadet training he was receiving. I was telling him about SOLDIER, because he wanted so much to become one and I was afraid he wasn't thinking clearly enough about what he was getting into. And then a few days later, I land in the future... and not just any future - a few /thousand/ years in the future... but wait, that's not all! My shy and good-natured cadet is here too! With glowy eyes! And super-strength! And the demeanour of a man who's gone where no man has gone and seen what no man has seen! Good grief! Now that I think about it, I'm unbelievably surprised at how I've managed to keep my mouth shut about it until now!" Zax slapped his own forehead.

Vincent merely watched the man as he went on berating himself.

"So anyway, back on topic," Zax sighed, after taking a short while to collect his thoughts. "Let me answer that question for you. Obviously Cloud has been living for a few thousand years. But here's what I really wanted to know... Why? How did that happen?

"Will that change anything?" Vincent mumbled.

Zax was taken aback by the unexpected reply. "What?"

"Will my answer to that question make Cloud any less of a friend to you?" Vincent elaborated. When no answer seemed forthcoming, he continued, "If you must know the details about Cloud's longevity, you would do best to ask him yourself. But do not think that Cloud is trying to obscure information from you if he chooses not to tell. In all honesty, I don't know everything myself, either. What's done cannot be undone, no matter how many times the Planet messes with the time. What I can tell you, however, is that it was not pleasant. But Cloud has matured. He no longer tries to pretend like the past never existed. Instead, he's accepted everything that has happened and has determined to carry on living, fully prepared for the consequences." There was a faraway look in Vincent's eyes as he said this. "And he still calls you his best friend," the man added, almost like it was an afterthought.

Zax simply stared at Vincent - almost to the point of scrutinising. "I don't intend to probe, or invade Cloud's right to keep his life to himself," he started, his tone cautious to a fault, "but when I look at him - the Cloud now, that is... I can't help but feel like something went terribly wrong somewhere." He paused. Then sighed. "I just wanted to know... what I can do to make it better. I've lost friends and comrades unnecessarily to mindless skirmishes before, and the sense of helplessness that comes after that... the feeling that if only I could have done better... protected them from the darkness they were fighting... it eats me up from inside out, you know?" Zax gave a dry laugh, a smile of resignation on his face. "I mean, I know Cloud's a tough little cookie, but still... times changes everything, yah?"

"He didn't go through it alone," Vincent's soft voice interrupted Zax, who blinked at him. "Whatever it was that went wrong in his life, he didn't have to endure it by himself."

For a while after that, it was just the two of them staring at each other.

Then Zax smiled - a happier smile this time. "I guess that's what I wanted to know the most," he said. "Ah... we should probably start going back soon, if we want to make it in time for three days, huh?" His smile became a grin. "I'm still not entirely convinced, mind you, but I know my priorities. And the long walk here has certainly made me calm enough to face the boss again..." he trailed off, face darkening slightly at the thought of having to broach the topic about the Wutai War again with Sephiroth. Soon, however, a look of resolve crossed over his features, and he started down the path leading back to lowland. "Thanks a bunch, for taking care of Cloud," he said, with his back turned.

But Vincent understood the import of Zax' words. "No," the man whispered under his breath. "Thank YOU."

The tension had long since dissipated. And the two warriors began their journey back to Woodlands Area - where the story had started, and where it would hopefully come to an end.

x-x

When Vincent and Zax made it back to the Woodlands Area, the upper parts of the Ancient Temple was already visible through the canopy of the untouched forest. Vincent was surprised. It must have been centuries since he saw the temple in clear sight from such a long distance. He had a bad premonition, and without warning Zax, took off at full speed in the direction of the towering ziggurat.

He heard Zax shout something from behind, but ignored him because he knew the man was fast enough to keep up with him. As he whisked his way through the forest, he could sense a magical thrumming in the air. It was similar to the kind of sensation he got whenever he stood inside an Exit Glyph. This meant that someone had surrounded the entire Woodlands Area, or at least a large portion of it, with some materia.

