Chapter 21: The Ballad of Silver Warrior
Sephiroth knew it had to come to this. The two unwilling sons of Jenova, one of dark and one of light. As he watched the blond turn to face him, he felt something inside him calm. Something clicked, something said that this was supposed to be. He knew something extraordinary was about to occur, and Sephiroth was ready to welcome it with open arms. The silver-haired swordsman turned around to find Heyral (…zack…) standing there like a puppet. A puppet? Isn't that what we all are? Sephiroth shook his head and looked back at Cloud, who now had his sword drawn. He grabbed the Masamune, but didn't draw it, not yet. This was it. The culmination of all there was between the two ex-soldiers. The final showdown, the end, the Omega. There was nothing he could say or do to change the event to come. Everything they had both done had led to this day, this hour, this minute, this very second. Sephiroth closed his eyes to recall the events, to think of what had brought this on. To remember.
Sephiroth winced as the syringe went into his arm. He wanted to cry, but he held the tears back, knowing he would only be ridiculed. Hojo didn't appreciate any signs of weakness, especially from one who was created to be a warrior. No, he wouldn't cry or show any kind of emotions. At least not to the Professor.
"Well, Sephiroth, I've upped the dosage of Jenova cells quite a bit this time. Way more then usual, in fact." Hojo rubbed his hands together and smiled. "It seems like every time I change the dosage, your body immediately adjusts to it. Let's see how your body copes with this amount."
"Yes, Professor," Sephiroth stated, mechanically. He through the years as an experiment, that saying these two words had never led him wrong unless he was told specifically not to speak.
"The minute something happens, you come right back here," the Professor commanded. "Got it?" He turned his back signaling the end of their meeting. "You may leave now."
As always, Sephiroth's heart leapt at these words, and yet he nodded and walked slowly out of the lab. Keep cool, just walk up the stairs, out of this filthy basement. In the dark living room now, stay focused. You'll be out of Hojo's house until next month, just a few more steps. Open the door, into the sun. Sephiroth smiled as the light of the sun warmed his skin. He stretched, raising his hands to the sky, and his spirits with them. He decided to go home and change, since his clothes always smelled weird after his encounters with Hojo. He jogged to his house, waving to everyone he knew.
Sephiroth arrived at his house and opened the door. "Hey, Dad!! I'm home!!!" he yelled, slamming the door behind him. A black haired man in his mid-thirties walked down the stairs. He wore a white lab coat and warm smile.
"Hey, Sephiroth. How was Hojo?" Professor Gast smiled at his adopted son as he lit a pipe. He had never regretted taking in Sephiroth after his mother had died in childbirth. Besides the fact that he was a valuable specimen in his research, Gast realized that he had come to love the boy.
"Fine," Sephiroth lied. He didn't want his father to worry about him and he knew that no amount of begging and pleading would convince him to change his mind about the experiments. Father thought that the experiments would be able to cure diseases and even create perfect babies, so Sephiroth had to go along with it. "I'm going to go take a quick shower, okay?"
Professor Gast nodded. "I know the routine," he smiled. "Oh yes, Cloud came by. He said meet him at the courtyard of the castle."
"Okay, thanks," Sephiroth said and ran up the stairs. He showered and dressed, trying to hurry. As he struggled to put his pants on, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and stopped. Slowly, he put on his pants and walked to his image. Had his eyes always been like that? It seemed as if they were bright, almost glowing…
Se-phir-oth…
Sephiroth shook his head and ran out of the room. Whatever it was, he would deal with it later. He ran down the stairs and was about to hit the door, when he was stopped by Gast.
"I assume Aeris is with Cloud?" The Professor asked, smiling. "I swear, those two are inseparable these days. My daughter isn't in love, is she Sephiroth?"
Sephiroth smiled. "Uh, I don't know." He ran outside and down the street toward the palace, wondering what Cloud had cooked up this time. He knew that the blond only called meetings like this when he had some kind of hare-brained scheme up his sleeves. He ran through the open palace gates, nodding at the guards as he did, and into the castle. The courtyard was their meeting place anytime something came up, and Sephiroth knew how to get there with his eyes closed. As he rounded a corner, he crashed into Prince Ansem.
