Disclaimer: The characters, items, places etc of Final Fantasy VII are property of Squaresoft Ltd. These objects are used without permission for entertainment only, not for making money. No infringement is intended.
This has shonen-ai in it and at least the implication of yaoi. If you don't like or can't tolerate that then don't read.
Oh, and if Sephiroth seems too much OOC, just remember that he is Cloud, and that Cloud is Cloud. ^_^ hehehe! You can work it out. The other thing is, Sephiroth's Cloud would have initially been older than Cloud, otherwise the timeline doesn't work, no matter how hard you twist it. This is set after the end of the game.
:: :: Conversation happening in someone's head.
~ * ~
The Other World
By Jade Tatsu
Chapter 11 - Aftermath
Sephiroth didn't need to look around before taking action. He threw himself to the ground, extending one arm to pull Cloud down with him. Several bullets passed though the air they had been in. An instant later lightning and fire clashed with each other. Everyone was going all out. For the moment the troops were too occupied to try escorting 'Jenova' away from Sephiroth. Avalanche was experienced at occupying large numbers of troops and they were good, even if they were missing several members. The Turks for the most part were avoiding fighting with Avalanche but they were having trouble moving through the sheer numbers of people. Reno could be heard dimly cursing that fact.
Cloud grinned at him with a strange excitement. "This is unexpected. I never dreamed I'd be in a position where ShinRa's trying to protect me," Cloud said, laughter in his tone.
"It will pass," Sephiroth replied. "The Turks were there when Jenova let slip that I loved Cloud. They'll probably be the first ones to work it out." He looked around slightly. "Although convincing the Troops' commander could be interesting. They've all got orders to be polite to Jenova. She agreed not to kill them if they didn't insult her, so they'll be very nice to you."
"What? Nice as they shove me into a tank?" Cloud didn't look impressed. "What about Avalanche?" he asked with slightly worried eyes as the white triangles of his earlier shield shimmered around him as the spell faded. "I don't want to fight them."
Sephiroth sighed. "They could be a little more tricky but I'll explain it to them. I think first we need to deal with ShinRa and the Turks. We can consider things after that. I won't let them hurt you though, I promise."
Cloud twisted, pulling the Ultima Weapon between them. "Here," he said, offering Sephiroth the hilt. "This is your weapon, isn't it?"
The white haired man closed his eyes briefly. Cloud couldn't know what he asked. "Cloud, that was my weapon but even now that I have you, it contains too many memories. The horror of what I did with it would still effect me." He reached out, around the hilt to gently stroke Cloud's cheek. A jolt of electricity passed through him with the touch and from the look in Cloud's eyes it looked like it was mutual. The movement though was inappropriate considering the battle raging around them but he had to. "The Masamune is now mine and if you cover me, I'll get it and then we can get out of here."
"The Masamune..." Cloud whispered before smiling. "In a way I'm glad. I don't think I'll ever really associate another sword with you. As for covering you, you've got a shield spell on. I cast it on you earlier, so I'd say we're just about ready to go."
"You..." Sephiroth's eyes widened as he perceived the energy around him. "I will protect you, Cloud. I won't let anything hurt you. Cloud, it would kill me to lose you so don't you ever..."
"Shh," Cloud placed a finger on Sephiroth's lips. "I won't ever leave you and I've cast the spell again for me now. I'm not the defenceless Cloud you knew. I can fight and I have seen the destruction you have. This is going to take us both some time but for now we have to fight." He drew his hand back, wrapping it around the hilt of the Ultima Weapon, one finger still extended, resting on a green materia. "Are you ready?"
Sephiroth nodded. This Cloud was different, he knew, but it had just been reinforced. He didn't need protecting, he needed a partner, someone to fight at his side. A smile flickered across his features. Someone he can trust to watch his back even as he watches mine, someone I can trust. I think I could like that. Someone like Zack but more than a friend. He shook himself mentally, looking up as a bolt from the Electro-mag Rod bounced off the Shield Cloud had cast. Time to get back to the present. "I'm ready," he said, looking over to where the Masamune lay. The bindings on the hilt had burnt away but he could still use it. It was a very well made weapon.
"Good," Cloud breathed, looking up. "Comet 2," he added, holding his spare hand out, directing the rocks into ShinRa's troops as he jumped, the Ultima Weapon trailing behind him.
