Angel Fallen
A Final Fantasy VII Side Story
By Chadwick V. Simmons
Part VIII
Cloud's breath came in short labored gasps. Cid's grumbles came from far away, forgotten in the tumult of long buried emotions. It was all so surreal. The Masamune just lying there atop a mountain peak was unbelievable enough, but now this.
Cloud wiped frozen snow from his eyes and blinked several times. Still the dark specter grasping that horrid sword loomed before him. One thought screamed through his mind, How can this be? How can he still be alive after all our efforts?
Then another more horrid and insidious thought scraped across Cloud's consciousness. Was her sacrifice in vain? Did the she die for nothing? Did I let her die for nothing?
Just then the screech of tempered steel sliding free of its rocky prison brought Cloud's mind back to reality. "Careful Cid, we aren't alone! The damn swords right here and Sephiroth has come to claim it!"
Cid's muttering came to a sudden stop. "What the hell are you ranting about? Are you fucking for real?" He heaved himself onto the plateau and stopped dead in his tracks, seeing for himself that apparently Cloud was 'fucking for real'. "By Sephiroth's black heart….er…that is…well, guess that's pretty fitting," he finished with a mumble.
The darkly clad figure let forth a fit of low rumbling laughter. He stepped to the side, swinging the lengthy Masamune effortlessly through a series of practice maneuvers, as if getting a feel for the weapon for the very first time.
Cloud, hand on the Ultimate Weapon's hilt, paused in drawing the blade from its scabbard. With the sun no longer at the man's back Cloud could now clearly see that he had erred in his assumptions. Cid too let out an audible sigh of relief.
The man standing before them bore a striking resemblance to Sephiroth, but was by no means the man who had become the monster of children's bedtime stories. He was roughly the same size and build as the infamous arch-villain, and his facial features, though a bit broader, were much like Sephiroth's as well, but his long flowing hair was deepest midnight in hue, with a streak of silver gray showing on each side of his head. He had an air of youth about him, but also the melancholy sadness of great age. His eyes however, glowed with the inner light of one who had been doused in mako, the telling mark of Soldier. Those eyes also gave the feeling that they cut into one's soul like a scythe. It was the same feeling Cloud remembered having whenever he looked into Sephiroth's eyes.
"Who are you?" Cloud pulled his sword the rest of the way from its sheath. This may not have been Sephiroth before him, but judging from the striking similarities and the mako glow in his eyes, it was quite possible that he was another one of Hojo's clones, possibly a more successful version.
The man gazed intently at the sword he held in his hands, his focus solely for the weapon. He ignored Cloud's question completely, seemingly unaware that he wasn't the only person on the plateau.
"I said who are you? And what business do you have here, especially with that sword in hand?" Cloud stood defiantly, despite the fact that the stranger still seemed to be ignoring him. "I tell you now that I cannot allow that sword to remain in your possession. It is evil, and I have come to destroy it."
For the first time the stranger showed some outward sign that he acknowledged Cloud's presence. His features darkened like storm clouds and his visage drew together into a mask of grim distaste. He shifted slightly, his heavy black cloak catching the wind and whipping out behind him. If not for the secure hold of the deep ebony shoulder guards he wore, the cloak likely would have been lost to the wind completely. With fluid grace, the man thrust the Masamune over his shoulder, securing it in a sheath that seemed to be made specifically for the sword.
Cloud tensed nervously, noticing for the first time the hilt of another katana protruding from over the man's other shoulder. This sword's onyx grip was carved in minute detail, and even from this distance Cloud could see that it bore motifs of seraphs being slaughtered by demon kin. What gave him real chills were the glowing orbs of materia embedded in the hilt. He could see four different materia on the visible side of the grip, the first three, a green, a red, and a yellow, pulsing with such power that they could only be master materia. The last visible materia struck true terror in his hear however, for though its aura of power was weak and barely noticeable, its color was distinct. So dark was it that it was almost impossible to separate from the rest of the sword's grip. The last materia was the deepest black of midnight.
"I'm asking for the last time. Who are you?" Cloud's voice was low, but even. Despite his sudden fear he would not back down from this stranger. He could feel Cid take up a position beside him, the Venus Gospel at the ready, and took some comfort in that.
The man turned those penetrating blue orbs upon Cloud, ignoring Cid as if he were a mere insect. Cloud could feel his knees tremor slightly as the man's sibilant voice cut across the plateau. "My name is Seth, if you really must know. And I'm afraid I'll be taking care of the sword from this point forward."
Cloud swallowed hard, his mouth gone dry. How much that voice sounded like Sephiroth! If this were a clone then Hojo had outdone himself. Mustering his courage he spoke up once more. "As I said, I cannot allow that."