"Geez, watch where you're going, Sephiroth," the prince complained, trying to untangle himself from his friend. Sephiroth jumped and smiled.
"I'm so sorry, my Prince," he mocked, bowing deeply. His eyes were to the floor so he didn't see Ansem jump at him, but he still sidestepped gracefully.
"You know I hate being called "Prince"," Ansem growled. He jumped at Sephiroth again, but the green-eyed youth once again was too quick for the prince and he found himself empty-handed for a second time. Ansem sighed and shook his head. He wondered why he even tried sometimes. Sephiroth was the strongest and fastest of any of the teens, and even some of the adults. The only one who could even come close to competing with him was Cloud. "Where are you going so fast, anyway?"
"To the courtyard. Cloud and Aeris are waiting, want to come?"
Ansem looked like he did but he shook his head. "One of the servants found some kind of weird monster in the dungeons. Father is making me investigate, saying it'll be good practice for when I become king."
"What kind of monster," Sephiroth asked, concerned.
"Nothing big. She said it was a little monster with big yellow eyes…" Ansem smiled. "It sounds kind of cute, if you ask me."
Sephiroth chuckled. "Well do you need any help?" he offered.
"No, it's okay. I have to do this on my own. I'll be fine." Ansem turned and walked away. "See ya," he called back.
"Later." Sephiroth continued his jog and arrived in the courtyard. It was a beautiful place where every flower and plant imaginable grew in abundance. Sephiroth always found peace here, as he smelled the fragrance of roses and clean air. He came here whenever he needed to unwind and get things off of his mind, usually Hojo. A small rock bouncing off of his head brought him back to reality and he turned around rubbing the spot. There, sitting on a huge rock, were Cloud and Aeris.
"Hey Seph, wake up!" Cloud grinned as his friend walked to the rock and climbed it, sitting next him and Aeris. "What were you thinking about?"
"Nothing much," Sephiroth lied. He looked at Aeris and smiled. She was the closest thing he had to a sister and he loved her dearly. And, as a big brother would do, he said something to make her day. "So have you and Cloud gotten married yet?" Aeris' face became bright red and she turned away. Cloud growled and threw himself at the laughing Sephiroth, taking himself and his friend to the ground.
"This time, you're dead," Cloud proclaimed as they wrestled in the grass. Aeris laughed, cheering for whoever was losing, and switching sides when the loser got the upper hand. Finally they stopped, both tired and sweaty. Cloud shook his head as he climbed back onto the rock and gave a hand to Sephiroth, pulling him up.
"That's not what we're her for, Seph," Cloud reprimanded as he brushed grass out of his, always messy, hair. "Don't you know when to stop playing around?"
"Yeah," Aeris agreed, poking out her tongue. Sephiroth just smiled and shook his head. They all knew that he was the most serious of the bunch and Cloud was the complete opposite.
"Before you give us this "ground-breaking" news, did you remember to tell Zack about this little meeting?" Sephiroth asked this because he knew that Cloud was the type of person that would organize a trip around the world and forget to buy the airship tickets.
Cloud rolled his blue eyes. "Yes I remembered to tell Zack, Mother," he said sarcastically. "He couldn't come because he's grounded."
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow. "For…?"
"He fed his dog his pet fish, but the dog got sick and threw up all over his mom's new rug," Aeris said, giggling. Sephiroth shook his head. His friend Zack had the worst luck in the world.
"Why would he feed his pet another pet?" Sephiroth wondered aloud. Aeris and Cloud both shrugged and laughed. Sephiroth
laughed along with them. "So Cloud, what's up?"