Sephiroth followed. It was awkward from his lying position but he gained some height and dove towards the Masamune. It was lying in a small circular depression caused by the energy Cloud had used to vaporise Jenova. He grabbed the swords hilt and rolled coming up to face his opposition.
Their sudden explosion from the midst of the ShinRa troops had left the centre of their formation in disarray. Elena was doing her best to counter for it but she was being hard pressed by Nanaki and Cid. Cloud had followed his movement and now stood a little in front of him facing Barret, Tifa, Rude and Reno. The Turks and Avalanche kept eyeing each other in between eyeing Sephiroth and Cloud. Vincent stood to the side carefully choosing his targets.
Sephiroth narrowed his eyes as he considered his options, their options, adjusting his grip on the hilt. The hilt was slightly loose but he'd be able to wield the weapon effectively enough. "First things first," he began talking to both Cloud and Avalanche. "Let's get rid of the accessories, then we can deal with the main event." Barret and Tifa nodded, their main event was Cloud. Cloud also nodded slightly, eyeing the Turks before he leapt at one of the guards. Same words, different meanings. Was it always thus?
Rude and Reno both moved to intercept Cloud but their intentions were not hostile. It appeared Reeve had stressed how important Jenova was to him to the Turks in suitably strong language. "Jenova," Reno began. "The troops don't matter, it doesn't even matter if Sephiroth and Avalanche get away. ShinRa can just capture them again but they have too much invested in you, in that body to allow you to die through some mishap. There are too many chances for error here, please withdraw with us! Leave Avalanche to the troops. You'll probably get a crack at them later."
Cloud pulled up, blinking in surprise. Reno really did think he was Jenova but even so he couldn't use that information to his advantage, not when the man was asking for him to leave. He couldn't go with him, there would be no further chance to escape, he could feel it, just hundreds of tests when they found out he wasn't Jenova. He looked Reno in the eye and leant forward slightly. Jenova was female, she was more likely to want to touch. Red brown eyes met his blue and he allowed himself a smirk. Even if he couldn't use Reno's belief, he could use the man's surprise when he shattered that belief. He had the Tornado spell ready as he whispered into Reno's ear. "Whoever said I was Jenova?"
The spell burst from his hand, the powerful currents of wind hitting Reno's midriff. The Turk really didn't have a chance, his eyes widened at the information Cloud had given him before he was thrown across the lab. His flight was stopped by several guards who crashed into the floor with him. None of them got up and Reno himself twitched slightly as he fell into unconsciousness. The spell had gotten through all his defenses. The Electro-mag Rod fell from his hand in the sudden silence.
"What..?" Most people in the room questioned in quiet disbelief as all eyes turned to Cloud. He was on ShinRa's side, he wasn't supposed to attack them, was he?
Cloud blinked at the sudden attention and brought the Ultima Weapon up, facing Elena and Rude. "I am not Jenova," he said forcefully as he jumped back slightly, into a position to better cover Sephiroth. "I am Cloud Strife," he continued. The fact that his back was completely open and was facing Sephiroth was not lost on anyone. "And I am more than willing to face you, ShinRa."
Elena and Rude shared a confused look. It wasn't possible for Strife's consciousness to dominate Jenova's, was it? Avalanche too shared the same look amongst themselves before they looked questioningly at Sephiroth. Belatedly the Turks and troops looked passed Cloud as well. Sephiroth was the only other witness, even if he was a prisoner.
Spehiroth stepped forward to stand beside Cloud. "Jenova met with a Meteor spell," he said, looking towards the hole in the ceiling. "The power she tried to use once to destroy the Planet, destroyed her. This is not Jenova, this is Cloud." He paused before continuing. "I'm sorry, my friends," he said sadly. "I will stand against you if I have to," he added, settling his grip on the Masamune and casting one eye in Vincent's direction. The ex Turk was still in a position to snipe at Cloud from behind and Sephiroth wasn't going to allow that. "I'm sorry," he repeated.
"Reeve told me but you should have told us," Nanaki growled before he turned his attention back towards the Turks.