"Yeah, this spiky headed punk has done gone and dragged me out in this snowy hell for that damn sword and I'll be damned if I came along for nothing," Cid spat boldly. Cloud noticed the tremor in his companion's voice and felt his insides churn at the realization that Cid was just as unnerved as he was.
The stranger, still ignoring Cid, smiled maliciously. "Them I suppose you'll just have to come take it from me."
In an instant the Masamune was free of its scabbard and the stranger was in their faces with a flurry of magnificent sword work. Cid, caught by surprise, took a vicious hit and stumbled to the side. Cloud immediately jumped in front of his companion to ward off the ensuing flurry of blows from the stranger. He took several minor hits but managed to block all the major blows. It took every ounce of skill he had to do so however, and he couldn't come close to getting in a counterstrike.
Suddenly, Seth stepped back, at the ready and smiling all the while. Cloud quickly cast a curative spell on Cid and helped him to his feet. Cid wasted no time in enacting a regeneration enchantment. Then Seth was upon them again, the Masamune trailing a shadowy wake behind it, making it hard to perceive exactly where the deadly blade was. Cloud parried well, while Cid sidestepped to get into a position better suited to his longer weapon. Cloud almost froze in fear as the Masamune came forward in a lightning fast maneuver, slipping cleanly through his defenses. He took a wicked hit from it but sighed in relief as the majority of the blow was absorbed by a mighty guard barrier Cid had just managed to throw up.
Seth only laughed and stepped back into a ready position again. Suddenly he too began to glow with the red magic of a regenerative spell. The air before him likewise rippled briefly with some sort of protective magic. Cid made a wild dash forward and plunged his pole arm towards the stranger's heart. Seth was amazing quick though and deftly dodged the attack at the last instant, never once relinquishing his sardonic smile.
Cid jumped back cursing. "Son of a bitch is good. And fast as an oil fire."
Cloud nodded grimly, realizing they may be in trouble here. Thinking Seth temporarily distracted, he went into a mad rush of his own, delivering a flurry of well timed blows, his massive sword moving faster than it would seem possible. Seth picked off most of the blows cleanly, and the few that made it through were deflected by his barrier, dealing only minor damage. With his superior skill Seth was quick to deliver a counter attack, but his blow was dampened by Cloud's barrier and deflected harmlessly off of a materia-laden bangle.
Seth returned to guard and concentrated briefly. The Masamune began to glow with a faint green light, and suddenly he was upon them again. He moved so fast that it was impossible to follow his slashes. The first two blows caught Cid cleanly, the de-barrier magic now active in the Masamune shearing through his barrier like it was paper. Cid screamed in agony and dropped to the ground, two deep sword slashes across his chest.
The distraction of seeing his comrade downed cost Cloud dearly. Seth's next two blows were as fast as the first two and just as magically enhanced. Cloud felt the burn of cold steel sliding through his gut and chest, and he fell back clutching his wounds. Seth meanwhile returned to his guard position laughing wildly.
Cloud was in trouble, and he knew it. His lifeblood was seeping away and he felt so very weak. He could feel the regenerative magic of Cid's enchantment at work, but he knew it would fade soon and that he didn't have time to wait for it to heal him anyway. With despair came grim resignation, and more than that, rage.
Cloud stumbled to his feet, a growl of primal hate ripping from his bloodied lungs. With a call to whatever god's would hear him, he lunged at Seth. Faster than a striking cobra he was upon the wretched man. His weapon, glowing with a life of its own, slashed wildly in powerful, cleaving arcs, each blowing through Seth's meager defenses. Not even the stranger's amazing speed and still active barrier could save him from the full brunt of the awesome Omnislash attack.
Staggering with fatigue Cloud fell back. Cid was still down, but he was trying to struggle to his feet. Seth kneeled not far away clutching at his wounds and no longer smiling or laughing.
"Cid, use a mega-elixir. Quickly, before it's too late." Cloud could barely gasp the words through bloody lips. Cid shook his head trying to clear it and groped for the vial he needed. Seeing that Cid was coming around, Cloud turned his attention back to Seth. He didn't like what he saw.
Seth was standing again, his feature twisted with rage and the Masamune flickering with a hellish chaotic glow. The air around him shimmered with power and Cloud came to the horrific realization that the stranger was about to unleash his own limit break in response to Cloud's last attack. For the life of him, Cloud simply couldn't grasp how any mortal could survive the might of an Omnislash attack, no matter its dampened power. He could comprehend that unless Cid used that mega-elixer soon they'd likely not survive Seth's no doubt powerful break technique.
