Coming to his senses was a task. Whenever he awoke within mako, his body couldn't quite function normally as he came to. In a way it was like waking up still drunk instead of just hungover.
Slowly his eyes opened. It took Cloud a moment to realize he was staring up at a rock. Then it took him embarrassingly long to realize he was in a cave.
Shaking away the fog Cloud stood on trembling legs. To keep himself steady he studied his equipment. And was surprised he still had everything he had when the apocalypse began. Even Odin was still in place, having chosen him for an upcoming battle that never occurred.
Once his legs weren't under threat of going out Cloud took in his surroundings. A secret cave of natural mako pools. He froze at the sight of a woman encased in a mako crystal.
He didn't have to see her face to confirm. So this was where the planet decided to spit him out. A little far out, isn't it?
Cloud kept his irritation to himself. Something about this place demanded quiet. He wasn't going to disturb her sleep with his annoyance at the planet.
He moved around the crystal for a better look. She seemed like she was merely sleeping. Cloud could distinguish some of what Sephiroth inherited from her.
He wondered if she knew in some way about time itself being messed with. Perhaps she wouldn't until she placed herself here. But now she was trapped. Cloud wasn't sure if he should be the one to make the call to remove her.
"I'll keep Jenova from him." Cloud found himself telling her.
It was a promise. Although he wasn't sure if he really could pull it off, he wanted to see it through. Cloud felt every hair on his body stand on end.
Thank you. A voice whispered so softly he almost missed it.
He sensed the atmosphere change. It was as if the grief and guilt was washed away. Cloud studied her a moment longer before turning to leave. Fortunately the entrance of the cave wasn't too far.
Well, the planet put him close to Vincent. And maybe he can check the reactor since he was close by. If Jenova wasn't there then the least he can do is destroy the reactor and the hidden library.
Cloud felt the irritation leave him as he made his way out of the waterfall. It was close to evening. Even more perfect if he chose to reach Vincent before the reactor. Which the odds looked better as he recalled he shouldn't destroy Jenova by himself.
He walked an easy pace. Neverminding whether he would be late. Cloud finally entered the familiar buildings when it was dark. His boots never made a sound as he went straight for the mansion.
In little time he activated the hidden stairwell and made his way down. Cloud knew which coffin to go for and proceeded to remove the lid. Only to find Vincent wasn't there?
"...Vincent?" Cloud was confused.
Suddenly every hair on his neck stood on end. Slowly he turned his head as his body tensed. Cloud half relaxed at the sight of who he came here for.
"...So those weren't just dreams." Vincent stared.
"You could put the gun down." Cloud fully turned around. Cerberus was lowered and placed in its holster.
"You waited down here?" He couldn't help but ask.
"I awoke when Chaos felt a disturbance." Vincent was still taking in every detail of the warrior before him. "I grew restless and tried to find a way out."
"Then hid when the staircase opened." Cloud understood.
"Care to fill me in on the details?" Vincent still seemed confused and in awe at the same instance.
"First, let's destroy this library. I'll fill you in on the way to the reactor." Cloud promised.
They burned all books, journals and paper to ashes. Even the bookshelves. Nothing in the hidden library was safe. Somehow they managed to keep it from spreading further to the rest of the mansion. Cloud wasn't interested reliving Nibelheim burning, let alone on accident by his hand.
Together they put Nibelheim behind them and traversed the mountain path. Cloud filled Vincent in on everything. He wasn't going to leave any details out. He trusted his companion.
"So this connection between you and Sephiroth. What exactly does it entail?"
"Besides we both can potentially die? I have no idea." Cloud really didn't.
"Do you plan on exploring it?"
"For what purpose?" Cloud turned to the Ex Turk.
"A reverse of what Sephiroth did to you with the Black Materia."
Cloud paused. He really hadn't thought of that. And it felt strange. He wasn't one to manipulate people.
"I won't do it." Cloud answered. "I don't have it in me to influence others for an ulterior motive. I rather let people stay free to make their own decisions."
"Fair enough." Vincent agreed.
"Was that a test?" The blond wondered.
"In part. I wanted to make sure you were still the same as those dreams of a future that won't happen."
"Some things could still happen. Fate has a strange sense of throwing curveballs at me." Cloud snickered, making light of the situation.
"You in particular." Vincent agreed.
"Har har." The blond almost rolled his eyes.
Turns out Jenova wasn't in the reactor. Strange. She wasn't supposed to be moved back into Midgar until after the Nibelheim incident.
