Takes place after Kairi's rescue; contains spoilers for the end of Kingdom Hearts.

Written from Cloud's perspective.

Ephemeral Blossoms

Akai Kitsune

Part 14: Life is But a Dream

When I woke up, I was no longer in the frozen lab cell, nor in the darkness of my own dreams, but somewhere warm and surprisingly comfortable. I moved my hand, feeling my skin brush against the soft fabric of a blanket.

My other hand - clad in cold, lifeless metal - felt nothing. Wincing, I focused beyond the aches in my own body; I heard a low scraping sound, and the breath of another person in the room.

I opened my eyes. The first sight that greeted me was a dark head resting on my bed. One pale hand lay close to mine, and I could have reached out to touch it... but my gaze was fixed on the face below.

Tifa.

She was... here? Sleeping beside my bed?

How long had it been since I was even in a bed?

My thoughts were again distracted by that strange sound, and when I looked up, I was surprised by its source. Zack sat on the window ledge across the room, his face turned towards the sky. His sword lay across his lap, and he was sharpening it while apparently waiting for something.

I lifted my head, and he noticed, glancing over. "You're awake," he smiled slightly. "Good to see."

My mind blanked out. What... what was going on?! All I could remember was Zack's words... the sword breaking my cell... the darkness as he dragged me out... was it all even real?

Was this real?

"I-I... had a dream," I managed, not certain why I said it.

It -had- been a dream... hadn't it?

How could he smile like that, if it wasn't?

Zack didn't miss a beat. "You've had lots of dreams," he stated, halting his motions. I almost regretted the interruption; the sound had been strangely soothing. "I hope this time it was a good one."

I looked down, gazing at the sleeping figure in front of me. Tifa was going to have a sore back when she awoke. "Is this a dream?" I whispered. Slowly I began to recognize my surroundings as one of the guest rooms above Seventh Heaven.

His smile faded, and he looked back out the window.

"I don't know," he answered quietly. I couldn't miss the distant look in his eyes.

Anger flared in my heart, and I sat up. "Zack, can't you answer me? Can't you tell me? What... what happened?"

His mouth opened to speak again, but my outburst startled Tifa awake. She blearily glanced up before her eyes widened. "Cloud!"

I blinked as she flung her arms around me, holding me so close I could barely breathe. "H... hi, Tifa."

"Don't you 'hi' me!" she sniffled, her grip tightening as she buried her face in my shoulder. "Do you have any idea how worried we've been about you?! You were gone for over four months! And when Zack finally brought you back, you were so badly confused..."

I turned to Zack, and he shrugged, still looking away. "Mako poisoning," he answered my silent question. "You had a pretty extreme case. But it seems like your body has healed itself."

I lifted my claw, staring at it. Mako poisoning? How much was real... how much did I imagine?

Just a puppet...

My shoulder itched.

Pushing Tifa away, I reached over my shoulder, feeling the skin beneath my shirt. It felt... well, normal. Not cold, or even leathery like I expected it to be. It was as if the wing had never existed.

My eyes finally met Zack's, and he shook his head. "It was there," he said in a voice barely above a whisper. "I wish I could tell you what happened. It's just... gone."

"Sephiroth called it," I said suddenly, as if I had just realized it. "He called it out of me. I couldn't do a thing... Sephiroth was there, Zack!"

Your partner... your partner was -helping- them...

Zack's expression darkened, and there was a barely visible tic at his mouth. "I know," he said simply. For the first time, I noticed two scars on his left cheek that hadn't been there before.

"You knew?"

He smiled bitterly at that. "I didn't say I knew before. Not what he was doing, at least."

"But if you knew anything-" I stammered, my eyes wide.

"Cloud," Zack interjected, "Seph was missing just like you were. I was trying to find you both. He found me instead. End of story."

I looked down. Seph... he still called him Seph...

Why?
"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner, Cloud," he continued after a moment. "There were a lot of people who didn't want you found."

I stared over at the window, my eyes dark. "I'm surprised you weren't one of them," I muttered sullenly, "For all the trouble you say it's caused."

Zack didn't answer, but I knew he would just give me that stupid grin of his, like it could fix everything, make it all go away. He was always like that.

