Temple of a birthing God

The jungle. Humid, infested with poisonous bugs and desperately hot. Tifa, Yuffie and Cid were already slowed down by a jungle fever and Cloud refused to stop in fear of arriving too late at the Temple. They were walking since a few hours now, their goal was in sight. Suddenly, Vincent was in front of Cloud, ordering him to stop.

- Everyone is tired, he said. They will be of no use if we have to fight.

Cloud nodded, well, Vincent hadn't the habit of talking to him a lot, but when he did, it was always for a good reason. Slowly, Aerith and Red started to treat the injured and the sick while the spiky blond leaned against a tree. He was feeling a weird 'déjà vu' impression, like if it wasn't his first trip into the jungle, the Temple was looking like a mountain… He suddenly stood up and looked around him; everything had changed, he couldn't recognize the place anymore. Avalanche wasn't there anymore, but he was surrounded by Shinra troopers, and he was on a mountain. One of them looked at Cloud.

- Kill him.

- No!

Vincent and Barret turned sharply at the sudden cry. Cloud was shaking all over and looked like he was totally out of it. The red caped man walked toward him but the blond backed off, screaming.

- Let him go! Let him go! I don't wanna fall! Sephiroth!!!

His hand was reaching for something to grab, he did not want to fall off the cliff, he couldn't… His head was throbbing so much… Cloud fell to his knees and grabbed his head, hearing someone calling his name softly. Aerith forced him to lay down. Bending down over him, she just put his hands on his temples and whispered softly. Immediately a cool breeze blew in the forest and a green light enveloped Cloud, who went totally lax. His eyes stayed open, though.

- What happened to you, Cloud? What happened to Sephiroth? What are you seeing?

- Miniki… Island… I remember a mission there… Someone tried to kill the General… On the mountain… He was sick… And I was shot… Fell… So long… It hurts…

- Shhh… It's alright, now, just sleep, okay?

- Well, I think we know now how he got this injury… stated Vincent.

Aerith nodded.

- Just like the elder at Cosmo Canyon told us. Cloud said he fell, but from where?

- The Miniki Island's mountains are F?&?%& high, Cid interrupted. If that Spiky head fell off those cliffs, no wonder he's gotta bump like that. Even bet he was out of it for a while…

- Yes… Aerith continued, I can sense old wounds, painful reminders, there, a row of shots (she was pointing the abdomen), and look at his arm, it's all scared! But the worst spot of all is here. A sword cut.

She drew a small line on his sternum, just beside the heart. Vincent came back near Cid and pushed him down. Tifa and Yuffie were still asleep, he suggested to take a nap, so everyone would be ready and rested before continuing their journey. What they did. Well, with that breeze, it was easier to breath now, and the beasts seemed to have disappeared for a moment. The camp was prepared and Avalanche used a couple of hours of rest desperately needed. One by one, they finally woke up, but Cloud was the last one to emerge from his magic-induced sleep. By the meantime, everyone was informed of Cloud's regression, but they weren't able to make him talk anymore. In silence they reached the Ancient Temple.

********

Aerith was really sad to see this. She held Tseng's hand while preparing a powerful healing spell. The Wutaian relaxed when he felt the warmth again, but stayed slumped against the pillar, hardly breathing.

- Go… Stop him, the Keystone is in place. I will stay here…

- I know you since long enough… Why don't you quit, Tseng?

- I can't. Reno wouldn't forgive me… Go, Aerith, and thank you for all.

Cloud and the gang then stepped on the altar. They slowly disappeared into the ground, swallowed by the wisdom of the Ancients.

********

Sephiroth was there, Cloud was certain of it. How could he be insensible to that powerful aura? That cry, that call… Aerith passed a hand in front of his eyes, cutting his trail of thoughts. The blond was attracted by that voice, the rest was meaningless to him, he wasn't hearing anything but His voice. He ran up the narrow path, avoiding the rolling rocks swiftly and found himself staring at a small pound. Without even knowing it, he was diving in. When he reopened his eyes, he was in a large room where the walls were covered with pictures. Golden sun and mystic stars, it was shining from everywhere, even the ceiling was bright with the reflect of gold. Cloud suddenly found himself sprawled on his back, trying to get his breath back; that damn jungle fever was clinging to him for a reason he ignored.

- Ah… Finally, here you are.

The blond tried to move, but soon find out he couldn't. He watched with dread Sephiroth walk up to him, bending down right next to his face, his silver hair hiding both faces. Without any further explanation, Sephiroth kissed him harshly. Cloud was dumbstruck; what was it he was feeling right now? Part of him wanted him to continue, the other to stop… Unconsciously he had given into the kiss, not understanding anything.

- Let's see how you feel like…

Feel like??? Cloud's heart started to freak out at the thought. Feel like? Did he mean he wanted…? Did he said?!? The blond tried desperately to struggle free, it was clear the part of him that didn't want the kiss in the first place had won the battle. He was scared, now. Out of his wits. The room was too hot suddenly, the only sound that got out of him was a pitiful moan, and little did his gasps to stop the man above him from carefully removing his clothes. He felt a slick tongue lapping at his abdomen and shuddered in disgust and fear.