'Dispel, most probably,' thought Vincent to himself. But he was not going to think too much about that for now. It was to his relief, however, that he neither met nor sensed anybody in the area besides Zax. On the other hand, it could also mean that the people who had done this were all already inside the temple. One final leap with a strong burst of energy later, he was at the feet of the temple, looking up at the stone monument with something akin to aghast.

It had not been evident from the long distance off, with all the trees obscuring his vision, but Vincent now saw that someone had used an extremely high level fire spell on the entire front part of the building. The entrance had melted and was now a mound of something else on the floor. The area around the hole that had been made was scorched charcoal black.

"That's a pretty sight," Zax whistled semi-appreciatively. "Kinda looks like the time Sephiroth burned a hole through Hojo's lab during one of his routine tests..." the SOLDIER caught himself as he said that. "Oh boy... don't tell me Sephiroth did this?"

Vincent narrowed his eyes. "I hadn't thought of that possibility," he admitted. "I was thinking that the Bazookas might have found this place. But the temple has always been under Gaia's protection... now that you mention it, it seems far more likely that Sephiroth and Cloud were behind this attack, although..." the man stared at the large, gaping hole that led into the temple proper. "...they didn't have to do this if they wanted get inside. What could have happened...?"

"There's only one way to find out, isn't there?" Zax was walking carefully towards the charred entrance, his weapon already drawn. "And we shouldn't dismiss the possibility that the Bazookas could have done this. After all, if they could find project war blocks, I see no reason why they couldn't have found some other stuff Sephiroth had written to use for themselves."

"You are right," Vincent, too, drew his weapon. "We cannot be too careful. Whatever the case, we won't find out anything until we investigate this closer." He stepped in line with Zax, and they approached the destroyed entryway together.

When he was at a close enough distance, he found his olfactory senses being assaulted with the strong smell of something burning. This, he credited to the pile of steaming, melted rocks that had gathered in a pool at the floor in front of them. He activated a random command materia and threw it in, letting the bright glow light up the path for them.

The materia landed on a blackened floor. The walls of the passageway were also smoothly charred to a perfect shade of midnight black.

Beside Vincent, Zax whistled again. "Definitely smells like Sephiroth," he remarked. "That fire spell I was mentioning about just now? It not only burned a hole through the lab - it burned right through the lab and the /other/ rooms behind it, all the way until it burst out from the other side of the Shinra building in a pretty display of sparks and fireworks. I think the president banned Hojo from Sephiroth for a while after that. Man, that guy creates legends even when there's no war around," Zax chuckled.

Vincent had walked in to pick up the materia by now. He willed it to glow brighter, so that they could see further. The entire passageway appeared to be in the same colour. And the smell of burnt matter did not disappear as Vincent walked further into the passage. "Something must have happened," there was worry on the man's face. "Something bad enough to garner a reaction that only Hojo managed to get from Sephiroth."

Zax promptly stopped grinning, sobering up in a split second. "You're right," the SOLDIER mumbled, when the implications behind Vincent's words finally sank in. "By the Planet... you're right...!"

"Let's go," Vincent commanded softly, but with determination.

As the duo slowly made their way through the temple interior in search of the throne room, they found more things. Traps had been triggered, and then mercilessly burned and cut down. Inapposite rocks were strewn all over the floor of the passageways, likely the shattered remains of stone guardians who had to face the wrath of a rampaging SOLDIER. Although tedious, it was not difficult for Vincent and Zax to eventually locate the throne room. All they had to do was follow the trail of destruction, which ended in a lonely corridor of glittering walls. On one of the walls was a charred opening which looked very much like the entrance of the temple.

Zax dashed forward quickly, and Vincent followed close behind. They stepped through the opening just in time to see Sephiroth holding one of the Seers at sword point. "Sephiroth!" Zax shouted. The General made no movement to indicate that he had heard Zax. Zax moved to go further in, but almost tripped over something on the floor. Looking down, he saw that it was yet another Seer, who had been knocked unconscious. The man gritted his teeth and faced his superior again. "Sephiroth, stop it! What do you think you're doing?"