"Cloud..." Tifa objected quietly, and I scowled. Who's side was she on, anyway?

"Don't you start defending him!" I snapped. "He said to trust him - he said that everything would be okay! That I'd go off into training and become a SOLDIER like him... but look at what's happened!"

He lied to me, this whole time... why should I believe anything he says?

I closed my eyes, turning back towards them. "I don't care about his excuses! Why should I, when he obviously doesn't care that I-"

I felt an abrupt pain lancing across my face, halting my tirade instantly. I lifted my hand to touch my cheek, looking up towards the one who had hit me.

Tifa watched me tearfully, her eyes filled with uncontrolled anger. "How can you say that?" she murmured. "How can think that Zack had anything to do with this? He tried so hard to find you, Cloud!"

My gaze fell to the floor. "But... four months..."

"No one ever said it was easy," she sniffled. "He got hurt, and-"

"Tifa," Zack called, moving closer to put a hand on her shoulder.

She shrugged it off. "No! I want him to know! I want him to understand!"

"Tifa," Zack repeated, his voice firm, "That's enough."

"NO!" she shouted, pushing him away. "You think it's enough but I won't let him think we don't care!" She whirled back on me, shaking her head in denial. "You're wondering why it took us so long to rescue you? Didn't you ever see him in that cage right next to you!?"

My eyes snapped open. At her words, I turned to look at Zack; he met my shocked gaze without flinching, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Zack..." I whispered, "You-?"

He closed his eyes and looked away. "I told you it was enough, Tifa."

"Zack!" I objected, stricken. He had been there, he'd been part of it, and I...

Fingers suddenly wrapped around my own, and I glanced down as Tifa knelt beside my bed, burying her face against my hands. "Cloud..." she spoke softly, her words muffled against my skin, "We did everything we could. Zack even tried to fight Sephiroth... but he lost."

Zack tried to smile. I was startled by his insincerity. "Don't embarrass me."

"Stop pretending it's a joke!" Tifa cried, squeezing my hands so tightly they hurt. "Both of you... you're... this is no one's fault! No one except Hojo, and..."

Zack shook his head. "It doesn't matter anymore. We all need to get out of Midgar. Someone's bound to be looking for us, especially if they think we know where Sephiroth went."

I narrowed my eyes. "Do we?"

Do you, Zack? Are you still protecting him?

He responded with a glare. "Drop it, Cloud. He may have been my partner but I'm not that loyal. Especially not to traitors."

I flushed, embarrassed by his rebuke, and hung my head. Zack was right; he'd never risk our lives to help someone like Sephiroth. "Sorry," I mumbled.

He shrugged. "You were right about one thing. It was me who told Seph about you - but I never meant for it to get you into this mess."

"I know."

"Hey." Zack turned back to us and crouched beside Tifa, offering his hand with a wry grin. "Let's forget about this and get back to our real mission. We're going to find out why this was done to us."

I blinked in surprise, then nodded. "Y-yeah..."

"Cloud," he added seriously, "We're partners, right?"

I hesitated, looking at Tifa. She gave me a shy, encouraging smile. "He trusts you, Cloud," she whispered. "We both do. We want you to come with us."

"Come with you?" I turned to Zack again. "Where-?"

Zack frowned, closing his eyes.

"Rising Falls," he finally answered.

Rising... Falls... The greatest castle on the Bastion, home to Ansem. Home to the man who started all this.

I squeezed Tifa's hand with my own - gently, for she held on to my claw like it was real - and I gave a short nod.

"Yeah," I told them both. "I'm coming."

I want an answer to these questions.

Two days later, we decided as a group that it was time to leave. During that brief respite, I learned what Zack knew of Hojo's - and Sephiroth's - planning; I learned that in their attempts to create humans who went beyond simple SOLDIERs, they grew more and more careless with their other experiments. Hojo had kept a careful watch over everything, but his assistants were far less diligent.

"It just took a lot of waiting for the right moment," Zack explained. "One of them slipped up, and I got out. The Heartless, though... I guess whatever darkness they'd been feeding off of, it was too much. They broke out on their own."