Cid nodded slightly to himself. The rest of Avalanche was still dubious about Sephiroth's words and whatever information Red had he wasn't about to share it at the moment but at the same time the big cat trusted what their colleague had said. "This Cloud," he began slowly, "isn't like the Cloud we knew. I think that for now we have to trust what Sephiroth says and sort this whole mess out later when we get out of here. He hasn't attacked any of us and he doesn't feel like Jenova." Cid cast one last look at Cloud before he turned towards the Turks and troops.
Vincent altered his aim as Barret reluctantly nodded, shifting targets as well. Tifa glared at Cloud, flexing her hands before she too came to some internal decision and shifted her weight slightly pulling the Premium Heart on tighter. No one saw the look of hatred and absolute cunning she directed at Cloud.
Rude and Elena looked at the force before them before sharing another look. Retrieving Jenova while the troops took care of Avalanche was one thing but they hadn't been ordered to do this. Facing off against Avalanche, Sephiroth and a Cloud Strife who seemed to have all of Jenova's capabilities but not her delineation between sides was not something they were prepared for. It was not something they could do when they were a man down either. Rude looked significantly at a set of doors behind and to the side of Elena. She nodded slightly before looking over into Cloud's eyes.
"I'll get you one day, Strife. I'm not about to let you get away with Tseng's murder. I'll be after you," she snarled but could still barely suppress a shiver at the cold blue stare that met her eyes. It was powerful and this power was not insane. It wouldn't make a mistake.
"Let's call it a day," Rude borrowed Reno's line from where he'd moved and now stood, supporting the man. He turned and moved towards the door. Avalanche just watched, none of them made a move to attack as the Turks cut and ran. That was their style and anyway, Avalanche had more pressing concerns.
"Actually Rude, I don't think you can." The voice came from all around them. As it spoke small white lights began flashing and steel security doors slammed down, covering the exits and blocking off those doors that had been destroyed earlier. A twisted wail from a klaxon blared for a second before it squeaked and squawked and faded into silence.
"Reeve, you bastard!" Barret snarled. "What are you up to now?"
"I'm containing failed experiments. It's a standard practice to destroy all failed experiments." As he spoke panels along the walls and along the edges of the ceiling slid open and nozzles appeared.
"Destroy failed experiments?" Sephiroth questioned, standing upright from his fighting stance. He had a sinking feeling that he knew the entire room shared at that phrase. He wasn't going to let Reeve see that though.
"Standard practice," the man repeated, "is to incinerate all failed experiments. And you, Sephiroth, certainly fall under that category and given Strife's actions he has somehow found a way to dominate Jenova resulting in the failure of our cloning procedures. You are both failed experiments that have to be destroyed."
"I'm no one's experiment, Reeve," Cloud snarled. "Jenova is dead so doing this is going to achieve you nothing!"
"Oh it will achieve something, Strife," Reeve continued as a hissing sound started. "I'm a bit sorry about having to do this to you Turks but these experiments must be contained no matter what the cost. I'd suggest you all make your final peace. I don't think ShinRa will bother with the expense of funeral services."
"Reeve don't you *&^%$#@ dare..." Barret trailed off. The man wasn't listening and he had a more immediate concern. "God dammit, what do we do?" The hissing noise provided a background noise. It didn't tick, it didn't need to but it was a constant reminder that time was running out.
Sephiroth looked over at Cloud. The two of them might be able to survive if the shield spell he had cast before lasted long enough. But that still left the others. Avalanche, the Turks, even the troops, none of them deserved to die like that and Cloud didn't have the strength or time to cast the spell for them all.
"I could cast a Wall," Cid said.
"It wouldn't be enough," Cloud replied quietly.
"And what do you know, Jenova?" Barret snarled, more than ready to take Cloud on.
"I'm not Jenova," Cloud repeated softly. "And what I know is that Wall only blocks half the damage. If you cast it all you're doing is prolonging the inevitable. We can't try shooting our way out either," Cloud added, looking at several of the troops who had levelled their weapons at the door. "With this gas, the sparks from the bullets would just set it off earlier."
"What about Reflect, Mr Know-It-All?" Cid growled, grinding his ever present cigarette out.
Sephiroth shook his head. "That wouldn't work either Cid. This isn't mage fire, this is gas fire. I guess they use this because some of their experiments are immune to mako generated flame. Rude," Sephiroth called. "Will you be okay with this?" He questioned. The man's face had remained as blank as always.
