"I believe he's asleep." Genesis spoke some minutes after watching Cloud going still. The humming paused as Aerith turned to have a look.

"That doesn't look very comfortable." She comments with a gentle smile. Cloud had fallen asleep while sitting up. His neck was craned so his chin rested on his chest.

Zack stands and made his way over. He knelt beside his pupil, unsure on whether to wake him or not. Genesis peels himself off the pillar.

"Let him sleep. He's endured enough to last a lifetime in the last few days." The commander spoke softly.

"I'll just reposition him." Zack gently laid Cloud down. Apparently he was in such a deep sleep that he didn't wake in the change of gravity.

"I'll be making my way back to HQ. We will continue the training later. Thank you, Zack, for showing me this place. Have no worry, your secret is safe with me. It was nice meeting you, Aerith. The Goddess surely smiles on you." Genesis meant every word.

"Thank you? It was nice meeting you, too." Aerith wasn't used to this kind of praise. But she knew in her heart he was sincere.

And with that the commander turned and walked out of the church. Once he was gone Aerith turned to her boyfriend. He gave her a tentative smile.

"Well, that went better than I expected." She commented. "I never thought he would be so...polite. The stories about him are always so wild."

"He has his moments. You didn't see him earlier when he got so mad at Cloud he turned and threw fire in a random direction." Zack recalled that moment. He had almost run inside the VR room out of fear Genesis would fight Cloud. Instead the commander allowed himself a minute to calm down.

"Now that I can believe. So, how long do we let him sleep for? At some point you two do need to go home." Aerith pointed at Cloud.

"I'll give him a few hours before I wake him up. Until then, can I interest you in something naughty?" Zack laughed as she smacked his arm.

"Oh, you. We are not doing it here while he's asleep." Aerith huffed. She turned her gaze back down to Cloud. "I can see the attraction. He is rather cute, isn't he?"

"Aerith." Zack gave her a look.

"What? I'm just saying I don't fault you one bit for having a crush on him. Is there any chance Sephiroth will let him go?"

"I don't see that happening anytime in the future."

"Well, one can dream I suppose." She sighed.

"You really don't have any shame, do you?" Zack crossed his arms.

"Nope. What is there to be ashamed about? It's just harmless fun. Besides, I will choose you any day."

"And the same goes for me." He smiled fondly.

"You've proven that already." Aerith giggled.

They talked on and off for a few hours. Meanwhile deep in sleep, Cloud dreamed. He stood on the edge of a tall cliff. Below him was the big blue ocean. The sound of the waves echoed, the breeze a little chilly against his skin.

"Beautiful, isn't it? The edge of the world." Sephiroth's smooth voice sent shivers down Cloud's spine.

Suddenly he felt the general's presence. He didn't have to turn around to know that Sephiroth stood behind him. Cloud held his breath as familiar lips leaned closer to softly whisper into his ear. All of this felt so real.

"Together we can achieve a great many things, Cloud." A hand sensually traced the blond's side. Ever so slowly the tips of the fingers felt over Cloud's hip.

The blond gasped softly. And just like that the hand stopped in its exploration. Cloud stood there frozen. His body shook with growing need. A small quiet voice in the back of his mind wondered if this was real or a dream.

"First you need to unlock that wild side of you. That endless fury that wishes so badly to be free from its cage. Once you tap into it, you will leash it, control it. Become its master."

"I don't know how." Cloud released a shuddering breath.

All of this felt too much. There wasn't enough touches and yet he knew he would lose himself if there was more. He wanted so badly to turn around and pull Sephiroth in for a heated kiss. But for some reason his body wouldn't move. He was stuck staring out into the ocean beyond.

"You will, in time. I believe in you. You have to overcome this trial. Otherwise your madness will swallow you whole." At the last word another hand grasped at Cloud's throat. Panic spread and yet the blond still couldn't move as those fingers tightened their grasp.

"What - what's going on? Is this real?" Cloud managed to gasp out. The grip tightened ever so slowly. The pressure was agonizingly slow build up.

"Break from my chains. Once you taste the freedom of the cage I have set, you will understand how to conquer that side of you which you try so hard to bury."

By now Cloud's vision darkened. The breeze grew colder as if it seeped inside his skin and reached his very bones. The blond felt himself giving into darkness. As if sensing this the hand paused. Instead the other hand that had been still on his hip closed the distance to fondle over where Cloud wanted to be touched minutes ago.

"Seph - " Cloud couldn't finish. His chest and lungs were constricting.

Strangely despite the inability to breathe the blond was feeling turned on. His body ached so much it was difficult which it wanted more, air or sweet release. And suddenly a surge of energy spilled from inside Cloud's chest. It was the will to fight, the will to break away from this hold.

"That's it, Cloud. Allow your spirit burn and break my chains." Sephiroth encouraged.