Fear clutching at his heart, Cloud tired to brace himself for the attack to come. Suddenly there was a sweet and refreshing taste in his mouth, and indeed he did feel quite refreshed. A soothing coolness quickly spread through his body and his wounds ceased to ache. Cloud realized that Cid must have finally quaffed the mega-elixir, and that they had a bit of hope left after all. With his strength returned, Cloud settled into a better guard position and tried to think of the best way to attack. Thinking to strike before Seth could manifest the full power of his limit break, Cloud took a step forward, but he had hesitated a moment too long.
Seth's gaze slammed over Cloud like an ocean's worth of water, holding him in place. The weight of power was palpable as Seth flicked aside his midnight locks and drew forth his other katana. With a primal scream of hatred and rage Seth plunged both katanas into the ground before him. Black lightning arced between them, complimented by sparks of various colors, the powers of the materias combined.
Cloud found himself suddenly reeling as all sound drained away and the landscape faded to shades of gray. The silence was unbearable and totally unreal feeling. It was by no means a peaceful silence, but instead the stealthy approach of a stalking predator. Then he realized he could hear one thing, the frantic beating of his own heart. Its noise quickly became deafening in its intensity. He glanced over briefly to see Cid reeling in a similar state of agony. Then, just as suddenly, the intensity decreased leaving him with the haunting echoes of Seth's voice.
How dare you defy me fool boy? Can't you see this is my right! You will one day bow to me as God!
Cloud turned his gaze back to Seth, who was now standing calmly with both swords in hand, bathed in the pearly gray radiance of the northern sun. Though he seemed at ease, Cloud could feel an explosive power building within the man. He managed to gasp defiantly, "You are no god!"
Seth only smiled evilly. No, perhaps not,………but I will be. Deep malicious laughter echoed through Cloud's mind. And I'd like to see you try and stop me, puppet!
Once more Seth let loose a primal scream, but this one fell as silent as death in the still gray light of dawn. He drew his blades together in a cross and quickly slashed them back apart, sending a shockwave of energy in Cloud's direction. Feel my power human! Fugue Disjunction!
Cloud felt the wave of energy wash over him, blowing apart all the enchantments currently in effect on him. The ribbon tied around his arm pulsed with power for only a moment before crumbling into dust. His mind instantly scrambled, sending contradicting signals to his body. He felt his sword drop from fingers no longer coordinated enough to hold it. He felt his knees go weak as he collapsed, convulsing, to the ground. It felt like his body was tearing itself apart and he was powerless to stop it. He realized he was even bleeding from his every pore. Looming above it all was the specter of Seth, now in full charge and bearing down on the two downed companions, swords blazing with a hellish silvery glow.
What happened next was beyond Cloud. Later he would remember nothing of what happened in that split second before he expected to die, and Cid's mind was too scrambled for him to have born witness either. Whatever happened was Cloud's salvation, and his damnation.
When the trailing edge of Seth's energy wave rolled past, Cloud's mind snapped instantly back into focus. To his surprise he found that his body had reacted even quicker. Somehow, amazingly, his sword was in hand and its crystal blade was held vertically in front of him at the perfect angle to intercept Seth's attack. And intercept it he did, for the blade of the Masamune slammed home against the Ultimate Weapon, driving at least two inches into the crystalline edge.
A jolt of power shot through Cloud and he caught a glimpse of Seth being thrown backwards from the force of the blast. A good four-inch chunk of crystal was vaporized by the concussion and the Masamune fell free of Cloud's sword. Instinctively Cloud reached out and caught it by the hilt before it touched down.
All was suddenly dark, and Cloud could neither see nor feel his body. He had the strange impression of being removed to another dimension. In the background he could hear what sounded like children singing sadly. Like mercury the song oozed around his consciousness, bringing with it images of horror and despair.
Why am I here, all alone,
I don't know anymore,
Do you care, about me,
Like you did so long ago,
Why am I here, all alone,
I don't care anymore,
Troubled thoughts, and troubled dreams,
Unlock these ancient doors.
When I look, into the sky,
I see your troubled eyes,
And when I look, into your eyes,
I see the darkened sky,
Battlements, of dripping bones,
And sin which hangs unshed,
Only now, can your eyes see,
These lies of mortal men.
Cherubs dancing, sing their songs,
On harps of broken threads,
Skipping gaily, past the blood,
And fonts of rolling heads,
And when the angels, come for you,
With dripping bloodied fangs,
Can your soul, bear these dark days,
Or be now torn away.
