Author's Disclaimer: I do not own Super Smash Bros or any of the characters involved in it. I am earning no profit from this story, other than the enjoyment of writing it and sharing it with others! I hope you all enjoy reading it!
"How bad is it?" Toon Link whispered. He was on the verge of tears. Cloud lacked the strength to comfort him. He hacked up more blood, the arrow in his chest twisting around as he dry heaved.
"Let me see him," Shulk said, pushing Palutena away. He kneeled before Cloud, cocking his head and assessing the damage. He remained quiet for a long time. Cloud felt tired. He felt his eyes beginning to droop closed, his tense muscles falling limp.
"No, no, don't do that," Pit said, putting a hand on Cloud's shoulder and shaking him. "S-stay awake."
"Looks like a punctured lung," Shulk said worriedly. "The arrow needs to come out, but it's going to bleed internally, and a potion can only do so much."
"He'll be alright," Toon Link said firmly. "He won't die from this."
"Of course not," Palutena was quick to agree.
Cloud could barely listen to their conversation. Breathing was getting harder, and the blood just kept coming out of his mouth. Link was a really good shot. It was almost a shame. Cloud felt his Jenova cells coming alive, fearing their host's death and rushing to aid him. He imagined that his eyes glowed as his alien cells got to work, beginning to sew his insides back together as quickly as they could. Unlike the last time he'd almost gotten himself killed here, his entire body wasn't broken. This was one single injury, one large, gaping hole in his chest, and Jenova had it under control. Just like every time Sephiroth's long blade had run through his abdomen, Cloud's foreign cells now quickly worked to save his life. Nobody else could've survived an injury like this. But he'd probably be fine within the hour.
"Get a look at this," Shulk whispered, mostly to himself, brushing Cloud's hair out of his face and staring into his eyes. "Jenova is working hard."
"Doesn't want her host to die," Palutena guessed, disgust evident in her tone.
"Are his alien cells healing him?" Pit asked.
Shulk nodded. "Look." Besides the glowing eyes, Cloud's wound was already beginning to close as much as it could. Blood was trapped in his lung, and his breaths were becoming shakier, but the gash was starting to clot.
"Get the arrow out," Shulk commanded. "Let Jenova do her work."
"I thought Jenova was the bad guy," Toon Link mumbled.
"Well, for now, she's saving Cloud's life," Palutena said.
Toon Link nodded numbly. He ran his fingers along Cloud's stomach, right where he knew the scars were. Cloud nodded as best he could. Same thing there. Jenova had saved him. Not his own strength.
"This is going to hurt," Shulk said, wrapping his hands around the arrow's shaft. "Palutena, pin him down. Help her, Young Link."
"What about Robin?" Toon Link asked.
"He'll be back when he can. Master Hand knows we want a potion, so the robots are probably stalling or something."
Palutena put her hands on Cloud's legs. Young Link pressed Cloud's arms into the ground. "Get ready to scream," Shulk advised. He tore a piece of his shirt off and pressed it into Cloud's mouth. "So you don't bite your tongue."
Cloud didn't reply.
Without warning, Shulk began to pull. The arrowhead dug into Cloud's skin on the way out, tearing apart even more muscle and ligaments. He couldn't resist screaming as the arrow clawed its way through his torso and did its best to remain inside him. The serrated edge lit his senses on fire. He bit down hard on the gag, screaming through cloth and gritted teeth, his entire body spasming from his pain. He kicked Palutena in the stomach, but she didn't give up. She pushed his legs into the floor with magic, and suddenly he felt trapped. His mind already frazzled, he started to panic. His Limit threatened to break, and Shulk began rushing the process. The arrow now drove through his body quickly, the pain quickly getting worse, and blue fire licked at the entirety of Cloud's body. Young Link was forced to back away, and Cloud immediately slammed his own head into the ground from his useless thrashing without the Hylian there to stop him.
The arrow came free, Shulk stumbled backwards, and then the next thing Cloud knew was the color red. Blood now gushed from the wound, even as his Jenova cells hurried to heal him. He coughed and hacked, red flowing from his lips and decorating most of the floor around him.
"Get it all out," Shulk advised. "Don't keep it in."
Cloud took his word for it. He forced the fluid from his lungs until the blood quit coming and he just laid there dry heaving, his eyes glowing, his wound gradually closing. Robin came running up the stairs then, pushing past anyone in his way and coming to kneel at Cloud's side. "Here. Drink," he said simply, pressing an uncorked bottle to Cloud's lips.
"Slowly," Shulk commanded. "He's got a punctured lung."
Robin nodded, pouring the precious medicine down Cloud's throat slowly. But the liquid did its job. The healing process immediately accelerated as his human cells too were given the strength to help him. The gash closed, and even the hole in his lung repaired itself quickly. He coughed up the remaining blood and suddenly breathing wasn't such a chore. He pressed a hand against his injury, but Robin pulled it away. "Don't do that," the tactician ordered. "Don't put pressure on it."
Cloud nodded weakly, lowering his hand and just lying on the floor while his body healed itself.
