Warning: Warnings: Extremely cute Cloud, mild Zack x Seph relationship. Oh, and evil Hojo and annoying aliens.
Disclaimer: Still don't own 'em.
Chapter 5: Turning Point
Cloud shivered inside of the dark cargo hold of the Glinka. Once he had realized where Sephiroth and Zack were going - and that Hojo was behind it - he had begun plans to sneak off with his two guardians. The SOLDIRES that were supposed to take care of him had received a message that he was staying with a friend outside of the complex. (Which was true…he was staying with Zack and Sephiroth.) He had snuck into the cargo hold before the SOLDIERs had boarded.
The only problem the blond had right now was his nervousness. He was getting physically sick when he thought about what would happen when Zack and Sephiroth found out what he had done. Especially Sephiroth. But Cloud knew his friends were in danger just as he knew Hojo was involved. Even if the blond had told them Sephiroth would go on the mission. The entire thing felt like a trap. But Cloud was the one unexpected element in all of this-the enigma that could foil Hojo's plans.
And he had every intention of doing so.
*~*
Cloud got out of the mansion just in time to see Sephiroth cast Fire 3 on the town. Villagers lay in various stages of dying. No sanity lurked in those green eyes. Cloud had managed to figure out what Sephiroth had read and what he now believed. Cloud quickly cast three spells in quick succession. An ice spell took care of the fire, a life spell resurrected all of those dead but whose spirits hadn't passed beyond yet and a Cure 3 finished the job.
Ignoring the energy loss Cloud ran up the mountain following the trail he had seen Zack and Sephiroth use the day before. He ran in just in time to se Sephiroth run Zack through with the Masamune. The young child dashed to his dark haired friend and found a young girl also in bad shape. He carefully cast a cure spell. Not enough to do the entire job but enough to bring Zack to consciousness. The SOLDIER had a restore materia of his own.
"Cloud?" Zack whispered as he opened his eyes. "Oh Cloud, I'm so sorry. I couldn't stop him. Seph's completely lost it. I don't think either of us will be coming back to you."
Cloud realized Zack thought he was talking to a hallucination. "Zack! Use your restore materia! I'll take care of Seph!" Not waiting for Zack's response the blond ran up the stairs. "Sephiroth!"
Darkness looming around that beloved moon like brightness warping it past all recognition…
The silver man turned. The head of an alien creature sat in his hands. Oh, the child. Yes, we can definitely use this.
More darkness reaching for the tiny star arriving on the scene…
Cloud shook his hair to remove the slimy seductive voice from his mid. "Just what do you think you're doing?" Cloud asked mimicking Sephiroth's tone the last time he had gotten in trouble.
"Ah, Cloud," Sephiroth said with a smile. "I am to become a god." Insanity glittered in his eyes. "I am the last of the Cetra!"
"Put a sock in it," Cloud snapped. "You most certainly are not the last of the Cetra. You're as human as I am."
"But you aren't human, Cloud," Sephiroth replied.
Join us!
Golden light flaring in annoyance as it bats the darkness away and reaches for the other light…
"I can't believe that you believe all that stuff you read. I mean really. We both know Hojo is absolutely paranoid about someone getting a hold of his notes. Why would he just 'conveniently' leave them out there? You were set up!" Cloud exclaimed.
Darkness curling about the silver light trying to hide it from the guiding star…
He lies, do not listen to him my son.
"And you," Cloud snapped at the alien head finally realizing where the voice was coming from, "can go to kell!"
Sephiroth blinked. "Kell?"
And the darkness' hold breaks as shock ripples across the plane…
"You know, the place were you send all the bad things. Zack talks about it all the time."
Sephiroth chuckled when he realized that Cloud was talking about Hell. "I'll have to talk to him about that."
Light reaching for light and abandoning the darkness knowing truth from falsehood…
Cloud broke into a wide grin. He pointed at the head. "Can you get rid of that thing?"
No my son. Remember! You are all alone. You are better than this child. The voice sounded faintly frantic.
"What part of what I said do you not understand?" Cloud snapped.
"Probably the kell part," Sephiroth muttered. He hurled the head into the mako bellow. Cloud didn't was any time in running to his friend's side. The led Sephiroth back to where Zack lay. After the General finished healing the two he turned to Cloud. "You have some explaining to do."
End Chapter 5
This is kinda a tricky chapter. It's hard to believe a little kid could turn Sephiroth away from Jenova. For the few of you reading this here is my reasoning:
1) Sephiroth isn't alone anymore. Cloud is very similar, but not identical to him forming a family of sorts.
2) Cloud knows the last Ancient or Cetra personally. He isn't going to fall for Hojo's notes.
3) Cloud knew Hojo was up to something meaning he was prepared for not nice stuff such as mind control.
4) This one is a secret. *Laughs evilly* You won't find out exactly why Cloud could do what he did until the third arc. That's when Zack and Sephiroth find some of Hojo's real notes concerning Cloud.
No one to thank since I just posted chapter 4. I'm on a roll!
Author of the Update: xblackstatic for the FFVII fic (oddly enough) Untitled 5. Despite its name it has some really good insights into the characters. Xblackstatic has a FFVIII fic called Futureloop that is also very good.