Somehow I wasn't surprised. "Did you fight them?"

He shook his head. "A battle would've been tempting fate. Neither of us were in any sort of condition to deal with Heartless. Besides... it was strange, but they didn't pay any attention to us at all. They went straight for Hojo - he was still fighting them off when we escaped."

A shadow passed across my face at the mention of his name. "So he's still alive?"

Zack shrugged again. "He could be. I didn't want to stick around and be the next target if the Heartless did manage to finish him off." Noticing my expression, his frown deepened. "Listen Cloud, I wanted to cram a sword down his throat just as much as you, but we couldn't risk it. Not with both of us so weak and you practically dying on me. Some things are more important."

I scowled. "... I know."

After all that had happened, I couldn't bring myself to argue with Zack. Knowing he'd gone through the same thing I had - knowing he took me with him when he could have left me there... once again I owed Zack my life. I just wish I had been able to help him.

"I won't leave you hanging..."

And even after all Hojo had done to make me into an ultimate soldier... I still wasn't strong enough.

On the day of our departure, Tifa had our old clothes mended and purchased what she called our "work uniforms". At my uplifted brow, she put her hands on her hips and smiled. "You're not SOLDIERs anymore, you're the hired mercenaries of a resistance group!" she announced, and I wondered what she'd gotten us into. The uniforms themselves weren't bad - almost identical to the outfit Zack had gotten for me before I'd left Midgar, aside from the colour. Zack's was the usual shadowed navy, but for me, Tifa had chosen a pale scarlet. It was an odd choice, and I told her as much.

"Well excuse me," she stuck her tongue out, but her tone was playful. "I think it's a lovely colour, and besides, it fits the job."

"Fits the job?" I echoed. What kind of job requires mercenaries to dress like clowns? Thankfully I was wise enough to keep this thought to myself.

"Yep!" Tifa nodded enthusiastically, rocking back on her heels. "We're out to protect the planet! It makes sense if we're supported by the elements, right?" She pointed a finger at me. "You're fire. And you," she turned to Zack, "Are water. The resistance group is earth."

Zack smirked, ruffling her hair. "Little Tifa can be wind because she's the one who orders us around." She punched him. "Ow!"

"All right, joke around if you like," she huffed, "But that's just how it is, so no arguing!"

I quirked a smile, and Zack laughed. "If you so command, wise one," he reached out and took the clothes from Tifa, tossing the pile of red material over to me, "But Fire and Water need to get dressed, so our fearless leader had better run like Wind and get our train tickets... unless she wants to see elements unclothed."

Tifa burned bright red, mumbled an agreement, and darted out of the room. As the door shut behind her, Zack looked at me and smirked as if he knew something I didn't. I hated it when he did that, so I just ignored him and got dressed in my own corner. Tifa may have been a little off on the colour, but the uniform was comfortable, and it was a perfect fit. I had needed new clothes anyway; the Mako seemed to have caused a bit of a growth spurt. It was a relief not to feel such a strain on my body as I wore them.

Zack was still teaching me how to attach the armour he'd "liberated" from Shinra HQ to the uniform when a knock alerted us to Tifa's return. "You guys decent?" her voice called through the door.

Zack chuckled as he slipped a metal band around his right glove. "Physically or mentally?"

The knob turned, and Tifa strode inside, apparently satisfied by his answer. "Both," she retorted, smacking his head with three slips of paper. She then lifted them to show them off. "Take a look, boys! Three tickets for a train ride across the continent - all the way to Rising Falls!"

Rising Falls... I stared at the tickets, my lips pursed tightly. So... we were actually going, now. Was I actually ready to face the world again? Four months... it didn't even feel real anymore.

Before we left... I had to ask.

"Zack?" I called his name before I even realized it, looking over at him.

"Yeah?"

I sent Tifa a sidelong glance, and she seemed to take the hint, quietly disappearing from the room again. I turned back to Zack, and found him studying me with a guarded expression on his face.

"Ah..." I lowered my gaze, suddenly nervous. "Listen, I... if I said anything while I was-"

"Geez, Cloud!" Zack suddenly flung his hands in the air, turning away. "That's what you're so worried about? You think I'm an idiot - that I don't know you were drugged out of your mind?"