Instead of answering, Cloud jumped off the rock and ran into the bushes. Sephiroth looked at Aeris questioningly, but the girl just smiled and shrugged. Cloud came out of the bushes, but he didn't emerge alone. Sephiroth gaped at the huge sword that Cloud dragged behind him. It was bigger than the blond carrying it and Sephiroth couldn't imagine how he was moving it. Cloud raised the sword from the ground and took a few swings with it.
"This…is the Buster Sword," he said, importantly. "Its enchanted so that only I can use it. No one else can pick it up, see try." Cloud threw the sword down on the ground and grinned as Sephiroth tried to pick it up. Finally giving up, Sephiroth wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Where'd you get this?" the silver-haired youth asked.
"The blacksmith had it locked away. He said there's another one of its kind, but he doesn't know where it is."
"And why'd he give this weapon to you?"
"His daughter was about to be attacked by a fang that had wondered in the village, but I completely destroyed it with these." The blond held up his fists and pumped them in the air for emphasis. "The fang came outta nowhere, see, and it jumped at the girl, but I dove at it and tackled it, then we rolled around for a bit trying to pin the other, and that's when I let loose my fists of fury, bam bam bam, and the fang just sat there, taken em, until he let loose this howl, awooooo, just like that and he ran back outta the village like his tail was on fire." Cloud panted, winded from his bragging and trying to catch his breath. Sephiroth looked to Aeris for confirmation of the story, knowing that Cloud could sometimes exaggerate.
Aeris nodded, vigorously. "He's right, Sephy. It happened just like that. Then the blacksmith came running and picked up his daughter and hugged her. They were both crying."
"A grown man? Crying?" Sephiroth shook his head. "When I'm all grown up, you'll never see me cry."
"Me neither," Cloud agreed. "When I get older, I'm' a have bulging muscles, and me and my big sword are gonna beat up every monster around here. Then Hollow Bastion will be known as the safest place there is.
Aeris looked up at the setting sun. "Sephy, we have to get home. Dinner should be ready soon." Sephiroth hopped off the rock while Cloud helped Aeris get down. He waited, knowing that Cloud would want to do their ritual goodbye.
"Hey Aeris, will you do the honors?" Cloud asked, grabbing his friends' hands. They all formed a circle and closed their eyes.
"Too bad Zack isn't here, but we always gotta close with this."
Aeris smiled and began to say the ritual words. "Souls tethered, hearts together, enemies never, friends forever…"
6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6;
There was no need for words anymore. Both knew what had to occur. Cloud uttered a low growl, filled with hate and loathing, and rushed at Sephiroth. The attack was so swift, that all Dariel and Yuyami saw was a blur of gold and blue as the blond attacked Sephiroth. The silver-haired soldier finally drew his sword, blocking the attack with only one hand. Cloud pushed and Sephiroth pushed back, his emerald, emotionless eyes staring into Cloud's sapphire ones, ignited with fire and fury. The blond, realizing that he couldn't push Sephiroth anymore than Sephiroth could push him, jumped back and launched a flurry of swipes and swings at his foe. Sephiroth blocked each one of them with shocking detachment. On the outside he looked dead, almost as if he didn't care about he fight, but no one knew his feelings. He was truly alive, for the first time since he was a child, he was alight with the fire of… Of what? He didn't know, but whatever it was, it was exhilarating. Cloud screamed, a raw unearthly sound that could have belonged to a god of war, and brought his sword down in a powerful swing that left gold electricity and energy bursting in its wake. The force of the two swords clashing caused the sand of the arena to swirl around them. The onlookers covered their eyes as chips of stone were torn away by the power of the two men.
"Arrrgghhh, fight you bastard!!" Cloud yelled, slashing at the silver-haired warrior. Sephiroth dodged and jumped back, waiting for the next move. Cloud ran out him but and jumped, swinging his sword downward. Sephiroth raised the Masamune as defense, but at the last second, Cloud changed his attack and swung his sword at Sephiroth's unprotected waist. In a flash of blue light and black feathers, Sephiroth was gone and Cloud's sword hit air. Sephiroth was in the air, smiling at the blonde's skill as he looked up at him. Cloud's demonic wing ripped out of his back and he jumped into the air, racing toward him. Sephiroth realized that he might have to actually fight.
