Turk Training Room

As promised, Ariana showed up at the Turk's main training room, stretching her arms while walking in. Some of the alternates wanted to see the fight between two Turks and a SOLDIER, namely wanting to study Sephiroth's daughter.

"Ready to get your ass wiped out on the floor?" she teased, grinning when Reno gave a matching challenging one.

The SOLDIER wore a leather vest over a black sleeveless shirt, and the Muramasa was strapped on a black sword belt over a stomach guard, sitting horizontally at a slight angle around the small of her back, while her saber Andromeda was off to the left side of her hip.

Ariana's upper arms were bare, her hands covered in black leather gloves that stopped just shy of her elbow, thick metal bands keeping the ends where they should. Her lower half was covered by black pants, which were tucked into lightweight black boots with silver colored piping and laces that were mid-calf length.

Removing a hair tie from her wrist, she tied her hair back in a ponytail, brushing her bangs from her eyes.

Reno and Rude had their own weapons with them, well, Reno had two of his mag-rods, and Rude had a regular baton.

"Ready?" Ariana called out, waiting for her opponents to confirm.

"Whenever you are!"

"Ready."

Reno went first, swinging his baton towards her face, the woman using Muramasa to block the strike.

Ariana then dodged an attack by Rude, hand slamming into the metal baton, before jumping back. The SOLDIER held onto her katana with two hands, falling into a ready stance.

Reno attempted to make another move, this time rushing with all his weight towards her, stumbling when she sidestepped and knocked him on the back with the pommel of her sword, not enough to bruise, but enough to make him trip, before she swung her knee into his stomach, sending him careening towards a wall.

Green eyes snapped to where Rude had pulled his fists up, sheathing Muramasa before matching him blow for blow, their punches occasionally hitting each other straight on.

After a minute or two had passed with the fist fight, Ariana smirked before she punched Rude in the face, then with her leg, kicked him into Reno, who had just recovered from the harsh knee strike from earlier.

"Don't be pathetic, now!" the woman taunted, Andromeda pulled out of its scabbard. "Come at me you two! I'll even wait!"

The Turks got to their feet, gathering their dropped weapons before rushing once more.

Ariana moved with both swords when both baton, and electrified batons struck at Ariana's torso, the woman beginning to dual wield.

She would sometimes jump back if they got too close but came back when their weapons hit.

After at least five minutes passed since they double teamed her, Ariana got bored, a smile clear on her face before she discarded her swords altogether, taking any electrified hits head on, and blocking Rude's baton strikes with her arms and legs.

Bruises started to blossom on her arms, before they faded away because of her mako healing, keeping her body virtually injury free while marking up her clothes with dirt and dust.

Reno at one point got a lucky strike, prod hitting Ariana straight to the gut.

She jumped back, pain flickering on her face for a split second.

"Wow, this is getting so boring, Reno! You're finished!"

With a wide grin, the woman shot forward, moving faster than she had since they started, almost blurring with the motion.

Her left knee cracked against Reno's jaw in a high kick, before she sharply changed direction, her right leg moving up that she caught herself with her right arm, hand planted on the floor, kicking the redhead into the air by the chest, and back into the wall with enough force to hear his ribs crack.

Reno groaned, jaw thoroughly broken, and didn't get up.

Ariana bent her knees, rolling into a crouch.

"You still want to fight, Rude?" she asked, drying blood from a once split lip being wiped off with one arm.

"It isn't over till it's over," the pierced Turk shook his head, making Ariana stand up.

"That's what I like to hear."

Ariana rubbed her wrists, feeling the bones in them click.

"This will be the easy part."

The SOLDIER burst into action, moving faster than the unenhanced eye could see in a silver and black streak.

Rude was struck about two dozen times from all different directions, before Ariana took the last strike from the side, sending him careening into the ground and skidding towards the wall opposite to where Reno was left unconscious.

"Ghost needs to train you guys better," the woman declared, barely winded, but also pink in the face, "I'm a little disappointed. You didn't even break any of my ribs."

Some medics ran in when Ariana picked up her fallen weapons, brushing sweat from her forehead.

"You feel that way because you spar with Father too much. Turks are nothing compared to fighting him when he runs you through with Masamune," Aridai appeared at her side, offering Ariana a bottle of water.

"Urgh, I remember when Father and Uncle tag teamed me. Not even the mako in me could fix me that fast," the woman grunted, "And the bite of Tsurugi is no joke. My arm was cut clean off."

"Luckily, that was a training sim, sister."

Cloud entered the training room, his Tsurugi strapped to his back.

"Cloud. Want to take our spar to VR Room 48?" Ariana asked, slightly surprised when he shook his head.

"It's lunchtime. Angeal said that he's making lasagna," the blonde answered.

"Yeah, fine. Are Reno and Rude alright?" Ariana asked innocently, Aridai snorting loudly.

"Probably, after a night in the infirmary. Or if they get a Curaga, they should be up and ready in no time," he said.


