Welcome in hell
Sephiroth was floating again. It has happened a couple of times before, but he never remembered it clearly. But the sensation was familiar, almost as soothing as being in the Lifestream. He was dreaming, or perhaps seeing other places, because he was seeing Riku, Zack, Kyros… But he couldn't move to grab them and bring them back. Then, nothing. Everything blacked out, leaving him into the nothingness, floating…
Angel was just coming back from Cid's gummi shop, dropping by the small market to buy something to make the diner. Cloud was still at his uncle's house, talking with Vincent. Lately, Sephiroth's health was worrying him. In fact, it happened twice he walked up on him while he was on the verge of blacking out. Though both of them had been travelling around the many worlds surrounding Traverse Town for a few years searching for their missing children, never did they felt like they were weakening in any way. Aerith herself could not comprehend what was happening to Sephiroth, but she knew Riku and Zack's lost had something to do with it. Like she said to Angel later, she thought that like JENOVA, he was trying to summon his missing 'parts', probably unconsciously, leading to a physical exhaustion. But it remained a theory, since they couldn't prove anything.
Pushing the door open, Angel walked into the kitchen, emptying his bags. Their house was much smaller than their mansion in Esthar, or the wooden one at Katailu, but it was very cozy.
- Father, I'm back! Cloud says he'll come with Vincent and Cid. Father?
When he got no answer he began to panic. Leaving everything he had started, he searched through the house, stopping dead in his track when he found Sephiroth; he was lying unconscious in the hall between his bedroom and the small atelier. Angel kneeled beside him, and that's when he heard the main door open.
- Who's there?!, he shouted, panicked
- Well, it's me Angel why…
- Dad, go get a doctor, Aerith, anyone who can help!!!
He heard a curse, voices as he carefully turned his father on his side, checking for pulse and breath he found quite quickly, to his relief. Cloud was short to arrive near him.
- Dad!, started Angel, Why did…
- Vincent went to… Let's hope he'll be alright…
The two of them managed to take him into the bedroom and onto the bed. Sephiroth moaned softly, opening one tired emerald eye, then the other, just in time to see Aerith and Vincent enter the small bedroom.
- How do you feel?
He turned his head to fell on Cloud's concerned look. He really wanted to answer, but he only fact that he was awake seemed to have sucked the rest of his energy. Cloud lifted him, sitting behind him to let Aerith examine him. But Sephiroth blacked out again. Sky just had the time to catch him as he was falling on his side. The flower girl bit on her lower lip, deeply worried.
Something was playing with his nose, and it smelled funny. A small paw lifted his right eyelid, surprising him, and he jerked up. The thing, that turned out to be a small monkey, jumped off him. But Zell did not have the chance to look around his surroundings; a terrible pounding in his head forced him to lie back down.
- Abu, leave him alone!, a feminine voice said, Are you alright? Aladdin? Don't you have some water in here? Hey, just drink this, you'll feel better.
After taking the offered water, Zell began to feel better and his sight adjusted. He was in a warm place, stone house with no windows, just openings… A young woman with long black hair tied in a braid was looking at him with a gentle smile. The monkey was on her shoulder, and a man with also black hair, wearing a red hat, seemed to wait for his answer.
- Thank you. Where am I?
- In Agrabah, where else? I am Aladdin, the lil one here is Abu and the beautiful lady is Princess Jasmine. And you? Who are you and where are you from?
- I'm Zell Dintch and I come from Esthar.
- Esthar?!? Both of them exclaimed, Kyros!!!
Seifer sighed. He was bored. Again. So since Squall wasn't there, he decided to go to the bar. Cid would probably be there, so he would be less bored. He effectively met him, but the pilot was with his shadow, aka Vincent. And to his surprise, the dark vampire was the one to be /very/ inebriated. He couldn't stand up alone, and even less walk so when he pried off Cid's arms from his waist he gracefully fell face first on the floor. Cid, ever so kind, picked him up, only to be shunned again.
- Vin! Stop acting like this… I didn't tell you you had a f?$ing drinking problem! I-
- Wanna go hooooooome!
- I know, I know!
- Cid? D'you need a hand?
- Huh? Hey, kid! Good timin'! Could you get Cloud for me? He's in the booth over there…
Seifer nodded, smirking at the drunken Vincent. How many times did he see him glare at Cid whenever he was drinking? Shaking those thoughts away, he looked over to the booth Cid had been pointing to see some strands of blond hair sticking out from a corner. Cloud was slumped over the bench, looking totally wasted. Without efforts, he picked him up, dragging him along the dark streets with Cid carrying Vincent like a potato sack… but he was kinda /greener/.