"I want to be sure!" I protested anxiously. "You-you don't know what I saw, Zack!"

He halted, then glanced back at me, a hurtful smile on his face. "Yeah, I do."

I blinked.

He moved back to the window, picking up his sword and strapping it over his shoulder. "Grab your stuff and get ready," he told me after a long moment. "We don't want to miss the train."

"Zack, what happened?" I couldn't help but ask, my eyes full of desperation. I had to know... what he had seen while I was so out of it...

How long were you there, Zack? Why don't I remember any of Hojo's other procedures?

He watched me warily. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.

"They said you were unsalvagable," he finally muttered under his breath, rubbing his shoulder absently. "Seph brought another scientist to continue the work using different tactics, and Hojo was left with you. But he couldn't get anything to work, so I think he gave up."

He tossed me a backpack, then picked his own up off the floor and headed for the door. "You were a failed experiment," he finished, turning back to give me one last look, his expression strangely bitter. "Be grateful."

I stared back at him, stunned, until he followed Tifa outside. Grateful? Be grateful? That I was a failure even at this? Zack... was he crazy? Knowing me... how could he say that?

It wasn't like I had wanted to be a success for Hojo, but... to have it thrown in my face like that...

A failed experiment... does even Zack think that?

Does that mean -he- was a success for them? Would he be the same person, if he was?

No...

I don't understand.

Pushing my thoughts to the back of my mind, I hurried out of the room after my friends. If I wanted answers, I wouldn't find them just by worrying.

We made it to the station about half an hour before the train left, but none of us were feeling very talkative at that point. We were trying to lay as low as possible - Zack's face was still pretty well known in Midgar, but now we were all fugitives; Zack and I were wanted lab escapees, and Tifa would be arrested for helping us as well. Being caught wasn't an option.

"If anything happens," Tifa had told us quietly, a piece of paper scrunched between her fingers, "And if we get separated, just use the phrase I taught you back at the bar. There's plenty of people in the underground who have joined up - or are at least allied - with this organization. Tell them what I said and chances are you'll find someone who can help you."

As the train roared to life, the wheels churning round to pull us out of the station, I repeated the phrase a few times in my mind. It seemed so simple and useless... I couldn't believe this rebel group Tifa had signed us up with was as professional as she thought it was, but I couldn't object.

She had done it for us, after all... and now she was leaving her entire life behind.

And... it took me a moment to realize it, but so was Zack.

For me... they lost everything. Why? Why would they do that...?

"Cloud, you okay?"

Tifa's question interrupted my thoughts, and I gave her a shrug. "I guess." I couldn't answer honestly because I didn't really know how I was. The past few days had felt more like a dream than anything else - so surreal, compared to what I'd experienced.

Being with friends... being free... it felt so strange, and I hated that fact more than anything.

Tifa didn't seem to believe me, but she just frowned and glanced over at Zack, most likely for help. He didn't offer her anything substantial either, and finally she rolled her eyes and turned to the window to watch the scenery. It was probably more interesting than we were, anyway.

I followed her gaze, my mood brightening as I noticed we had left Midgar and entered the more appealing countryside. In the months I'd spent in the dark city, as well as Hojo's chilling lab, I realized how much I missed the open mountains of Nibelheim. I suppose at the very core of my heart I was always meant to be in the country rather than the city. Zack would've laughed; he hated the isolation a small town presented more than anything. But he was a different kind of man, even though Nibelheim and Gongaga - his hometown - sounded almost identical.

As my eyes wandered aimlessly, I caught sight of an odd yellow shape bobbing its way at a startling pace in the distance, traveling nearly as fast as the train itself. My eyes widened as I realized we were passing by a large farm, and the yellow dot was...

"Choco.... choco... choco, choco..."

I glanced across the train car, baffled by the chant, and noticed a young girl staring out the window, her legs swinging back and forth against the seat. Her head bobbed up and down as she looked out at the landscape, pressing her face against the glass to get a better view.

"Choco... choco... three chocos!"

