The Future Imperfect
AN – Well I've started the sequel! It will certainly be some time until I start posting, and I've been working on other projects too, but I have an idea of how it is going to go now. Thank you for the continued support for this one.
Chapter Twenty-One
Cloud twisted the throttle again, enjoying the burst of speed the bike gave him as they tore along the highway. Luckily, as it was still under construction – at least according to the barriers they had completely ignored and subsequently ploughed through – it was devoid of all other traffic. The pursuit he'd expected from Shinra hadn't come, a fact that had concerned him until Genesis had gleefully called out that he'd disabled most of the vehicles. One giant mechanic weapon had eventually trundled after them, but as soon as it came within range Sephiroth leapt off his bike and landed on top of it. Masamune did the rest, until with a graceful flip the SOLDIER had somersaulted away from the resulting fireball and landed on the back of Cloud's bike, his own having long since crashed out without him there to steer it.
Sephiroth wasn't a bad passenger really, he was so balanced Cloud could barely feel he was there and he was holding himself in such a way he didn't interfere with Cloud's riding at all. He did have his right hand resting loosely on Cloud's shoulder, and as it was the one without the pauldron Cloud was all too aware of it, but he was obviously using that to judge Cloud's movements with the bike so he could follow properly.
A dark line on the road up ahead broke up the endless tarmac. Cloud squinted until he realised it was a set of toll barriers, not operational yet but blocking their way regardless. He revved the throttle, planning to just gun in through when a movement ahead caught his eye. A sharp squeeze on his shoulder told him that he wasn't the only one who had seen it and he hit the brakes hard. The bike slid sideways to a stop, the truck slamming on the brakes behind him and the second bike squealing as it slowed next to them.
"Was that really necessary?" Genesis huffed, finally taking off the trooper helmet and throwing it away carelessly. Sephiroth did the same as he stepped away from the bike, shaking his hair out until it fell freely down his back again.
Cloud frowned into the empty space where a moment before he could have sworn he had seen a figure standing. It didn't really matter anyway, beyond the toll booth the road extended for a couple of hundred metres more and then stopped abruptly. In the distance beyond, the hills outside Midgar loomed darkly against the paling sky, the first hint of the day's light beginning to break through the darkness.
"The end of the road." Barret grunted, climbing out of the truck.
"It will be nearly impossible to get back into Midgar after this," Angeal noted. Looking over at him, Cloud saw that he had also discarded the 'borrowed' uniform he had been wearing and was back in the First Class uniform he had been wearing underneath. Genesis was also pulling on his red coat, leaving his injured arm tucked underneath it and fastening it across his front. He was scowling heavily as he did so.
Cloud watched a black feather drift gently to the ground in front of him. A gloved hand reached out in front of Cloud to take it, Sephiroth back in his habitual leather coat and gloves. The feather settled gently into his palm before slowly disintegrating into a fine black dust.
He slid off the bike, walking slowly towards the line of toll booths.
"Ain't no way back from this train we're on, SOLDIER boy. Only way is forward, along the tracks." Barret's familiar metaphor brought half a smile to Cloud's face as the rest of their party gathered around.
"Well then, it's been a while since I left the city." Genesis was one of the first to move forwards. "Shall we see if the wastes are as desolate as I remember?" He tossed his auburn hair with a flick. Cloud moved alongside as they started to walk towards the edge of the road and the edge of Midgar.
But a solitary falling feather, yet again as black as soot, caused Cloud to stop abruptly. Genesis looked at him quizzically as he watched the feather fall. As another joined it, Cloud drew in a sharp breath and looked upwards. There, descending so slowly through the sky, was a familiar silhouette. Dark feathers swirled around him and his sword was held out to his side, prepared for them.
The other Sephiroth's gaze roamed across them all, lingering on his counterpart standing protectively just behind Cloud, before landing eventually on the blond. He smirked slightly, causing a well of anger to stir within Cloud. How dare he stand there and taunt him, as though he wasn't responsible for almost everything bad that had happened in Cloud's life. He reached for his weapon, but a hand gently grasping his left bicep stalled him. He looked back at his Sephiroth, who was watching his doppelganger with just as much hatred as Cloud could muster.
"I do not know how you came to be," his Sephiroth stated, his voice a lot calmer than he looked. "But you are not me."
The other Sephiroth smirked back at him. "I could show you, if you would but look."
"Don't listen to him!" Aerith stepped forwards, staring at Sephiroth who only smirked again in reply. "And you, you're wrong."
"Those who look with clouded eyes see nothing but shadows."
What was that even supposed to mean? Cloud couldn't decipher what he was saying. When Cloud chanced a sideways glance at their Sephiroth, he looked equally as bemused. It was as though the other Sephiroth and Aerith were speaking a language only the two of them understood.
"Is this another clone?" He heard Genesis whisper. He shook his head slightly, waiting to hear Aerith's reply. No, this was no clone, Cloud could feel it. This was the real Sephiroth, as real as the one who had become a comforting presence behind him. But there was nothing comforting about the one ahead, something in him jarred fundamentally against the edges of Cloud's awareness.
"Everything about you is wrong." Aerith stated firmly. It wasn't just Cloud who felt that, then.
At this, the other Sephiroth bowed his head briefly as though acknowledging Aerith's words. When he raised it, it was to speak again. "All born are bound to her. Should this world be unmade, so too shall her children."
