The return of the Black Caped Man
Cloud stood in front of the most famous building of Midgar. The Shinra Tower. He knew he had to avoid the SOLDIER and trooper's barracks, situated a little to the east of there, so he had no choice but to go for the front entrance or the stairs. The logic choice being the stairs. But they soon wished they hadn't chosen the stairs to start with. When they reached the 55th floor, they were exhausted. Barret was about to rip off Cloud's head by then, and the two started arguing again.
- %#&?!!! What's with my idea?!? At least we would be outta here, anyway!
- Oh yeah, we could have passed through the front door and asked the fastest way to the upper floor. And I'm sure the whole Shinra army would have been enchanted to meet with us!
- Would you two stop it !!!! They're coming!!!
Both men readied their weapons. They soon discovered that climbing the Tower was very tricky. Cloud, Tifa and Barret had to find the keycards to the higher levels, even had to crawl into the vent tunnels to spy on an administrative meeting. It was worth it, though, because they learned a lot concerning Shinra's plans for sector seven and for the Promised Land. To what Barret swore he would stop that bastard from destroying that land as well. And Aerith, to whom they was referring as 'Ancient' was the key to the Promised Land.
The party managed to get to the lab floors, after the meeting, following a creepy old man, the Professor Hojo. The Shinra labs included a small sickbay, mostly used by the administrators of the Tower, the Intensive Care unit, reserved to SOLDIER members, and the research department. The 'hospital', reserved for the army members were situated near the barracks. That creepy place was full of strange creatures kept in small cages or cells. Some of them were very frightening, deformed and aggressive. Turning around a corner, though, Tifa noticed Hojo talking to a sort of dog in a glass cell, constantly calling him his precious 'specimen'. As soon as he left, the brunette rushed to the cell, cooing at the sight of the young beast. It has a bright red fur and golden bangles on each paw. Cloud, however, seemed drawn by a tank nearby, a strange metal cocoon with a porthole… Peeking into it, what he saw triggered a painful seizure…
********
- Mother, JENOVA, I'm here, now…
- Sephiroth! Stop it! She took everything, already! My town, my family! Do not let her take you too!!! Wretched creature, give him back!!!
The blond ran toward the tank, Buster sword in hand, tears falling down his eyes. He had to stop her, he had to because he promised him, promised him he would always be there… in a fraction of second, his balance was lost, for Sephiroth had risen his sword, knocking off Cloud's attack. However, instead of slicing him down, the silver haired warrior turned sharply and cut off JENOVA's head. The man then fell on his knees, clutching his head painfully.
- Cloud… Cloud…, he whispered faintly
The tall man stood shakily to look around, and he saw the blond laying against the wall, almost unconscious, breathing heavily. Walking down and out of the room, he left the gruesome headless creature behind. JENOVA…
********
- Cloud! Cloud! Are you alright?
The blond opened his eyes groggily. His head was throbbing so badly that Tifa had to support him, giving him a few seconds to regain his footing.
- JENOVA… So they transported her here…
- Wha? That spooky thing is called 'JENOVA'?
- It's… a long story. Let's go. Aerith is waiting for us.
Neither Tifa or Barret spoke. They all took the elevator and readied themselves for what would surely be a stormy rescue.
******
It could had went more wrong than that. Aerith rescuing went fairly well, with the help of a new team mate, Red XIII. Hojo's specimen could not stop them, either. But the Turks got to them, they had been humiliated by the Shinra President and put to jail in the labs. Tifa was sleeping, now, probably like the others… Funny, he wasn't thinking of anything precise, now, just watching the silence, listening to the void in a semi dazed state.
- You're here?
- Mmm?
The locked door of the cell slowly cracked open under a mysterious force. That same force was calling Cloud… Calling… Without even knowing it, Cloud was out of the cell and was walking toward the Intensive Care unit. The drawing force materialised itself in the form of a forgotten love… Sephiroth… you're alive? Like a thick glass wall falling over him, Cloud's mind totally lost his ability to think clearly, he just walked to the silver haired man, slipping into his waiting arms. Ignoring the blood and corpses lying around, he yearned for those lips, needed the care, the soothing voice filling his ears promising release and warmth… Shining green eyes locked with blue and the so waited kiss finally came, taking with it the last conscious thought…
- As beautiful as ever, sweet and still devoted to me… I have so much to do, so little time… Follow me, Cloud, follow me and you will have more… Rest, let me cradle you, let yourself being taken away to the realm of dreams…
His dreams were fuzzy and warm, his whole body was delighted by the attention… Their mutual scream just proved that they had yearned for each other since too long, but soon enough a cruel laugh filled the air… Cloud woke up with a start, shivering and he realised his whole body was aching. More, something had dampened his underwear… He tried to sit up, but the pain in his back prevented him from doing so. He looked around, nothing had changed, only the door was cracked open…
- Mm?
Cloud forced himself up and wobbled in the hall. The stench of blood hit him at full force. Whatever it was, it had a taste for blood. After rounding up everyone, they followed that gruesome trail up and up in the tower, with no surprise encounter, even when they barged in the President's office… It was odd, there was something wrong… Cloud's eyes widened in disbelief; the president Shinra was dead, a sword sticking out of his back.