"What the heck are you doing, kid?" An older man, sitting beside the girl, raised an eyebrow. He was chewing idly on a bit of grass, so I assumed he was from out of town as well. Either that, or above the slums where nothing grew that green.

She smiled cheerfully at him, then went back to the window. "Counting chocobos! See, you get a point every time you say 'choco' before anyone else, for each chocobo you see. And if you see a graveyard, you say 'Bury your chocobos!' and everybody else loses their points."

The man smirked at her. "But no one else is playing the game, so why bother?"

She pouted, chewing on her lower lip. "They might be," she announced, and went back to her game. The older man looked up and saw me watching; he grinned and shrugged helplessly. I turned away, somewhat unsettled.

"Choco, choco..."

"Bury your chocobos," I mumbled, watching with disinterest as we passed a graveyard on my side.

The girl must have heard me, for she turned right around, her expression shocked. "You... you said it before me!" she gasped, trembling. "I had almost 30 chocos!"

I blinked. "But... I wasn't actually..." I looked helplessly at Zack for support, but he was too busy trying to conceal his laughter. Some help he was. Tifa looked ready to do the same, though she hid it better than he did.

The little girl hopped to her feet, storming over to me. "I bet there wasn't really a graveyard!" she argued, hands on her hips. I guessed she was trying to look intimidating. I stared blankly at her, and she turned to Zack, eyes narrowed. "I'm right, aren't I?"

Zack shrugged, swallowing his laughter and trying to give the girl a straight face. "Sorry, kiddo. I saw the graveyard too."

She pursed her lips together, then stuck her hand right in front of me. "Okay mister, I'm gonna challenge you! First one to 30 points wins!"

I gave her my best glare. "No." I wasn't going to play some kid's game!

"Aw, come on!" she clenched her hands into fists, eyes narrowed and determined. "I bet I could beat you! You're just scared!"

Scared, to play a game with a little brat? I was not in the mood for this. The older man across from us seemed to sense this, for he stood up and within three steps was standing behind the girl, one arm curving around her waist. Before any of us could even blink, he picked her up and hefted her under his arm like she was little more than a doll.

"Sorry about that, folks," he grinned, scratching his head with his free hand. "The little lady has a bit too much spunk in her."

The girl struggled vainly, kicking and waving her arms, but she couldn't tear herself free. "Mister Ciiiiid! Lemme go!"

The man simply ignored her, turning around and returning to his seat. He dumped his cargo back on the seat, and she stuck her tongue out at him, giving us all a nasty look. After a moment, she returned to the window, immersing herself in her game.

Zack poked me meaningfully. "Hey Cloud, why didn't you play, huh?"

I gaped at him. "Are you kidding me?"

"Why not? She was a cute kid," Zack added, that familiar smirk appearing on his face.

I scowled at him. "That's not funny!"

"Come on, I know you'd love it."

"I would not!"

"Sure..." His grin broadened. "I think she likes you, too."

I glared in response. "I'm surprised you weren't flirting with her. You flirt with every other girl we meet."

I wasn't surprised that he didn't think anything of my comment. He just laughed and clapped my shoulder. "Touche," he finally replied, shaking his head. After a moment he stood up, taking a seat beside the girl's companion and striking up a conversation.

Which left me in the uncomfortable silence, alone with Tifa Lockheart.

I swallowed audibly and glanced at her, but she wasn't paying attention to me. I was surprised by this; she'd acted like a nervous puppy since I had first woken up, following me around and asking if I ever needed anything. If it had been anyone else, I would have been annoyed, but...

Tifa... I knew she wanted to help. But I could never bear to tell her that I just wanted to be left alone.

"Cloud?"

I started at her sudden voice, glancing over. "Y-yeah?"

She turned towards me, cinnamon eyes uncertain. After a moment she looked down. "Hey... I'm sorry I've acted like such an idiot these past few days."

I raised an eyebrow. While I wouldn't have put it quite like that, there were times that I wondered if she could read my mind. "You... you haven't been like that."

Not that bad, anyway.

She laughed weakly, brushing a hand against one eye. "You don't have to lie to me. I've just been so nervous, you know? I keep thinking something will happen... that I'll lose you again." She shivered. "I never want to... to lose you again..."