"The world won't end today." Cloud told him defiantly. "But you… you will." He finally drew his sword, the hand on his arm falling away as Masamune appeared on his left. A red rapier similarly was drawn to his right.
But before they could move, there was a shrieking noise as the whispers that had gathered at the Shinra tower behind them streaked outwards across the sky. They all lowered their weapons as they clutched at their heads, the noise all-consuming.
"Destiny comes." Sephiroth, the only one not affected by the cries, spread his arms wide with a cruel smile. The shrieking eventually stopped, allowing them to turn their attention back to him, but no longer could they see the dawning day at the edge of the road. Instead, a wall of whispers created a new night.
Sephiroth turned to the whispers and seemingly cut through them, opening up a passage. He looked over his shoulder once more, meeting Cloud's eyes. The edge of his mouth turned up. "I'm waiting, Cloud." He then stepped through and disappeared into the darkness beyond.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Angeal swung his sword back onto his shoulder. "Do we follow?" He looked at Genesis and Sephiroth first, but they seemed as taken aback by the appearance of the other Sephiroth as he was.
Cloud was already striding towards the swirling portal. Aerith grabbed his left hand and pulled him back.
"This is the point of no return." She told him, hair whipping in the wind that was partly generated by the whispers and partly by the energy that created the portal, all swirling purple and dark clouds. She approached it and looked inside, before doing something that seemed to calm the worst of the storms. "Destiny's crossroads." She explained, haloed by the light coming from the portal and looking ethereal. Angeal felt for a moment as though he wasn't worthy to be in her presence, so ethereal did she appear.
"Then why did you stop me?" Cloud asked her. Aerith shook her head.
"I'm not… really sure."
"Then what will we find on the other side?" Tifa asked. Genesis huffed and tossed his head to flick his hair back.
"I do believe there is only one way to find out."
"He's right, I guess." Aerith looked at the portal again. "But if I had to answer… freedom. Boundless, terrifying freedom. Like a great, never-ending sky." She turned to face them. "What you heard just now was the voices of the planet. Those born into this world. Those who lived, who died. Who returned. They're howling in pain."
"Because of him?" Cloud asked, gesturing where the other Sephiroth had gone.
"Their words… they don't reach him. Or not what he has become, at least." She looked apologetically at their Sephiroth. "All these moments, precious and fleeting, they're like rain rolling off his back. And when they're gone, he won't cry, or shout, or anything." She looked back to the portal. "He'd tell you that he only cares about the planet. That he'd do anything in his power to protect and preserve it. But… there is no greater threat to the planet than him. He might save the planet's body, but he would condemn its soul."
"How can that be true?" Angeal questioned, looking at his friend. Sephiroth was expressionless, his hands by his sides and curled into fists. It was a clear indication of how Aerith's words were affecting him "How has that come to be?"
Genesis was almost snarling. "I don't believe it. I won't."
Aerith turned her green gaze on them. "I'm sorry, I truly am. But he has to be stopped. He has to be. And that's why... I'm asking you to help me."
"I will." The words, spoken softly, caused Angeal to look at Sephiroth in surprise and concern. "I will do anything in my power to rectify the harm I have caused, whichever version of myself. I will help you."
Genesis sniffed. "Well I can't let you get all the accolades again. As I've said before, it's time we had a new hero. And frankly," here he glanced to his left, at both Angeal and Sephiroth. "the Goddess sent us here for a reason. I cannot believe it was to let you face this alone."
"If we do this... We'll be changing more than fate itself. If we succeed...if we win...we'll be changing ourselves." Aerith looked at them all. "I just… I wanted you to know. That's why I stopped you."
"We're with you all the way, Aerith." Angeal told her firmly, the others nodding their agreement.
"Alright then." She turned to face the portal. Angeal swung his sword off his back, holding it one handed and grasping the blunt edge with his left. Holding it vertical, a couple of inches in front of his nose, he bowed his head towards the blade and closed his eyes for a moment or two.
"Embrace your dreams…" Sephiroth quoted quietly from Angeal's left. Angeal swung his sword away and huffed out a laugh.
"And, above all, protect your honour." Genesis finished from his other side, drawing his own sword. He raised an elegant brow when Angeal looked his way. "What, Sephiroth can learn the acts of Loveless but we can't remember your lectures on honour?"
Angeal smiled to himself. "I am glad to have you by my side. Both of you."
At that Genesis did scoff. "As if we would be anywhere else." Sephiroth just gave him a small smile.
Tifa paused before stepping into the portal, wrapping her arms around herself. "Never tried to challenge destiny." There was a nervousness in her voice.
"This could well be her last line of defence." Red spoke up, tail twitching. "It won't be easy."
"Let's go." Cloud stepped through the portal. Aerith and Sephiroth followed him, Tifa shooting Barret a last look before doing the same.
The large man had stopped, staring at the ground. "Wouldn't be the first time I spit in destiny's eye. Whether you can see the seams or you can't...doesn't change that she's always trying to have it her way." He looked towards Midgar one last time and raised his hand, clenched in a fist. "Daddy's coming home real soon, honey!" With that, he also stepped through.
Genesis smirked at Angeal. "Shall we go demonstrate what a SOLDIER can do?"
Angeal took a worried look at the loose sleeve of his coat, covering up his injured shoulder. "Be careful, Genesis. Please."
Genesis tossed his head. "You are getting sentimental in your old age." He strode forwards and out of sight. Angeal shrugged at Red, who was watching the exchange curiously, before they finally followed.