"Perhaps a secret lab. But Hojo won't keep it unguarded. We found them in an abandoned state. There would be traps in place that would still activate." Vincent theorized.
"Could be. In the meantime, this reactor's days are over." Cloud moved to the control room. He began shutting everything down.
The hum of the reactor went silent.
"Do you intend to destroy it completely?" Vincent inquired.
"For this one, yes. But the rest will just have the control room damaged enough it will take them a long while to get them working again. Gongaga and Corel would be too risky with the villages if they're fully destroyed."
Cloud's reasoning was sound enough. So Vincent left to begin with their destruction. The blond casted Thundaga. Within seconds the control room exploded around him.
Unphased the blond left as a fire began. Vincent joined him from leaving the room where Jenova's statue was placed. There was an even bigger explosion from there. Together they raced towards the only exit while casting Firaga or Thundaga along the way.
Perhaps they got a little too carried away. The last explosion was so big Cloud was sent flying. He briefly panicked as he tried to gather which way was down to brace for impact. A crimson cape engulfed Cloud and he relaxed.
Vincent stopped a distance away. Together they stood watching the flames engulfing the metal and reaching high. Cloud felt the memories of Nibelheim burning and he shoved them aside. Now wasn't the time to remember.
"You alright?" Vincent glanced down. Cloud hadn't let go of him yet, and he felt the blond trembling.
"Yeah." It was a lie. And he knew that Vincent caught it.
Cloud expected him to say something. But he had to remind himself that this was still the man who had barely arisen from his coffin and not the Vincent that grew comfortable around him. Although the man remembered, it was probably still a strange concept to wrap one's head around.
The blond slowly pulled away. It felt awkward. But he knew the other wouldn't comment on it. Cloud silently lead the way towards the mountain path.
Despite only having been awake for some hours, Cloud found sleep after they found a decent camping spot. He fell asleep as Vincent took first watch.
And for the first time in years, Cloud dreamed.
It was the burning of Nibelheim. Reliving every terrifying moment. He watched as Sephiroth stood before him, admiring the flames.
Only, Cloud realized something was off. The screams and smell of burnt flesh wasn't present. Confused he looked around. The buildings seemed empty? There weren't any bodies that he could see.
Briefly he glanced down. Confusion took hold as he realized that he wasn't wearing cadet gear. He was in his current armor and gear. As if suddenly remembering where he was Cloud glanced up.
Sephiroth was now a yard away. He paused in his advancement, studying Cloud's features. And suddenly the blond had the sense that Sephiroth was very aware. It was apparent with the way his eyes weren't clouded in hate.
"Who...are you?" Sephiroth asked.
Horror struck and Cloud's choises were fight or flight. He ran. He turned tail and bolted as if the Knights of the Round were charging after him. He heard Sephiroth's booths giving chase and it made him panic more.
Some part of him came to the recognize this was a dream. Which meant he could potentially have control over the situation at hand. Cloud pictured Midgar and in a blurred movement Nibelheim changed into the steel city.
And incidently Sephiroth discovered the same concept. That he had some influence. For suddenly they were both inside the VR Simulation dome. Cloud stupidly bonked against the barrier. He had been testing if he could go through walls and somehow that didn't work.
Cloud whirled around just in time to Sephiroth placing both arms on either side. The blond went stiff as he stared the once enemy down bravely despite looking like a trapped rabbit.
It was a strange concept to stare at the General Sephiroth while his mind was still trained to see the enemy who refused to accept death. Cloud had to remind himself he was face to face with the man before the madness.
"Why are you afraid of me?" Sephiroth's eyebrows were slightly furrowed in a mix of confusion and concern.
A lot of reasons. Reasons he shouldn't say. So Cloud stubbornly remained silent on that matter. He did eventually find his voice.
"Not afraid. Surprised." Cloud corrected.
"Then why run?" Sephiroth stared. He was taking in every detail of a face he knew he had never seen before.
This was all strange. Cloud could see the youth in the man. Not yet sharpened in age and insanity. And then it occurred to him that he was older.
That threw his brain for a loop.
Sephiroth gave him space, as if believing trapping Cloud was the reason for his silence. The blond relaxed and it must have shown on his face.
"May I know your name?" Sephiroth asked.
Cloud debated. Was this going to be a regular occurrence each time he slept? Because if so then this will get annoying real fast. Maybe this was a result of the connection?
He thought maybe he shouldn't. But then wouldn't that make Sephiroth not trust him? His goal was to prevent him from succumbing to Jenova.
"...Cloud." He gave in with a shaking voice.
He ignored the sinking in his gut at how bright those eyes became.