But why? Why, when... you don't even -know- me.

You never really have. And... especially not now. Not after everything that's happened.

"I'm... not going anywhere," I finally mumbled, my eyes fixed to the floor.

She smiled, her expression brightening a little. "I know that, and it does make me feel better. But sometimes.. I just can't help it."

I frowned. "This isn't like you."

Where's the Tifa I know? Don't tell me you've changed that much, too...

I don't think I could stand that.

Tifa started laughing, then, and my eyes narrowed. She wasn't laughing at me, was she? What did I say?

She wiped at her eyes again, and suddenly I realized she was crying. Her shoulders still shook from the laughter, and she was hiding it well, but I could see the wet glint against her cheeks. "Tifa, what's wrong?" I demanded.

Turning towards me again, she offered me a brave smile. "It's nothing. I'm just... I'm happy you're with us, Cloud."

I blinked, unable to speak as she spun in her seat, gazing out the window and ignoring the tears that still remained on her face. She didn't even look up when Zack returned to his seat fifteen minutes later, leaning back and giving us a sidelong glance.

"That fellow's name is Cid," Zack offered after a moment, as if we hadn't heard the girl wailing it earlier. "He and the girl are stopping off at the city beyond the falls, like us."

I was surprised by that. "We're not going straight to the castle?"

Zack grinned and shook his head. "Nobody just waltzes into Ansem's castle, kid. And considering what's happened, we ought to be especially careful. The capital city is the best place for us for a while, until we work our way up beyond any sort of suspicion."

Vaguely I wondered how Zack planned on doing that, considering we would be working for a rebel group, but I didn't question it. He and Tifa knew more than I did - I just wished they would actually tell me something substantial before we got there.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked instead. "Is he traveling with us or something?"

Zack chuckled ruefully. "I was just making conversation. Actually, those two are from the castle - they live there. Cid's an airship pilot, but they're taking the train because the ship got attacked just outside town."

"Attacked?"

"Don't look at me." he shrugged. "I didn't get details either. He was mighty pissed about it, though. I think something happened with his crew. Anyway, they're getting it fixed in Midgar. I'm surprised they got a mechanic shop on it so fast, considering how bogged down that city usually is - they must have some sort of high rank in the castle, or at least are in service to the king. Maybe the girl's even related; who knows."

My eyes narrowed. "I... I thought you wanted to keep a low profile."

Zack just smiled again. "And part of keeping a low profile is to avoid looking like you are. If we avoid talking to anyone we'll seem like a bunch of conspirators."

I nodded reluctantly, seeing his point. Before I could say anything to respond, though, the train suddenly jerked backwards, as if something had tried to stop it, then sped up considerably. I lurched in my seat, grasping at the material beneath me to try and keep from falling right over. "What was that?"

Standing up and peering down the car in the direction of the engine car, Zack's eyes darkened. "I'm not sure. Something like this happened before..." At my questioning look, he shook his head. "You wouldn't remember. It was on our way back from Nibelheim."

I lowered my eyes at the mention of home, then looked back up to follow his gaze. Was something going on?

"Let's check it out," Zack announced abruptly, and then he was moving through the car towards the door. I groaned inwardly, rising to my feet with Tifa right behind me.

He'd better not be serious...

The rest of the train was densely populated, the people scattered all over, and everyone looked nervous. I didn't blame them, for I was feeling much the same way. The train was still going fast - too fast for it to be normal. Granted, I hadn't been on many train rides, but still... it didn't take an experienced traveler to know when a trip was getting dangerous. As the train's speed increased again, so did Zack's; Tifa and I were hard pressed to keep up with him, though she had more trouble than me. I was somewhat pleased by that thought, strangely enough. It meant that whatever I'd gone through, I was still stronger than I used to be.

Pleased... and yet frightened, too.

As we neared the engine car, Zack halted, pointing to the ground. It was spattered with red, and my heart leapt in my throat. Blood...

Tifa clutched my arm, her eyes wide. "Whoever did this could be driving the train!"

Thanks for stating the obvious, Tifa. I didn't speak out loud, my eyes watching Zack as he crouched beside the blood, studying it.