- The Masamune…, he whispered in awe
- Only Sephiroth can handle this sword!, seethed Tifa
Plamer tried to get out, but Barret caught him, only to have the fat man confirm that it was really Sephiroth who had slain the President.
- He's alive…
********
The enemies were everywhere, the wind was slashing at his face, as he crushed them with the powerful Buster sword. The Hardy Daytona roaring it's fury, going always faster and faster. Cloud did not stop until the road did, leaving his vehicle in a hurry to catch up with the others. After his encounter with Rufus, Cloud decided to follow Sephiroth. If he was searching for the Promised Land, then Shinra would be close behind him, and they had to stop this from happening. Aerith too wanted to know, to discover if the ex-General was really an Ancient… They had jumped in the nearest vehicles to escape, and Cloud made the mistake to take the highway, not knowing it wasn't finished, yet… Now they were trapped, and an armoured tank was coming… The battle was a fierce one, but again, AVALANCHE succeeded in defeating the Shinra forces. They escaped the city of Midgar, fleeing toward Kalm in two groups. Aerith was silent, listening to her surroundings in a manner that suggested she was knowing what has really happened in the Shinra tower. Strangely, Cloud did not said much and preferred to let everyone go and stayed back.
The small town of Kalm was very well named. It was peaceful, not much agitation unless the workers running down the streets. Everything seemed in place, undisturbed, the shop owners were sympatics to travelers and always willing to help. Red XIII was waiting outside the Inn.
- Cloud, everyone is waiting for you.
The blond sighed. Tifa and Barret surely wanted some explainations… He resented that moment. He was feeling weary all of a sudden. He checked in at the counter, climbing the stairs to find everyone rounded up in a room, waiting for him. Then Tifa asked 'the' question.
- Cloud, you knew Sephiroth, right? You did not said anything since we found his sword…
An uneasy sigh, a quivery request of sitting and Cloud started to relate his story.
*******
- The fire, it burned everything… I remember the flames, so fierce, devouring the town, taking away my life. I saw the only surviving trooper laying on the ground, injuried and rushed to him. He was just a little shocked, so we went together to the reactor, we found Tifa's father, dead at the entrance, and Tifa… She ran after him, got slashed in the process, and then, then I confronted Sephiroth. He was talking to a sort of creature encased in a Mako tank, JENOVA, calling her 'mother'…
As he was talking, Tifa and Aerith soon noticed the sweat glistening on Cloud's forehead. A constant trembling in his right arm was worrying them, too.
- Then, then I drew my sword and… and… I-I can't remember! Ah!
- Cloud!
The blond was writhing in pain. Aerith was on him in the second his knees gave up, asking Tifa to go get some ice. Red XIII looked over the scene with a deep frown. Barret got out in a hurry, wanting to get some air. Cloud's migraine got worse, the ice was doing little to relieve him. The flower girl rushed to the bathroom to retreive the trashcan, poor Cloud just couldn't hold back anymore. The two girls stayed with the blond until he fell asleep of sheer exhaustion.
********
The world of dreams… It feels so real… What is reality? Where am I? Tifa? Barret? Aerith? Red? Where are you? I'm hurt! Where am I?…
The world of dreams. You are in the world of dreams, love… Let your mind drift off, you'll feel better soon. I'm not far… Listen to me, follow me, I promise you peace, come to me, we'll find the Promised Land together…
Who… are you?
I am your God…
*******
Bolting upright on his cot, Cloud looked around in a frenzied panic, his heart beating so hard in his chest he tought he was having an heart attack. At the same moment, he heard the speakers alarming all the personnel that there was an intruder on the boat. Thinking they were discovered, he ran up to wake Tifa and Aerith, the they met with Red and Barret on the deck. A very sinking feeling seized Cloud. Something was about to happen, and since all the troopers seemed mobilized, they also participated in the search, ending up in the engine room. An officer had his back facing them, and in one second, he collapsed. Instead appeared the black form of Sephiroth.
- Mmm… The time is near… Soon, indeed…
- Sephiroth!, yelled Cloud, What are you playing at, goddamit!
- Mwahahahahaha!!!! You, of all people, should know!!! Or do you have what it takes to… Mwahahahaha!!!
The next thing they knew it was that JENOVA was out to wipe them all off the surface of the world. And while they were fighting, Sephiroth, taken away by his silver wings, flew out of the boat, his laughter echoing in Cloud's mind.
End
Author's notes
Sorry for the last update but I have an excellent reason… I had a wonderful (late) b-day gift from my parents.. They found me a new car!!!! And since last week I had a ton of phone calls to make for the insurances and all, so I neglected a little my fic… I'm sorry for you all who are waiting for me to update, damn, I promise in the next chapter maybe a lemon flashback… Cloud and co will meet up with Yuffie and the rest of the crew… Vincent will meet Cid, of course, ans so begins a new relationship… See ya in the next chapter!!!!