Despite the cold wind that seeped into his core, Cloud was burning. His skin was so hot there was a thin layer of sweat beginning to form. The heat became unbearable. It was greater in strength than the need for air and release combined.

Suddenly with a choked cry Cloud felt his arms finally rise and violently push away the appendages that trapped him. And finally he inhaled the cold sharp air. He opened his eyes, when did he close them? And before him the sight of the ocean had changed.

Instead of the calm and beautiful blue, the matching clear skies and bright sun, there was a storm. The water was grey as the waves increased in volume by the powerful force of the winds. The skies were covered in endless dark clouds in the vast wilderness.

"Now what will you do with your newfound freedom?" Sephiroth's voice cut through the wind.

Without hesitation Cloud whirled around and reached. For a split second it looked like he would punch Sephiroth. Instead the blond pulled him to his level and their lips crashed together. Sephiroth returned with vigor as they pressed against each other as if they were trying to become one mind, one body.

Good, Cloud. Very good. You're ready.

It was all too much. Cloud was ready to burst from all of the emotions swirling inside his chest. And suddenly it felt like he was falling. Cloud gasped as he startled himself awake, his body sitting up in a panic. A hand grasped his shoulder and Cloud tried to shove it away.

"Spike? Spikey, hey, hey. It's just me." Zack gripped the arm that tried to shove him away in a lock. He moved a little closer so their eyes met. Upon making eye contact Cloud froze. His body shook uncontrollably.

"Zack?" Cloud gasped out.

"It's fine. You're okay. It was just a dream. Just a dream. Take a moment to gather yourself. Think you can do that?"

"Yeah." The blond nods, focusing on his breathing.

Once he was calm Cloud took in his surroundings. They were still at the church. On the other side of him Aerith was studying him. Embarrassed he looked away, leaving him to look at his mentor.

"You gave us quite the scare. Wanna talk about it?" Zack tilts his head with concern.

Cloud shook his head. He couldn't find the words to describe what he just dreamed. Was it even a dream? It felt so real, too real. As the raging hormones calmed, he noticed something different. A weight had been lifted off his body. He felt lighter.

Zack and Aerith shared a look. They both knew. There was a sudden change in Cloud. They could see it in his eyes but couldn't quite describe it. For Zack, it reminded him of that day he called Sephiroth to help calm his pupil down at the bunk room. And then it clicked.

"You conquered that side of you." Zack let go of Cloud's arm. And the blond silently nods.

When they returned to the training room Genesis and Angeal had just finished a friendly spar. Upon seeing them the Commanders paused. The first sign was Zack, who looked defeated and confused. It was the way he carried himself. Beside him Cloud, was this even the same Cloud?

Gone was the timid boy. Before, his shoulders were always slumped in an attempt to make himself invisible. The way he walked was always forced as if he was skittish. Now Cloud stood confidently. Shoulders straight and tall. His steps no longer forced. Even his eyes changed.

They met their gazes without fear. Cloud had trouble keeping eye contact before. Now he stared into their eyes with such intention that it made the Commanders uneasy. Not a lot in the world has that effect on them. In fact only one set of eyes can ever have that same effect.

"Congratulations. You're a real SOLDIER now." Genesis felt his heart torn. While yes, he was proud of Cloud. But the eerie similarities to Sephiroth made him greatly uncomfortable. He understood why Zack wasn't jumping for joy.

"But what about the anger management training?" Cloud blinked with mix of surprise and confusion.

"There's no need to continue. I can tell you've conquered it. Therefore my lessons are pointless." Genesis walked past them without another word, however it didn't escape Cloud the pain in those pale eyes.

"What's with everyone? I thought this was what everyone wanted?" Cloud addressed Zack and Angeal.

"It is. Don't worry. It's a bit of a shock on the sudden transformation." Angeal assured gently. "Give us time to adjust."

"Where is Sephiroth?" Cloud wondered out loud.

"I saw him go into the labs this morning." A passing by SOLDIER answered. "I was just leaving from my appointment as he came in."

"And he's still there? I haven't seen him at all today." Angeal checked his phone for any possible new messages. There was none. He sighed as he addressed Zack and Cloud.

"This is gonna be your first time seeing him at his worst. Once I'm done with my schedule I'll stop by and help."

"What do you mean his worst?" Cloud frowned at the implication. He briefly thought of a hand at his throat and he quickly shoved the memory aside.

"When Hojo keeps him this long he's moody at best. Violent at his worst. Whatever you do don't ask for any details of what happened in the labs." Angeal explained, considering for a moment. "If he becomes violent, you both do as I say. Once he's in that state there's no reasoning with him. If I tell you to run, you run. Swear to me."

"You have my word." Zack didn't hesitate. Very rarely has his mentor told him to run. So this was serious.

"Cloud?" Angeal's gaze studied the blond.

"Yeah. Of course." In truth he wasn't sure if he would run.