He reached out and brushed his hand against the floor, eyes narrowed. "Claw marks," he spoke up, glancing up at us. "Cloud... take a good look."

Just me? I swallowed hard. He... didn't mean...

But as I knelt beside him, my eyes focusing on the marks he pointed to, I understood what he meant. "I see them," I whispered. I felt a twinge of darkness centering around my shoulder, and I shivered.

"They... followed us here."

Tifa touched my shoulder, squeezing gently. "I don't understand," she said quietly, shaking her head. "What happened?"

"It's because of me," I continued desperately, lifting my eyes to meet Zack's and ignoring Tifa's question. "Because we're connected now, right? The Heartless... they're connected to..."

I can feel them... why didn't I feel them before? Why... why are they...

"Geez, Cloud..." Zack grumbled, rubbing a hand against his forehead. "Just shut up for a minute. This isn't your fault... but we need to get off this train."

Tifa's eyes widened. "But we can't just leave them with everyone!" she objected.

"Of course not," Zack replied matter-of-factly. He reached behind him and touched the hilt of his sword. "We can't get caught here, though. You know that. We'll fight, and then we'll leave once the train's stopped. We're not that far from the city now, anyway, so we'll be fine."

I hesitated, glancing over at Tifa. She pursed her lips, then nodded.

Closing my eyes, I silently prayed that I would have the strength to face them again. Heartless... all I'd known for four months... I couldn't deny that we were connected somehow. I couldn't deny who I had become.

"This is what you are now."

No... not just this. Something more.

But... I'm not afraid of it. I won't be.

Taking a deep breath, I clenched my hands into fists - the metallic claw itching for its return to combat - and stepped forward, ready to face my enemies.

With a single kick Zack broke open the door to the main engine. He leapt inside, tearing his sword through three of the nearest Shadows and making space for Tifa and I to squeeze inside. There wasn't a lot of room, particularly for Zack's massive weapon, and he seemed to realize it. He sheathed it and lifted his fists, giving us both a nod, and we stepped up to help once again.

There were five of them left, three of the flying types and two that looked much like soldiers. They seemed surprised, if it were possible, by our sudden appearance, but wasted no time in their response. We met them in the center of the room, and though we were fighting barehanded, the Heartless seemed to fall easily to our attacks.

Strange, I couldn't help thinking, as I slashed my claw straight through one of the soldiers, banishing it to its own oblivion. In all my time at Hojo's lab, I couldn't destroy the Heartless... not once...

I blinked away my thoughts, realizing that the car was suddenly empty save for the three of us. Tifa and Zack relaxed their stances and hurried over to the engine controls, trying to figure out a way to slow the train down.

"The Heartless must have taken the engineers," I could hear Zack mutter. "Guess it's up to us. How the heck does this thing work...?"

My gaze turned from them, taking a long look around the room. The Heartless... how did they get on the train? Had they been on board all along and had simply waited until now to act? But if that were true, why would they do that? And how could they have altered the speed of the train, when none of us could even figure that out?

Hojo himself said the Heartless weren't capable of conscious thought...

I felt someone's eyes on me, and I shivered. I cast a quick glance in Zack and Tifa's direction, but they hadn't even looked up.

The feeling persisted.

What... what is this...

... familiar...

"Stop," I whispered, taking a step back. Tifa turned towards me, concern flitting through her eyes.

"Cloud?"

Stop looking at me. I know you're...

... what?

I clutched at my head, hands pressed against my temple. There was a darkness growing within me, the same shadows I'd felt for months now, and it wouldn't let me push it back into the corners of my mind anymore.

But it's over now! I... Zack got me out of there! I don't -want- to go back!

I don't want it anymore!

"Cloud!"

The voices of my friends were lost as I stumbled backwards, my hand reaching out above me. I felt the smooth surface of the window, and my entire body froze.

Glass... I could feel...

"This is what you are now."

I don't want it!

I cried out, feeling the darkness sweep over me. The wing shifted painfully beneath my skin, and suddenly it was tearing outwards, passing through my body and reclaiming its lost freedom. Tifa screamed, her hands clasped over her mouth, and Zack called my name again, but the shadows were everywhere and I needed to -

- to -

The window shattered as I slammed my claw into it, barely even flinching as the glass cut into my arm. I couldn't think, I couldn't stop, I just knew deep inside me that I had to get out of there right now or I'd go mad.