When it became apparent that Cloud was not going to bleed out and die right there, it seemed that the entire main room let out a collective sigh of relief. Sephiroth, who had been staring curiously at Cloud the entire time, now turned to walk back upstairs.
Young Link got up off the ground and approached him, the child's footsteps coming down hard and his anger evident on his face. Sephiroth paused, letting him catch up.
"Young Link, no! Leave him alone!" Shulk cried.
Cloud rolled over, watching the two of them.
"You think you're so clever, don't you?" Young Link demanded, stopping just before the one-winged angel, craning his neck so as to look Sephiroth in the eyes. His small hands were clenched in fists and his blue eyes were rimmed with tears. He was housing more fury than his small body could possibly handle.
Sephiroth didn't bother to reply. He stared down at the childish hero with exaggerated nonchalance, silently daring Young Link to keep talking. His hand rested on Masamune's hilt, his head cocked slightly, his green eyes crinkled in amusement.
"Leaving somebody else to do your work for you!" Young Link went on, oblivious to Sephiroth's wordless challenge. "Well, I don't think that's clever! I think it's cowardice!"
Silence filled the entire room now. Everyone's attention was on Young Link's brash confrontation. And everyone was waiting for Sephiroth's response.
"I don't take advice from children," Sephiroth said simply, pushing past Young Link and continuing up the stairs.
Young Link stumbled backwards, then shook it off and moved to follow after him, but Palutena grabbed his shoulders. "Don't," she said softly. "We've suffered enough today."
Young Link stared at the staircase for a few moments. His hunched shoulders and clenched fists came undone, and he hung his head, his blonde bangs hanging in his eyes. He followed the goddess back over to where Cloud was still lying, wiping his eyes with his arm. "I-I'm sorry, Cloud," he mumbled. "I just wanted to...to…I don't know…" He trailed off, sitting on the floor next to the older man and sighing heavily. "Happy freaking birthday."
"Are you...crying?" Pit asked.
"N-no!" Young Link replied. "'Course not. A hero like me just isn't used to losing, that's all."
"I'm fine...kid…" Cloud assured him. Then he rolled over and coughed up more blood.
Young Link clenched his jaw. "Sure you are."
They sat in awkward silence for a minute or two.
"Oh, somebody put that fire out," Shulk said, gesturing to the pot that Link had been working so hard with.
Pit walked over to the pot and lifted the lid. The batter inside was burned beyond recognition. "I guess we won't be eating that," he said, sounding terribly disappointed. Robin helped him put the fire out, and they left it alone for now. Pit sat next to Cloud. "But I'm just glad that you aren't dead."
Cloud nodded. He clenched his fists before trying to drag himself into a sitting position.
"No, don't get up!" Shulk protested, pushing him back down.
Cloud resisted his efforts. "I'm fine."
"You can't possibly be fine! You just took an arrow straight through your lung!"
"I'm fine!" Cloud repeated. "I know what I can take." He practically shoved Shulk off of himself and continued to work himself into an upright position.
"T-that shouldn't be possible," Shulk muttered.
"I'd suggest throwing what should and shouldn't be possible out the window here," Robin said.
Shulk nodded numbly.
Cloud got himself up off the floor and just sat there, breathing hard, his wound still healing itself rapidly. Young Link leaned forward, studying the wound. "Your regenerative abilities are amazing," he admitted. "Not to mention your crazy strength. Are we sure we hate Jenova?"
"It's complicated," Cloud replied simply. Now that he was upright, he felt better. He wasn't lying in his own blood or choking on his own spit. Breathing was still getting easier. Words weren't as labored. And Jenova just kept on working. He definitely would be just fine. "I'd give up all that if my memories hadn't been screwed over and if I wasn't so easily dominated by Sephiroth."
"Makes sense," Palutena replied. For a moment, they all just stood or sat around while Cloud's body finished its work.
"How come we needed to tend to you so carefully after the first attack?" Shulk questioned. "Nothing like this happened then."
"Too many injuries," Cloud replied. "Almost every bone I had was broken, my skin was super bruised, my senses were blown out...it was too much for Jenova to handle. This is just one, concentrated wound. She's simpleminded, I guess."
Young Link snorted.
"And is that what happened with those?" Toon Link questioned, pointing right at Cloud's abdomen.
Cloud sighed heavily. Of course the kid would bring those up. "I told you that, Toon. Yes, it is."
"You only said for the first one."
"I assumed you'd put two and two together."
"What's he talking about?" Young Link asked.
"Nothing," Cloud said. He slowly pulled himself to his feet, and then almost instantly fell over. Okay, so maybe he wasn't totally fine. Shulk caught him, and with something to lean on, Cloud was able to stand. Blood rushed to his head and for a moment dizziness threatened to overwhelm him. His chest ached from his abrasive motions, and he let out a hiss of pain. For a moment he stood on shaky legs, leaning against Shulk, just trying to regain some semblance of balance. Everyone stared at him.
After a minute or so, the dizziness subsided and Cloud was able to stand a little easier. He still needed Shulk to lean on, but holding his head up wasn't quite as difficult. Even so, exhaustion was now setting in as his adrenaline faded, and he resisted the urge to yawn.