With a start, Cloud snapped his eyes open. He was kneeling on the plateau with the Masamune in one hand and the broken remains of the Ultimate Weapon in the other. All was white and gray, with a tinge of golden sunlight, but he could tell that he was no longer in the gray realm Seth had created. Seth stood before him with his other katana in hand.
"You see Cloud, the sword is indeed evil, though it wasn't always so." Seth's voice slid liquid and silky into Cloud's ears. "No, that evil is a legacy of its last wielder, a legacy I mean to claim."
Cloud dropped the shattered remains of his sword and gripped the Masamune in both hands. He could feel the malice radiating from the weapon and he could also hear the ghostly singsong echoes of the horrors it had shown him. He glanced quickly to his left, where he last remembered seeing Cid, and froze. The site that greeted him nearly made him swoon.
Cid was in about the same place as before but he was down again, and this time Cloud wasn't sure he'd ever be getting up. Cid lay in a spreading pool of crimson, his chest sliced through nearly to his backbone. Blood continued to bubble up from his horrific wound as failing lungs tried to pull in oxygen. The last glimmers of his regeneration spell flickered faintly around him, but Cloud knew it wouldn't be enough to save the brave pilot. Perhaps if he could get to him with an elixir he could help, but with the threat of Seth looming over them he doubted that was an option either.
Cloud slowly turned his head back towards Seth, his gaze passing over the Venus Gospel lying at Cid's side, its haft sheared in two at about chest height. As his gaze settled on Seth he thought to attack and end it all in a blaze of glory. He knew he'd need something spectacular to take Seth down, something like another Omnislash, but he also knew that he could not make that happen. Such a maneuver demanded the pain and rage of the user to fuel its power, and though he was immersed in pain Cloud felt only tired and empty.
Seth dropped the point of his sword to the ground and leaned on it heavily like he would a cane. For the first time Cloud noticed that Seth wasn't in the best shape either. The dark stranger was battered and bruised, but he still had an aura of strength Cloud couldn't hope to match.
"I grow tired of this Cloud. I do not wish to fight you now. Give me the sword and I will leave you be. You can walk away from this with your life, and possibly that of your friend's." Seth's intense blue eyes bored holes into Cloud's soul.
Cloud rose to a standing position, the Masamune before him in his customary guard position. He felt himself falling into Seth's gaze, but he refused to allow himself to become ensnared by the man's lies. He forced himself to look deeper, seeking the half-truths and charms this man employed. What he found instead, was sincerity. Suddenly, Could was forced to realize that if he handed over the sword Seth would indeed keep his word and let him live. He realized that it might be within his power to save Cid after all. But he was forced to wonder, at what cost?
Seth smirked, seeing the turmoil written plainly across Cloud's face. "Go ahead then, Cloud. Take up that sword and plunge it through my heart. Surrender to its evil wishes and give it the hold on your soul it desires. The choice is before you, Strife. You can give me the sword, and you and your friend may yet live through this. Or you can kill me with that sword, let your friend die, and surrender forever to the darkness and uncertainty you've carried with you for your entire life."
Cloud shuddered, realizing the truth in Seth's words. There was indeed a darkness and uncertainty inside him, one he'd carried all his life. Seth could see it as plainly as if he'd lived his life right along side Cloud. With that realization came fear and despair unlike anything the scared young man had ever known. He suddenly came to realize that he was beaten. He simply could not win against this man, not now. He hadn't the courage or the strength the fight anymore. No matter what choice he made, he was done for. But one choice offered him eternal damnation, while the other offered the faintest glimmer of future redemption. Seth knew, and he knew it too. There really was no choice to make.
"Another time, Seth."
The Masamune clanged loudly on the rocky ground and skidded to a stop at Seth's feet. He stooped down and gingerly picked up the evil artifact. Straightening, he slid both blades home in their respective sheaths.
"You really are weak Cloud. You could've been strong, tried to end it like a hero, but you chose the practical course." Seth smirked maliciously.
Cloud winced and turned away, headed for Cid.
"You are so worried about your own soul, that you are afraid to sacrifice yourself for the things you believe in, and the ones you love." Seth's voice was razor sharp but compassionate and no longer mocking. "That's why you couldn't save her, you know."
Cloud stopped dead in his tracks, despair and grief overwhelming him. Aeris!
"Ah, poor pitiful puppet. Now I can see why it was so easy for my father to pull your strings." At the sound of these words, Cloud's head slowly began to rise, both horror and realization mounting in his eyes. "Even now, with those ties severed, you still dance willingly to our tune."
With one last chuckle, Seth spun on his heel, midnight cloak and midnight hair flowing wildly, and leapt from the plateau.
Cloud was left feeling cold and afraid, and very, very alone.