The eyes watched me, and I could hear laughter in my head. And with sudden horror welling in my chest, I knew.

Before Zack or Tifa could reach me, I pulled myself up and dove straight through the broken window, ready to crouch and roll when I hit the ground.

Except there was no ground beneath me.

My eyes widened, and a voice inside my head screamed Idiot! as I realized we'd been traveling across the bridge that lay above the Rising Falls. I tumbled helplessly through the air, wondering if I deserved to die for being such a moron.

Was it stupidity or... insanity... that made me...

I didn't want to consider it.

At least I still had the wing to slow my...

... my... wing?

Oh good god. I really was an idiot. I had a wing, and here I was falling to my death, not even trying to help myself. I closed my eyes, trying not to focus on the ground that was approaching and would greet me damn soon if I didn't do something to slow myself down, and concentrated on the wing.

It's like an extra limb, right? So I can move it. Somehow...

If I just try hard enough, it can save me.

... how the hell am I supposed to fly with one wing?

I can hear something... not just water, it... must be the city Zack was talking about...

Focus!

My eyes snapped open, and I pushed the wing with as much mental strength as I could, feeling a resistant shiver in response. It finally began to stretch, catching a sudden gust of air and allowing me to switch from a direct freefall into a clumsy glide. I took a moment to celebrate my small victory before I slammed gracelessly into the peak of a roof, crashing straight through. My brief flight interrupted, and my body too sore to even try it again, I grit my teeth and waited for the ground to meet me.

Eventually it did; my back collided with the floor of the building, cushioned by something that kept me from blacking out completely. I flinched and bit back a scream, my shoulder throbbing, and tried to look around. I felt a twinge in my neck as I moved it, and I wondered distantly if something was broken.

"Don't move..."

I blinked tiredly at the unexpected, yet gentle voice, my gaze wandering. Who...?

And then a face appeared over me, concern etched across the features. Bright green eyes met mine, and the face smiled encouragingly.

And for the first time in months, I wanted to smile back.

AN: Woo! Biggest chapter yet. I warned you guys! I'm rather proud that I got so much accomplished. (And in only 5 days, too!)

A few things...

Cloud's clothes: This comes directly from Ehrgeiz - one of Cloud's alternative costumes is red instead of blue. Despite his misgivings in the chapter, he actually looked pretty good like that.

Rising Falls: I know we only saw the castle and the falls in the game, but it was also stated that the world had changed a great deal. I seriously doubt that was all there to be found at Ansem's castle, so I fiddled with a few ideas before this finally came to mind. In the normal timeline, the cities of the world have had nine years to fall to the Heartless and deteriorate, so chances are there's not much left, and that's what I went with here. Just an idea to consider.

Next chapter - Cloud's a bit lost in the big city! Good thing he has someone to watch over him. Or is he watching over her...? Get ready, because you-know-who has finally decided to show up...

Unfortunately, this will probably be the last chapter for a while. I'm going away for the summer and won't be able to update where I am. However, I'll be sure to keep writing, so there should be a chapter or two ready for posting when I come back! Have a great summer, everyone!

Reviewer Responses:

Jade-Jaganashi: oO Wow... I don't think Cloud would enjoy a cinder block either... heh.

Koorino Megumi: You must love the moogles. Everyone loves the moogles.

Seishin Kibou: Ah, AH?! Magazine scan? Wherewherewhere? Where is Zack in Advent Children? Wheeeeeeere?! As for Cloud vs. Sephy, have you checked KH World? Unless they've removed the vid files... that's where I got my copy.

starhealer: Megumi told me I'd die when I read your review. I was dead by line three and went downhill from there. I hope you're happy.

link no miko: ... do you know, it took me about five tries to decipher that first sentence... I'm so glad I'm forgiven though, heh. And I hope the Zack chappie was worth the wait! Sorry I've leave you guys hanging all summer. Heyyyy, that line wasn't intentional until now... "Leave you hanging"... --snickers--