"Finding out where they've taken Cloud to," this time, Sephiroth replied, and his answer made both Zax and Vincent perk up in attention. The General narrowed his eyes at the Seer in front of him. "Speak, if you know what's good for you."

"Wait, wait, hold it!" Zax shot forward and stood in front of the Seer, drawing his sword to parry Sephiroth's sword aside if need be. "What do you mean? Explain yourself first! We're not on a battlefield here! Remember what they always teach at cadet school? Keep your swords trained only at the enemy!"

Sephiroth eyebrow twitched slightly; whether with irritation or anger, nobody would ever find out. He did, however, lower his sword and turn his head so that he glared at the Seer who was hiding behind Zax from the side of his eyes. "These people deceived us into believing that we were going after the black and white materia, when they were actually leading us into Bazooka territory."

Zax lowered his sword as well. It looked like Cloud and Sephiroth had fallen hook, line, and sinker for the Seers' trick too. "Same here," he said, "but what's this about Cloud being taken away?"

"The Bazookas have him," Sephiroth's expression was pained for a split second. "And Gaia isn't too happy about that," he said, while taking a purposeful step forward, so that he was closer to Zax and the Seer. "Since the Seers could use the Seek materia to find out where the Bazookas are, I'm sure they can somehow re-calibrate it to look for Cloud."

"Just a minute, Sephiroth!" Zax lifted his sword again, trying to process the new information while dealing with his colleague. But he found that his mind could only concentrate on one thing. "Cloud's gone?"

"Took you long enough to figure that out," Vincent's grumbling voice sounded out from somewhere near the sidelines. The sound of metallic boots scrunching on the gravel floor alerted them to the fact that Vincent was approaching. "Unbelievable," Vincent said to Sephiroth, when he came close enough to stare at him. "The Bazookas managed to kidnap Cloud in your presence?"

The tone was slightly acerbic and perhaps even accusing, but Sephiroth thought nothing of it but to say, "I was busy. Or should I say, Gaia was busy with me," he frowned at a spot somewhere above Vincent's right shoulder. Then he returned his attention to Vincent. "But I do take responsibility for losing your comrade to the enemy. Which is why I'm trying to find out where he is now."

All that said, the General stalked closer to the Seer again. This time, Zax did not try to stop him. He was looking at the ground, trying to unravel what he had just heard into some logical semblance of coherence. The Seer trembled so hard he fell to the ground. "I don't know where he is!" The man blurted out. "All we wanted to do was to get rid of the Bazookas! Those were Gaia's last instructions to us before we handed the black and white materia over to the two mercenaries!"

"That was the deal, yes," Sephiroth agreed, raising his sword and pointing it at the Seer once more. "But you could have just told us, couldn't you? And now you've managed to get Gaia angry as well. Better tell us how to find Cloud before she decides to do something dire."

"How can you tell how Gaia is feeling?" Vincent asked in bemusement.

Sephiroth's glance flickered over to the older man for a second. "I let her into my head, didn't I? And now she's screaming for me to find Cloud again, or else." The General sighed. "Apparently, the Bazookas have done something to keep even Gaia from finding out where Cloud is."

Vincent tilted his head to a side. "What makes you think the Seers would know something even the Planet doesn't?"

"Honestly?" Sephiroth shook his head, "It doesn't matter if they know anything or not. Since they chose to deceive us, they should have been prepared for the consequences," the man lifted his sword, and an eerie glow began to emanate off the silvery blade. "This will be the last time I'm asking you," Sephiroth narrowed his eyes. "Where is Cloud?"

"He is at Round Island," came an answer, not from the cowering Seer before Sephiroth, but from somewhere near the abyss where the thrones were usually situated. From the shadow of a large rock, the Great Seer shifted out with a tired look on his face. "Or should I say... that is the final stronghold of the Bazookas that we know of. If there is anywhere they could have brought him to without Gaia even knowing, then that must be it."