Almost imperceptibly the Turk shook his head.
"It looks like we're all on the same train then! Great," Barret grumbled with feeling. "Just what I always wanted - to die with ShinRa's foot soldiers..." He turned away, cursing quietly to himself. "Marlene... I'm sorry..."
"Well, I don't intend to die," Cloud said, drawing the intention of everyone with those words. The troopers looked over at him, a faint hope growing in their eyes. This was their General, surely he could save them when no one else could. "Which one of you has got the Mega-All materia?" Cloud looked around at the members of Avalanche. "I'm not blind here. I know Reeve left the materia in your weapons so which one of you has got it? Just don't tell me you gave it to Yuffie." He sounded exasperated at their reluctance to talk to him and even his quip did nothing to dispel that.
"Fine!" he snapped, after another instant of silence. "I'll explain it so you understand. I. AM. NOT. Jenova. IF I was this fire wouldn't be a problem and I most certainly would not be bothered trying to save you. If I am Jenova, I will survive this and you will die. That wasn't something I thought Avalanche wanted. I am offering you an out here, a possible way to survive the fire and after that everything else can be worked out. But if you don't make up your minds soon it will be too late. Now who has the Mega-All materia?"
"I do," Vincent said quietly, reaching to the protective bangle on his wrist. With a delft movement he removed the pink orb. "But it doesn't work with Shield." The red caped man thought he could see what Strife was trying to do. "You can still only cast that spell on one person at a time."
Cloud turned towards Vincent. "I know but I hadn't planned on doing that."
"Cloud?" Sephiroth questioned. He was the only one fully at ease with him but the gas levels had to be reaching the optimal mixing point with the air soon. They were running out of time. Even now, every breath he took was tainted by the gas. "What are you doing?"
"Something I hope will work," he replied as he caught the thrown orb. He lay the Ultima Weapon on the floor after removing the Shield materia. "Everyone, gather around me. This is going to be hard enough as it is without having you scattered all over the room." That was an order and while there was some grumbling everyone obeyed, gathering around him. It wasn't like they had any other options. The grumbling stopped and an ominous silence filled the room as the steady hiss from the gas faded into nothing. "Get ready," Cloud cautioned, closing his eyes and holding the glowing materia out.
"Go, now! SHIELD!" Cloud almost screamed the last word as simultaneously from every nozzle in the walls and ceiling jets of fire burst forth. The world was one blinding yellow and red furnace before white triangles spun into being throughout the group. They traveled around, floating in the air before they gently twisted their way to the perimetre and vanished. The materia in Cloud's hands was shining but the shield spell, the single shield spell had been expanded to cover the entire group.
Strife's teeth were clenched and his eyes shut. The effort of holding such a large spell was costing him but it was effective. They stood in an invisible dome, fire raging outside its perimetre, devouring everything. For the moment there was nothing to do but wait and pray that Cloud could hold the spell but Avalanche was trying to hold a quick discussion, a hasty conference on what they should do next.
"I don't like this," Cid hissed, gesturing towards Cloud.
"You think we like it?" Elena responded to him, breaking in on the conference. There was no way it could be a private discussion, not with them jammed in so closely.
"Shut up, ShinRa! You're the one's who got us into this mess in the first place!" Cid and Barret both glared over at her. She was helping Rude support Reno who was slowly coming around. Sudden tension snapped between the two sides.
"That's not the point here," Nanaki interrupted, brining everyone back to the current situation. "Reeve won't be happy that the fire bombing didn't work, so we should use this time to decide what to do about him. Do we leave and return later to attack again?" he questioned looking around to each member of Avalanche. "Or do we face him now? And if we do, what are we going to do about him?" Nanaki thrust his muzzle in Cloud's direction. The question might have been about Reeve but it's true meaning was not lost.
It was, after all, a question that had been haunting them all.
To be Continued...
Note: I know you can't expand a spell in the game but by pretending that the characters are alive and aren't fighting in a 'turn based' system allows you to make the jump that the spell could possibly be expanded, if Cloud got some help from a materia that already expands things. Making a spell apply to everything, is after all, one form of expansion.
Please leave a Review! I love reviews and it's a good way to ensure that I work on the next chapters! It also allows you to ask questions that I will respond to if you also leave an email addy! ^_^