Se-phir-oth, please, do not ignore me…
Who are you? Sephiroth asked this silently as he lay in bed, the darkness of night embracing him. Why do you keep talking to me? He was afraid. People who heard voices in their head were crazy, weren't they? He believed that he was crazy, because the shadows around him were moving, and if he looked close enough, he would see yellow eyes staring back at him.
You are not insane, my child. You are, in fact, one of the only sane beings in your world. The other being your friend, Cloud.
Cloud? What does he have to do with this? Do you talk to him too? It made Sephiroth feel a little better knowing that his friend was also hearing voices.
Yes, I do talk to him. He however, is not ready to receive me. You are…
What do you mean 'receive'? Who are you?
Think, my child. Think back to when you first met the blond one…
Sephiroth closed his eyes, hoping this would answer his questions. He remembered going into the lab when he was younger, maybe he was eight. Hojo was nowhere to be found, only a small blond boy sitting on the operating table, crying. Hey, what's wrong? The boy looked up, blue eyes filled with tears. I don't wanna be here, he had whispered. Well then, let's get you out of here. Sephiroth looked around. He knew that cameras monitored the front doors and that Hojo would know if they left. There was a secret exit that he wasn't supposed to know about, because he had heard one of the other specimens talking about it. He grabbed the boy's hand and led him to the back of the lab. Opening the metal door there, Sephiroth led the boy through the dark, cavern-like hall. Only torches lit the way and the two boys had to wait for a moment until their eyes adjusted.
"So what's your name?" Sephiroth asked, trying to take the boy's mind off of his fear. "My name is Sephiroth."
The little blond sniffled and wiped the tears from his eyes. "My name's Cloud."
"Well, Cloud, it's nice to meet you. Now can you tell me why you're in here?" Sephiroth paused at a fork in the road, trying to remember which one led to the outside. One led to Hojo's twisted lab experiments and he knew they didn't want to end up there. Sephiroth went left, still holding Cloud's hand.
"My momma said I had to go with Hojo so he could make me better," Cloud replied.
Sephiroth frowned. "What do you mean better? What was wrong with you?"
"I was really sick and sometimes, when it was really bad, I couldn't move and my chest and head would hurt…"
"Why would you go to Hojo?" Sephiroth asked, incredulous. He didn't see how anyone could go willingly with Hojo's sick experiments.
"Well I don't remember any of this, but momma said one night I was really sick and she was scared that I was gonna die. We don't have that much money so we couldn't afford a good doctor. Hojo heard about me and he came that night, saying he could make me better for free. All I had to do was keep coming to the lab for treatments."
Sephiroth shuddered. So he wasn't the only human Hojo was pumping with Jenova cells, although he thought he was. And if he had just found out about Cloud, how was he sure that there weren't others like him and the boy? He walked in deep thought as they navigated the cavern in silence. Suddenly, Sephiroth was jerked out of thought by instinct, telling him to move, fast. He noticed Cloud also jumping back quickly and they both moved in time to avoid the lunge of a huge mutant. It was built like some sort of wolf, but it was way bigger and tentacles whipped from its back. Its green scales dripped with some kind of liquid, probably poison, thought Sephiroth, and its mouth was filled with rows of razor sharp teeth. The creature circled them, sometimes feinting a lunge, but waiting, waiting. For what?
Boys?
Sephiroth's head snapped up. He recognized the voice, blaring from hidden speakers. "Hojo!" he yelled. "What's going on?!" The voice over the speakers chuckled and answered.
This is just a little…experiment that I've cooked up. A Jenova infused fang, against two Jenova infused humans. Who will emerge the victor? It doesn't matter to me, as long as I pick up the 'data' left behind from the loser. Ha ha ha.