- Ah SHIT!
Seifer chuckled. It was actually funny to see the reverted side of that couple. Even if it was late, he knocked at the door of the Strife's family, and a very dishevelled Angel answered it.
- Brought you back your father… Suggest you to be very gentle with him tomorrow morning. Might catch the hangover disease…
- Thank you, Seifer. Say hello to Leon for me.
- Will do. Bye.
Sephiroth gently placed a very /cold/ washcloth on Cloud's forehead. His mate smelled like wine and sake, wasn't even undressed, looked dishevelled (remembering him of Reno…) and he was sprawled across the bed, half over the silver haired man. So he guessed he had gone drinking with Cid last night… He couldn't blame him. Sephiroth had been bedridden almost one week, unable to do anything else than sleeping. Placing back Cloud into a fœtal position, he tried to stand up; first he sat on the edge of his bed, slipping into his black thongs then slowly rose. His back was sore and it took him a few minutes to get his balance back. A loud roaring caught his attention outside; it was a huge gummi ship. By looking at it, he saw dark vortexes too and a fresh breeze came to him through the window. He grabbed a long sleeved shirt, brushed his hair before tying it. His heart felt lighter, his strength was back and it is with a good pace he reached the town's square. Something in him ringed.
The occupant of the gummi ship disembarked. He was, to say the least, weird. He looked like an oversized mouse, and wore a crown. When he saw Aerith, and when the flower girl saw him, they immediately came to each other, and disappeared in her house. Sephiroth stood there for a moment, dazzled, when Sky ran up to him.
- Dad! What are you doing outside?
His son grabbed gently his shoulders.
- You should go back home and take it easy…
- Something happened, Sky, he answered, another storm took another world… And I do not feel as tired. I feel like walking around for once.
- Then I'll go with you. Maybe we'll find something on our way back?
Sephiroth did not answered and lead his spiky haired blond son in the back alley near the item shop. His heart was pounding into his chest. Something had to be nearby… In a heap between two crates were lying a very familiar blond woman and a long awaited silver haired man…
- Where were you… I'm so glad you're all right. We are searching for you since a few years now. But Riku?
- He was with us on Destiny Island. I lost him… and Zell, too. Will they come here, too?
Cloud sighed.
- I don't know…
Aerith then barged in with Cid and the newcomer whose name was Mickey. The small mouse seemed all cheerful and confident, but a little loud. Cloud held his poor head with his hands, remembering why he wasn't drinking too much usually. King Mickey Mouse patted friendly his wild spikes.
- Don't you worry about your lost son, or friends. They will all end up here. A pair of mighty knights from my kingdom are on their way, with orders to bring to Traverse Town everyone who is searching for someone.
- King Mickey told me that if we defeat the Darkness Master, every world destroyed by it will be returned to it's original form…, added Aerith.
- Would you like to have tea with us, Your Majesty?
The small mouse looked up at Sephiroth and smiled.
- Unfortunately, time is against me. So I'll leave you all soon, my friends. I can't delay my work any longer. Though Aerith the Cetra is right, none of you can defeat the Darkness Master. Only the chosen one wielding the Keyblade can. But I am counting on you to teach him everything about the wielding of such a weapon. Do not give up hope.
They all watched as the king passed the doorway, wishing him good luck before sitting down to drink the green tea Sephiroth had prepared. Cloud heaved a sigh, then leant back on Zackary, who seemed deep in thoughts. Asking him what was the matter, but in a rougher language, Cid wasn't waiting for an answer like…
- I know who is the chosen one.
Quistis took a certain time to come around. Angel was by her side, holding her hand. She felt weak and the last thing she remembered was being injured by a heartless. She could open her eyes, but everything seemed to float into a mist of some sort, nothing was clear anymore.
- Quis? Are you all right?
- Angel?
Her voice sure did not sound very healthy, because she heard Angel call his brother and Aerith immediately. But the short time it took for both of them to come, she had already drifted into a dreamless sleep. The Cetra felt it; and shook her head in defeat, stopping Zack before he could start.
- She had been injured by a heartless. There is nothing we can do, but wait… Angel, you are her strength, now.
- She'll be okay?
- Her heart is strong, for sure she'll be alright. But it takes time. It's nothing like Zell's case.
