Chapter 5: Fateful Encounter

Vincent lurked around Nibelheim, where he was put to sleep by Hojo.

"Do you see now Hojo? Your plan to destroy the planet failed. How does it feel to be buried in agony?" Vincent muttered. He snuck into the Shinra Mansion and began to explore it, mostly the library where Sephiroth did his research.

"Hmph…these are all out of date." Vincent scoffed and threw the dusty old book to the floor. Two glass capsules caught his eye and he slowly walked to them.

"Hmm…how many people did you experiment on Hojo?" Vincent noticed a small book on the table and he picked it up and read some pages.

"……In case of any setbacks, a clone will be made of my son and the reunion will continue." The diary said. What is this? Wait…this date…this was the date when Lucrecia's son was born…Is this clone Sephiroth's and is it alive somewhere? This is most disturbing, I must gather more clues. Vincent pocketed the diary and crept out of the mansion.

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Once again Cloud was upon his motorcycle, making more deliveries; suddenly he felt a presence nearing him. Hmm…Who might that be? Cloud stopped his motorcycle and looked around, but no one was there. Am I hallucinating? I'm sure I felt something there a moment ago… Cloud noticed a floating feather that was suspended in the air, enrapt in pure white light. I must really be hallucinating… He went closer to the feather and quickly grabbed it. The light didn't go out of the feather and it did not sway in the wind for some reason. It was like it was frozen in time.

"I suppose I should keep it." Cloud said and stuck it neatly in his pocket. Bring! His phone suddenly rung.

"Cloud, it is Barret here. I want you to pick up Marlene at the train station since I won't be able to take care of her." Barret, an ally said.

"Well alright, but why can't you take care of her?" Cloud asked.

"I'm mining here now stop asking so many questions and get yer damn ass over there!" Barret shouted and hung up. Heh, so typical of him to be so foul. Marlene, I haven't seen her in a while. Cloud revved up his bike and headed towards the station in Midgar, Sector 7.

"I feel him nearby…" Sephiroth whispered to Seraph. With her katana drawn, Seraph followed Sephiroth's instincts.

"What would you have me do brother? Would you want me to end it here and now?" She asked him. "No, you won't kill him easily, but I want you to prolong his suffering…" He chuckled. "Keh, whatever then." Seraph scoffed.

"…Seraph…my…dear." The voice of Jenova whispered. I've had enough! Stop…going into my mind! Seraph shook her head and resisted their probes.

"I…want…to do thing my own way!" She shouted. The voices temporarily stopped, but Seraph was worn from fighting with the voices.

"What….should I do now?" She asked herself. Cloud Strife…who are you? I want to know who you are. Curious to find out who Cloud is, Seraph continued to look for him, without Sephiroth's or Jenova's orders. This time she sheathed her katana, not looking for a fight, especially not with the one who killed Sephiroth. Suddenly, Seraph felt a stabbing pain in her back that made her fall on her knees, groping at the ground, desperate to find something that would relieve her of the hurt.

"Ah…..UHH!" She yelped. What is this! Why does it hurt so much! After struggling with her sudden attack, the pain began to subside and Seraph was finally able to get up. Frightened of the attack, she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to block it if it were to come again. Is…Is Sephiroth and Mother angry at me for disobeying them? It…hurt so much. The sound of a motorcycle coming close to her caught Seraph's attention. I'm about to meet Cloud, but…how do I react to him?

In the distance, Cloud sees a young woman with flowing silver hair just standing there. Who is that? Cloud stops by the girl.

"Hey, are you lost?" He asks. Suddenly, the feather in Cloud's pocket felt warm and the girl fell on her knees, clutching her chest. Alarmed, Cloud got off his bike and caught her before she fell into the rocky ground.

"AH! Err…UHH!" She shrieked in pain. "Hey, are you alright!" He fussed. The young woman started to claw at the ground with her long nails. Damn it…what can I do? What is going on!

"S…eph…leave…Mother!" The woman strained, but her words made no sense to Cloud. Without another moment of hesitation, Cloud carried her to the bike and headed to Midgar, to look for help.

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At Midgar, Vincent looked for clues, but even looking in the remains of the Shinra building gave him no lead.

"….There should be something here…."Vincent thought out loud.

"Hmm….what is this?" He gasped when he saw a floating feather, glowing in a white light. Vincent examined it for some time before pocketing it.

"….This may be a vital clue." He grunted. Opening the diary again, he began to read further.

"The DNA is sophisticated and we made many clones, however, none of them survived." Have I been looking for nothing then?

"I realized that we were starting from scratch and I thought that would hold more power, so I decided to use a newborn's body." How terrible! Hojo, you disgust me!

"The specimen survived our experiment, but….." The rest of the words of that page faded out. So…I may have yet to find something. Vincent decided to go back to Seventh Heaven.

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"How is she?" Cloud asked.

"She'll be fine. She had no wounds or any sickness….It may have been some internal pain or hallucination." Tifa explained.

"I see….she freaked me out." Cloud chuckled. Seraph lay in bed, not yet conscious.

"You said you found her on your way home? How strange…" Tifa pondered. Cloud reached into his pocket and fingered the feather. It was still warm since he saw this girl. Is she affected by this feather? Maybe if I distance myself away from her, she could get better.

"Cloud, where are you going?" Tifa asked.

"I'll be back; I've got to go pick Marlene up. Keep an eye on the girl." He said and headed out. Tifa sighed and put a wet cloth on the young woman's head.

"…Mother….Sephir…." The woman whispered.

"Hmm? Is she coming to?" Tifa thought out loud.

"Hey…are you okay?" Tifa asked the woman. Slowly, her eyes opened and stared into Tifa's large, ruby eyes.

"….Tifa…." Sephiroth spoke in Seraph's mind.

"Tifa….?" Seraph breathed. Tifa's eyes grew wide when she heard her name called out by someone she didn't even know.

"You know me?" Tifa asked. Tifa…..Who is she?

"She's part of Cloud's life…..Toy with her…." Sephiroth spoke again. Seraph shook her head wildly. No, don't come out of me….

"….I…." Seraph closed her eyes once more, but she seemed to be straining, fighting against something. Tifa slowly extended her hand to the girl; slightly touching her forehead and immediately, Seraph calmed down and saw a light…everything was covered in this pure white light. In the distance, she could make out a figure of a woman, but she couldn't tell who it might be. Her face was light, but the features weren't defined. The only thing noticeable was her light, pink outfit, swaying in the wind. Is…she helping me? Who are you? After several moments, Seraph was able to see.

"Is everything alright?" Tifa asked. Seraph sat up and looked at her.

"…Tifa?" Seraph asked again.

"Hmm? What is it?" Tifa questioned. I know her…yet I don't know her…who was that person I saw when Tifa touched me?

"I'm sorry, but I don't know how I know your name….." She apologized politely. Tifa smiled brightly and sat on the bed next to Seraph.

"May I ask what your name is?"

"….My name…is Seraph." She answered plainly.

So sorry for not updating in so long! Chapter 6 is coming up. What do the feathers mean? What is Vincent, Cloud, and Tifa to her? Who is that woman in the light?