Sephiroth cursed and pushed Cloud behind him. "Stay behind me, okay?!" The mutant stopped circling and tensed, getting ready to attack. This isn't going to end well, Sephiroth realized. One of us is going to die today. The creature jumped at him like a cobra and Sephiroth jumped at the mutant as well…
Sephiroth shook his head. He didn't want to remember this. He touched the scar on his waist from one of claw of the mutant. He didn't want to remember almost dying, only saved by the intervention of the young Cloud. He didn't want to remember Cloud picking up his unconscious body, the little blond dragging him back to Professor Gast's. He didn't want to remember…
My child, you are so much more than the filthy humans you associate with…
Sephiroth shook his head again, this time in disagreement. These 'filthy humans' took me in and gave me a home. Professor Gast…
That human still makes you participate in the experiments you hate, does he not?
Sephiroth stayed silent. It was true. Sephiroth wanted to believe that he was being taken care of out of love, but he knew deep in his heart that this was not true. Gast was a scientist and all he wanted to do was keep an eye on his precious specimen. But there was still hope. Aeris still loves me, he pointed out, and she's a human.
That…girl is not a human at all, but an Ancient. One of the most dangerous creatures in existence…
Sephiroth had to laugh at this. Aeris? Dangerous? The girl watched the ground so that she wouldn't step on bugs. She's the gentlest person I've ever met. She isn't any danger to me.
Looks can be deceiving my child…
Why do you keep calling me your child?
Any mother would call her son child…
Any…mother…? What…? What are you saying? My mother died while giving birth to me…
That woman was just a vessel, a filthy vessel that held something beautiful and wondrous inside…
Beautiful and…wondrous? Him? Could this be true? A voice this sweet couldn't be lying to him. Could it? You are…my mother?
Yes my child, and I have come to give you the love you deserve…
Mother…do you have a name?
Jenova…
6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6;
Sephiroth deflected the attack of Cloud and swung his sword in response. The blonde blocked the slash with his Buster Sword in one hand, and sent a fist into Sephiroth's cheek. The skin split open and blood, tainted with the touch of Jenova, spilt to the earth. Sephiroth felt the wound and felt the warm blood touch lightly on his fingertips. Cloud was waiting, waiting for an attack, deciding to take a defensive stance. Sephiroth floated even higher into the air, motioning for Cloud to follow, and the blonde had no choice but to follow. Into the sky they soared, until they were above the sky. The pure, luminous light of the moon reflected on the Masamune and Sephiroth twisted it, letting it reflect the light, marveling at the beauty. The night air caressed the two warriors' hair and raised goose bumps on their arms.
"I'm going to kill you…" Cloud said this so softly, and yet it was filled with raw emotion. Anger, hate, fear, and even regret. Sephiroth was tired. He didn't want to fight anyone, least of all Cloud, anymore. But what would he live for? He was created to be nothing more than a warrior. One cannot break the mold he was made in. Just as a Heartless cannot love, I cannot find tranquility.
"It doesn't matter anymore, Cloud," Sephiroth said. "Nothing does…" He rushed at Cloud and swiped with his sword, so fast that the blonde barely parried in time.
"What do you mean, nothing matters anymore?" Cloud asked, swinging his sword powerfully. Sephiroth raised the Masamune in defense and the clash of the two swords echoed in the night air. "Do you want to die?"
Sephiroth deflected a quick succession of sword attacks and slashed quickly with his sword, cutting Cloud's arm open. "I was created to fight. Either kill me, or I will kill others."
"Even when I kill you, I won't be able to forgive you," Cloud said, taking a swipe at Sephiroth. His blue eyes lit with an intense glow and Sephiroth knew what was coming next. The only way to counter it is to do the same.
"Omnislash!!" They both yelled simultaneously, flying at each other. They began to slash at each other, not even trying to block the other's attacks. After a few minutes of furious slashing, they both stopped and charged up the final attack. Each rushed each other and swung, swords emitting the powerful energy that signals the end of Omnislash. Both attacks hit dead on and the two warriors dropped out of the air, weakened by the strength it took to use the powerful move and the absorption of the move from the other. Cloud crashed into the stands of the arena and lay there, prostrate. Sephiroth, plummeting to the ground, tried to regain flight but couldn't get control and flew into the wall surrounding the arena.