So Angel, Cloud, Sky, Zack and Sephiroth relayed themselves to the blond's bedside. After two weeks, Quistis was better, walking on the slow motion, but better. She was grateful to Cloud and Sephiroth. And when she started to regain her strength, Angel decided to lend an apartment in sector 3. People started to flow into Traverse Town, due to a small gummi ship coming from King's Mickey world. First Selphie, then Irvine and lastly…
Seifer was busying himself with a dust cloth while Squall was out, talking to Aerith. And Laguna? He was doing the dishes. It was the cleaning day, and the brunette had swept the floors and washed the windows before going out early this morning. The blond was in the bedroom upstairs when someone knocked at the door. Laguna said he would get it, so he let his things back in the kitchen and grabbed his walking stick, wobbling through the living room to reach the door when it opened. Squall entered, followed by a heavily dressed man, or woman, he couldn't tell. Whoever that person was, his body was muffled into a ample, dark blue cloth that left only a slight opening for the eyes. But that tiny opening was enough for Laguna.
- I think someone is here to see you, father. I found him at our doorstep. A new friend, perhaps?
- New friend? I think your father knows better. Isn't it true, Laguna?, the stranger asked
The voice somehow seemed familiar to Squall, but it's when he looked at his father that he had his answer; Laguna was crying.
- Nine years… It's been nine years! Get out of whatever you're wearing so I can finally see you for real…
The black skinned fighter retired his garment before throwing himself on Laguna. Their embrace was a fierce one, that they broke only when Kyros noticed how pained his mate seemed. And he was right; his leg had decided to cramp up again. But he refused to let go of him and the lean fighter sighed. Decidedly, he would never cease to be so dependant. But Kyros could forgive Laguna for that now, because he too didn't feel like letting him go too. After taking him on the nearby armchair, the president of Esthar stopped sobbing.
- Kyros… You're there… you really are… hey, you're crying, too.
- Yeah… I guess you rubbed off on me. I was afraid of not seeing you ever again. But it's over, we're together again…
- And alone, noticed Laguna with a predatory smile
- Riku… is not with you…
- I am sorry, mister Valentine, he wasn't in Agrabah…
Sephiroth hung his head in defeat. Apparently his missing son was nowhere to be found. He felt Cloud's head on his shoulder, then heard him murmur that they should let Zack and Zell alone for moment. Grimly, the silver haired man stood up and followed Cloud outside. They were going to the bar together, the small blond was as devastated as his mate, without voicing it, they would drown their sorrow tonight in hopes of forgetting it for a moment.
The small establishment was oddly resembling to the old 'Seventh Heaven' that Tifa used to have in the sector 7 before everything came crashing down. Sephiroth chose a dark corner for them, not wanting to be bothered by any other client tonight. When the waitress came in to ask their order, the silver haired man asked what was the strongest drink they had.
- Meteor drive, she answered, It's a mix of cognac and the speciality of the house, the blue raspberry elixir, shaken up wit ice.
- Bring me three of those, they said in unison
The waitress nodded and went back to the bar.
- Three? Isn't it a little strong for blondie?
Sephiroth snapped his head to the side, eyes narrowed to two dangerous slits, glaring at his unknown and unwanted visitor.
- Who-wo-whoa!!!, the form said suddenly, Didn't mean to offence you, guys! It's just an unusual order, that's all.
- Who are you and how dare you interfere with us?
Stepping out of the shadows, a strange creature with hair that was like a blue flame and wrapped in a ragged black cloak advanced to their table.
- Oh, curious, mister scary eyes… Let's say I am a friend, yes, a supportive friend for those who lost hope, or something like that, anyway. Gaaaaaaawd, you two seem in a foul mood, how come?
- It's none of your business, Cloud snapped back
- Munny problems? I could give you advice on…
- All I need now is those drinks I ordered and you to get the /hell/ out of here!, growled an angry Sephiroth.
- Fine, fine, fine! I'll go…
But the stranger just retreated in the shadows again, watching intently his preys. When they got out and entered their home, Hades allowed himself to laugh a good, evil laugh before planting a message in the door with a dagger.
- Mark my words, mister scary eyes, you will regret those words…
The note said: 'I know where is your son, come to the Coliseum at night and ask for the gate of Styx river. See ya!
A friend '
- Welcome in hell, Mwahahahahahaha!!!!!!
End
Here it is! Long awaited chapter and I hoped you liked it! I was on a two-weeks and kinda forgot my comp at home.. along with the disk. Sorry about that. Went to the hospital, (even though I said I would never go back there… ugh) to get my knee checked by a specialist, and phew, lucky me, it's only a tendon that a little strained… Yay. Next chappie: The key or Cloud.