- I must admit… you taste good.

The next thing he knew was that he was suddenly turned on his stomach, and the pain that followed was enough to make him cry out in agony. The man above him panted in delight, enjoying the cries, so he thrust harder to hear more. What Cloud did, praying for it to end quickly. He felt a rough hand tangle in his hair, but the soothing didn't last; Sephiroth yanked it up harshly, pulling his head up.

- Tell me… what is he planning?, the silver haired man whispered

Cloud howled in pain and fright, that man above him couldn't be Sephiroth, the Sephiroth he knew would never… do that to a friend. His mind was scanned now, and the harsh thrusts he was on the receiving end of were destroying him, for his body was reacting to it. It was cruel, Sephiroth was torturing him, clawing his back, pushing his face into the ground, tearing his mind apart. In the end Cloud was screaming at the top of his lungs. Finally, the darkness had pity of him and welcomed the blond into his embrace.

*********

Vincent stopped at the entrance. Something was wrong. He and Aerith had finally reached the decorated room, but… something was emanating from here and Vincent, with his experience as a Turk, immediately reacted to it. He stopped the flower girl in the hall, telling her not to come in yet. He scanned the room with his piercing red gaze, gun raised, all his senses on alert. In a corner, though, he caught a dreadful sight; Cloud was curled on himself, completely nude and covered by bruises and blood. His face was swelled and his whole body twitched at each movement Vincent was doing toward him. The red caped man kneeled beside his leader, picking up the scattered articles of clothing lying around, then, very gently, he called Cloud.

- Cloud? Do you hear me?

The blond twitched but otherwise didn't give any signs of recognition. Vincent had seen that type of behaviour only once… He immediately unclipped his own cape to cover Cloud with it. He felt the blond starting to hyperventilate, his eyes regaining a consciousness and a deadly flash of hurt.

- Cloud?

- Vincent!?! *Huff… huff…* Vincent, please…, he pleaded weakly, get him out of my head… *huff*

- Here, drink this, he said holding out a potion, I'll help you with the rest.

Quickly he helped Cloud to get back into his clothes, and after he called Aerith. The flower girl all but cried out when she saw the blond, scowling and constantly asking what had happened. Soon after partially healing Cloud, she had her answer, a vision…

*******

- The black materia… Ultimate black magic… Yes! I will finally be free!

- Sephiroth! Stop this madness!

Tseng was standing in front of Sephiroth. The silver haired man backed off a little, a flash of recognition dancing in his eyes. The Turk saw it and thought it was the time to advance, however, it proved to be a very wrong decision for he found himself impaled on the Masamune. It carefully retreated, though, and Sephiroth looked at his friend with dread in his eyes.

- No! You woke her up!

- No one will stand in my way!!! Not even my own son…

Tseng startled; that did not sounded like Sephiroth at all. He saw the silver haired man trudge to the small altar at the back of the room, then, all of his manners disappeared when he started to laugh hysterically.

- With that, I could become so much more… A God! I'll destroy those lowly humans and become a God to rule them all!!! Mwahahahahahaha!!!!

*********

Sephiroth stood up shakily, leaning heavily on his sword. Vincent was suddenly in front of Cloud. But the silver haired man did not seemed to be aggressive at all. In fact, for the first time, Aerith believed that it was the real man trying to talk.

- The ultimate black magic… I must have the black materia… Keep it for me.

Then he was gone. Cloud suddenly burst out laughing. Aerith and Vincent explored the altar, discovering that the small temple displayed there was in fact the key to get the black orb. It was decided quickly that Avalanche was better to get it before Sephiroth could send a clone inside. Cait Sith was delegated for the job, after all, he was only a robot…

They got out of the temple, Cloud still giggling, and maybe an hour later, they saw it shrink to the size of a normal materia. The blond almost dived in the pit to get it, snatching it away. Aerith followed him, she had a sinking feeling about this. A shadow loomed over them. Cloud found himself torn apart again; one part of him wanted to give him the black materia, the other, well, was against it. He struggled with himself, the silver haired man smiling, /calling/…

- No!!! Get out of my head!!!

Against his will and without knowing why, though, Cloud ran up to Sephiroth and gave him the black materia.. His head was throbbing so much he couldn't think or see anything very clearly. Someone grabbed his shoulders and he cried out, panicked, hitting with strength Sephiroth, trying to make him go away.

- You gave it to her! I told you to keep it for me! Get it back!

- Cloud!, Aerith shrieked, What are you doing!!!!

Vincent was soon on him, and, seeing that there was no other choice, he grabbed his gun and knocked him out. Cloud fell on his knees, unmoving. He was out cold, and would stay that way for several days.

End

Author's notes

Here it is!!! Twisted, no? Did you noticed who is the real Sephiroth and who is JENOVA? See you in: Aerith' destiny. O_o That's sounding like someone's gonna die… I don't know why…?