"I want to go to bed," Cloud decided, dragging his feet as best he could. But he wouldn't be getting far without someone else's assistance.
"I'll help him up there," Palutena offered, watching Shulk struggle to support the weight of the taller man. Shulk gladly handed Cloud off to the goddess, and Cloud leaned into her instead. "Alright. I'll be back down in a few minutes," she promised.
"See you tomorrow," Cloud said to everyone else.
Toon Link ran up behind him and threw his arms around him. "I'm so sorry you got hurt."
"I'm sorry I hurt you," Cloud replied. "Are you alright?"
Toon Link nodded, massaging his neck. "Just fine."
"Good."
"Things will be better tomorrow," Robin assured him. "Sephiroth can't do that again. You'll be safe now, Cloud."
Cloud nodded.
"I'm sorry I couldn't change the future," Shulk mumbled. He stared at the ground, shaking his head. "Not a very helpful seer, am I?"
"Well, you're a pretty helpful doctor," Cloud replied.
Shulk smiled softly.
"What did you even see, Shulk?" Young Link questioned.
Shulk sighed. "Well, truth be told, I did change the future. Just not enough. Originally, it was Zelda that shot you, Cloud. She was going to listen to you if I hadn't done anything."
"But I guess Link took the hint from her and thought he should ignore your warnings," Young Link said dryly.
"Let's not blame him," Pit said quietly. "None of us knew what to do. We couldn't hurt Sephiroth or we'd get in trouble, and Cloud was right; even if we did, it wasn't like we were doing much damage. Link was doing what none of us were willing to do. He might've saved Toon's life."
Cloud hung his head.
"Hey, don't you ever blame yourself for this," Young Link commanded, pressing an accusatory finger towards Cloud's chest, leaving it hovering just above his obvious injury. "It isn't your fault, I don't care if it was your body that did it. You didn't ask for the original injection. You would've never done that if you had control over yourself. And you sure fought with everything you had against Sephiroth's orders. It isn't your fault, Cloud. It's Sephiroth's. Don't forget that. Ever."
Cloud nodded slowly.
"And the same goes for you, Shulk," Robin added. "This wasn't your fault either. You did change the future, maybe not enough, but in the end it was Link that fired the arrow, despite your warnings, not you."
"It isn't his fault either," Toon Link said quietly. "He was just trying to protect everyone."
"Honestly, Shulk, you probably changed the future just enough for things to work out," Palutena said thoughtfully.
Shulk glanced at her, confused.
"If Zelda had shot him with white magic, there's a chance his Jenova cells wouldn't have been able to do their jobs. White magic combats evil, and I'd say those alien cells are pretty evil. The punctured lung would've been a whole lot more serious. So you might not have changed the future in the way you wanted, but you did enough. Link's regular arrow was no match for Jenova."
Shulk nodded. "Thanks, Palutena. I'll remember that."
"At the end of the day, nobody's dead, right?" Young Link said. "Cloud's injured. Link and Zelda are in the torture room. But nobody's dead. That's...that's good enough for me."
"Agreed," Pit said.
Cloud nodded, his eyelids drooping downwards. His cells had been working hard to heal him. And that was a process that required a great deal of energy. His exhaustion was becoming more noticeable the longer he stood around talking. His eyes threatened to close, and his head lolled to the side before he shook himself awake again.
Palutena chuckled. "Well, I think we need to get you to bed."
Cloud nodded. "Goodnight, everyone," he yawned to the others.
They waved goodbye, all of them watching Palutena almost drag him up the stairs. He couldn't support his own weight yet. Despite his best efforts to be helpful, he ended up relying entirely on the goddess to pull him up the three flights of stairs and into his room. Palutena sat him on the edge of his bed, then realized that Cloud still didn't have his sword. It was downstairs, thrown across the room someplace. "I'll bring your sword up here," she promised, watching him lower himself into the bed with great difficulty.
He just nodded, letting out hisses of pain as the raw skin on his chest protested his every motion. All this moving also made him feel light-headed. He had lost too much blood. "I need water," he said. "I bled too much."
"I'll get some of that too," Palutena promised. "Want any food?"
Cloud shook his head. His stomach felt kind of upset, perhaps from some stray drops of blood ending up in there during all of his internal bleeding. He wasn't at all hungry, and he'd had lunch a few hours ago. Right now was just about dinner time, but Cloud was not interested. He laid his head on his pillow and closed his eyes, trusting Palutena to bring both of his desired items. His breathing evened out as he laid there, and Palutena nodded to herself. He'd be just fine. Despite his rather unseemly manner of recovery, he was in fact going to be alright. She walked back downstairs and collected the things he wanted, but when she returned he was already out like a light. So she left his precious blade by the doorway and approached him with the glass of water. Awake or not, he needed to drink. He had, in fact, lost too much blood. Downstairs, the robots were already starting to clean it up, but that was probably going to take a long time. It had been a huge mess. So Palutena sat next to him on the bed and pulled his mouth open, slowly pouring water down his throat. Cloud didn't wake up. He was both deeply exhausted and deeply injured. But he would be much better by morning, of that Palutena was certain.