There was a pause, wherein the three warriors simply stared at the Great Seer in an attempt to ascertain the verity of his words. Then Sephiroth lowered his sword and kept it. "Thank you," he nodded in acknowledgement at the Great Seer. "That wasn't so hard now, was it?" He leered at the Seer who was still collapsed in front of him. "Don't think you've gotten away just yet, though," the SOLDIER warned. "Gaia's still angry."

While relieved that Sephiroth was not going to kill the people who held the key to sending them back home, Zax was also worried about Cloud, and angry at the Seers for lying. Nevertheless, once Sephiroth's attention was back on him and Vincent, the SOLDIER asked, "Where's Round Island?"

Before Sephiroth could reply, Vincent said, "An island north-east of where Midgar used to be. Hardly anyone knows how to go there, since it's surrounded by mountains and forests, meaning there is nowhere for airships to land. The only mode of transport that can make it there are gold chocoboes."

Sephiroth looked thoughtfully at Vincent after the brief explanation. He then closed his eyes and appeared to be ruminating about something. A short while later, he opened his eyes and said, "Gaia can't sense anybody on that island."

At that, Vincent blinked in surprise. Communication with the Planet was something only the Ancients were able to do. The last Ancient he once knew could only do so on a limited basis. And Cloud, who was some sort of an honorary Ancient himself, was sometimes unable to get Gaia to even reply him. Either the Planet was really angry, or there was more to Sephiroth's abilities than the world ever knew. It was not a far stretch, Vincent eventually decided. Sephiroth had demonstrated his ability to control parts of the Lifestream at different points of time, back when they were still actively pitted against each other. Being obsessed with his own brand of vengeance, that Sephiroth only thought about engineering that ability for evil. It was all too possible that a lucid Sephiroth could likewise engineer it for good.

"If Gaia says so," Vincent said, "then it must be true. However we are running out of time and options. Since you are able to harness the Lifestream somehow, perhaps you can ask Gaia if she finds any trace of Cloud anywhere on the Planet?"

Sephiroth frowned. "If she had a clue, I wouldn't be here now, would I?" The man shrugged. "However, the Great Seer wasn't lying when he spoke of that island," he angled his chin subtly towards the tired looking old man, who was observing a spot on the floor while propping himself up against the wall of the cavernous room. "My suggestion is that we go there. After all, a father can't be wrong about his own son's whereabouts, can he?"

There was a moment of stunned silence.

"Who... what? What father? Who? And of whom?" Zax managed to splutter in his confusion.

"The leader of the Bazookas is my son," the Great Seer confirmed in a weak voice. "I warned him about his folly, but he would not listen. Before he disappeared, he told me where he was going, and challenged me to bring him and his troops down if I could. But I am only a messenger. What use is an old man against the indignation of these young men out for blood? To be sure, the Planet was well aware of the situation. Perhaps it never struck her that it would become like this. Perhaps she has it all under control. Perhaps she has plans for how things will turn out. Whatever the case, the die is cast, and there is nothing for you warriors to do but to face these rebels in a final confrontation, that the Planet and its people may finally be at rest."

Sephiroth was the first to move after the explanation. He turned away from the Great Seer, towards the only door leading out. "I will go," his voice was clear and authoritative, "not for the Planet, but for a loyal comrade who never stopped trying to reach out." With those words, the man swept out of the chamber with purposeful strides.

Zax gave the downcast Great Seer an almost pitiful look. Then he turned and followed Sephiroth out of the room as well. Vincent stared longer at the seer, looking like he was trying to decide whether or not he should say something.

"Sometimes we only realise the importance of something after we lose it," the man eventually intoned. "But it's never too late to turn back." He nodded towards the seer, in acknowledgement. "If your boy is willing, we will bring him back." The man promised. Then he left the room as well, in a whirl of red and black.

The Great Seer collapsed onto his knees. The great howling from the abyss behind a perfect reflection of the state of his empty heart.

5aug2009