Sephiroth struggled to his feet and looked around. The fools were still watching, the one with the silver eyes running to check on Cloud. Dariel ran over to Sephiroth, giving him a once over.
"Sephiroth, what's going on?! Why are you fighting with that man?! What's wrong with Heyral?!" The woman was nearly in tears and Sephiroth felt she deserved some kind of answer.
"That man and I have a…history. I will leave it at that." He looked at Zack and nodded. "His name's Zack, not Heyral. He just doesn't remember. Right now, I assume he's fighting with Jenova for control."
Dariel just gaped, not understanding. "Zack? Jenova? What are you talking about?"
Sephiroth watched as Cloud limped to the center of the arena, shrugging off help from his friend, and drew his sword once again. He turned to Dariel. "I'm sorry, I have to go." He walked, trying to ignore all of the pain in his body, straight and tall. One of the things he had learned through life was that showing weakness during battle could be fatal. As he walked, he heard a voice run sharply through his mind.
Wake up!
Sephiroth closed his eyes tightly and concentrated on ignoring the voice. The voice of Jenova. The siren of the creature that had caused him to nearly destroy the world. He heard Cloud scream, but it sounded far away. Sephiroth retreated into his mind to dispel the monster within. He walked, walked within his mind, ignoring the screams he heard. The screams of his conscience and victims. There she is. Jenova. She was beautiful. Rave-colored hair, streaked with gold, flowed without a wind to move it. Her eyes were the most beautiful things about her, however. They were an amber tint, the color of the purest gold.
Sephiroth…my child, return to me…
Sephiroth couldn't help but laugh. Why would I return to you? Does a mouse go back to the trap to be caught again? Does the escaped convict go back to jail for a visit? Does the gold chocobo return to human hands after being mistreated?
I never mistreated you, son…
Do not call me son, you sick bitch! You used me, you took advantage of me when I was confused afraid! You made me attack my friends and I almost destroyed my own home!! I've never known my mother or any others, but I know that she is supposed to console and love her love. Not manipulate and control him.
You will obey me, Sephiroth. You cannot fight it…
Ha ha ha! I cannot fight it?! You must not know with whom you're dealing with you twisted old hag! Get it through your ugly, hate-filled mind. I'm-done-with-you. Sephiroth felt the weight of the Masamune in his hand and smiled. He didn't know how he summoned it in hid mind, but he was glad to have it. I'll give you one more chance, get out of my mind.
You will regret this…
Sephiroth felt the creature leave and he returned to reality. He saw Cloud on the ground, clutching his head in his hands, writhing on the ground. He was screaming something intelligible, but there was one thing he heard. Wake up, wake up, wake up…
Sephiroth smiled as he drove the Masamune into the girl's stomach to the hilt. Her green eyes froze as did the smile on her face. With her death, half of his (Mother's) task was completed. With the Ancient dead, he could focus on letting the darkness into this world. He threw the girl's body back into the gaping Prince's arms and walked out of the courtyard. Before I do that though, I have a few personal tasks to complete. May I, Mother? Thank you. Sephiroth left Ansem and Cloud trying to help Aeris. He went to his former house and knocked on the door. It wouldn't be polite to just barge in, right Mother? Professor Gast opened the door and barely had time to breath before the Masamune was plunged into his heart. He lifted the sword with one hand and watched as the man twitched like a fish. Bored, Sephiroth threw black energy from his other hand, knocking the Professor off of his sword and into a wall. Now it's Hojo's turn. What? I cannot kill him? Not yet? As you wish, Mother. Then I guess it's too the basement I go. Sephiroth walked into the castle and was met by Zack.
"Hey Sephiroth, where's the gang?" he asked, cheerfully. One slash from the Masamune wiped the smile from the boy's face and he was sent into the wall, bleeding. "Wha…wha…?" Zack was trying to speak, but pain and shock held him back.
The silver-haired youth smiled. "You really do have the worst luck imaginable. Doesn't he Mother?" Sephiroth was about to continue his walk when he stopped and turned around. "You haven't been hearing from Mother, have you? A sweet voice in your mind?"
"I told her that I…already had a mother," Zack gasped. He held the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. "She'll never control me like she's doing with you…"
Sephiroth laughed. "Stupid fool, you have no idea." He walked, past the guards who waved at him in recognition, past the other kids that roamed the castle. Leon, Yuffie, and some more. I could kill them right now, but I have a task to complete first. Maybe if I'm good, Mother? Sephiroth opened the door to the basement and began to walk down the stairs, already sensing the Heartless inside. His walk was hindered, however, by a shout. Sephiroth looked up to find Cloud their, Buster Sword in hand.
"Sephiroth!!" Cloud screamed. "What the hell are you doing?!
"Just…Mother's work. Why do you ask?"
Cloud was seething. "You almost killed Aeris, do you know that?!"
Sephiroth frowned at this. "Almost? Oh no, I've failed you, haven't I Mother? No? She doesn't matter anymore?"
"Who are you talking to?!" Cloud demanded.
Sephiroth smiled and shook his head, as if that were the dumbest question ever asked. "Why, I'm talking to our Mother, silly."
"'Our' Mother?" Cloud shook his head. "You mean that sick voice that was trying to talk to me?!"
"That 'sick voice' gave you life, little brother and I think you had better show her some respect."
Cloud clenched his teeth and shouted, "Don't ever call me little brother again. There was a time when I considered you a brother, but now you're not even a friend!!" Sephiroth flinched at this and smiled again. He turned around and began walking down the dark stairs.
"Where are you going?!"
Sephiroth laughed. "Someone has to let these poor Heartless out so that they can feed."
"Heartless?" Cloud stood in the doorway and waited.
Sephiroth got to the door and he could hear scraping on the other side. It seemed that the Heartless were hungry and Sephiroth would have to feed them. He opened the door and the Heartless rushed out, eager to devour as many hearts as possible. Back upstairs, he heard Ansem shout, "Cloud, we can't let the Heartless out!! They'll destroy the castle!!"
Sephiroth walked back up the stairs and saw Cloud and Ansem both destroying Heartless, left and right. Sephiroth turned his back for a brief second to see how many more Heartless were coming, and felt the Buster Sword stab him through the back. It exited from his stomach and Sephiroth could only watch it retreated, leaving the pain it had brought. The Heartless had run into the castle and it rumbled. Ansem, Cloud and Sephiroth tumbled down the stairs and into the room from whence the Heartless came. A crack had opened in the ground and light blue, frothy liquid bubbled up.
"The Life Stream," Ansem said. "I didn't know it ran under the castle."
Sephiroth smiled and walked toward it, holding his stomach. Cloud saw what he meant to do and tried to stop him, but he was too late and the silver-haired youth jumped into the stream. Cloud couldn't just let him get away. With one final goodbye thrown at Ansem, Cloud dived into the Life Stream after Sephiroth. The Prince just stood there dumbly, until he heard voices yelling.
"Here he is!! It's the prince!! He's the one who brought this upon us!!"
Ansem smiled, letting the darkness envelope him, cover him, until he felt wrapped in a cocoon of murk. He hadn't brought this wave a Heartless on, but he would definitely be responsible for the second…
6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6; 6;
Sephiroth frowned when he saw Cloud stand up. He already sensed that the blonde was not in control of his actions, and Sephiroth could see it in those cold, emotionless, blue eyes. A cold smile had appeared on his lips as he brandished the Buster Sword and began walking slowly toward him. Sephiroth looked toward the entrance and saw that Zack was also being controlled by Jenova. He had knocked our Dariel while Sephiroth wasn't paying attention and was now also walking toward him. The silver-haired youth that was with Cloud rushed over to Sephiroth's side.
"What's going on? What's wrong with them?" he asked.
"Jenova…" was the answer given.