VR Floor 48

As a SOLDIER First, Ariana had access to the upgraded Virtual Reality Floor, which was a 'full dive' experience, where they could feel pain, but if they died in the simulator, they would just log out.

It was primarily used to help them with battle strategies.

Both Ariana and Cloud laid down, a visor attached to their head, that had a cabled and battery based power source.

The VR would be projected in another room for any outside viewers, while the VR participants were set in another room.

The headset would connect to the user's five senses through low powered frequencies, recreating spells and materia that existed in real life, but inputting it in the system.

(Essentially, like SAO's Amusphere, the Full Dive would make the VR seem like another world)


In the simulation, Ariana appeared in her SOLDIER uniform denoting her rank, the stimulated swords and their materia programmed into it.

Cloud on the other hand, had a modified Uniform, much like the outfit his counterpart wore, except without the Fenrir chest piece.

Ariana flipped through Loveless, mouthing lines to herself as her Father set up the program from the observation room. She let the simulated book fade away when the Virtual Reality stage started setting up, and their surroundings changed into a platform that resembled the roof of a skyscraper, a helicopter signal spray painted on the floor.

Skyscrapers surrounded the building, an artificial sun beaming from above.

"The spar between Commander Ariana Crescent and Director Cloud Strife will be commencing shortly. Materia is allowed. Magic is allowed. There is a limit of a maximum of three Limit Breaks," Sephiroth's voice boomed on an intercom, the man talking into a microphone in the real world.

Both opponents glanced up, nodding.

"Begin."


Simulation

Ariana went first, taking a running leap at Cloud, the sharp ringing of Muramasa and Tsurugi sounding out as she did a midair flip, slamming the swords together. Her boots hit the floor, pushing against the blonde's bulk.

At a standstill, Cloud leapt back first, skidding slightly on the floor as she tried to sweep his feet from under him.

Ariana took another run forward, Orion appearing in her right hand as they met strike for strike, sparks flying as metal struck metal, both using their enhancements to the fullest.

The woman made wide sweeps of her swords, both wielded simultaneously, Cloud giving as good as he got.

Cloud then separated the Tsurugi into two blades, dual wielding in a similar manner.

Every strike, every split second decision made seconds turn to minutes, turn to half an hour, both of them unable to gain a significant advantage.

Pieces of the generated building started falling apart, Ariana resorting to using magic to sharpen her blade and reach. Bright nets of magic flew through the air, twin slashes of energy slicing down the buildings.

Every so often, Ariana would make a breathy laugh, grinning at Cloud while they danced around each other, flipping back to break another piece of the roof.


Sirius still hadn't been deployed yet, giving Orion more weight, glowing ominously with her bright blue spells.

Cloud was also starting to get out of breath, cuts spanning his arms and legs.

Neither used their Limit Breaks, and Ariana was avoiding the urge to use her wing.

Muramasa pulsed with magic, the katana's blade artificially lengthened. The blade's reach became similar to an ōdachi, sharing one of the special characteristics with Masamune, the blade's sister sword.

Ariana noticed immediately when she and Cloud both started glowing the telltale signs of a Limit Break, her eyes narrowing.

Cloud grinned at her, the woman returning it, before Ariana threw herself up into the air, a black wing sprouting from her left shoulder. It flapped, gravity magic activating at the same time at its appearance.

Then, Ariana threw her Muramasa straight up, flying higher, and casted a multi-flame Firaga, spreading it with a sweep of her arm.

The Tsurugi was used to cut through the flying Firaga bursts, Cloud's jaw clenching as he deflected most of them, before being caught up in an explosion that had snuck up behind him.

While he was busy with that, Ariana then triggered Sirius to eject, and Orion transformed to cover its absence, the bright silver of Windrider separating the woman into two clones slightly below her body.

One clone caught Sirius, while Ariana tossed the other clone Orion, the real version flying to catch the enhanced Muramasa before they all pushed towards Cloud at the same time. The woman activated her Speed Materia, using the magic to move faster.

Ariana's clones delivered three quick slashes with Orion and Sirius first, before the clones disappeared, the fusion blades falling to the building below, and Muramasa piercing clean through his right shoulder, barely missing his heart and lungs.

Deed done, Orion and Sirius were embedded into concrete for a moment before they returned to their linked materia, while the woman kicked at Cloud's torso, still suspended midair, wing flapping to gain more altitude and yanking the katana out of his body.

Cloud collided into the roof below, coughing up blood from the fusion blade wounds.

Ariana only smirked, waiting for Cloud to recover. She stood in the air, suspended by her single wing, a shadow casting on her face from a simulated sun.

The blonde wiped at his mouth with one hand, Tsurugi clenched in the other.

"Come on, Cloud. Don't just stand there," she taunted, her hair having since then came loose, letting her silver and red hair flutter in the wind, "I told you yesterday you'd taste my blades! Unless you want a little gift?"

Ariana brandished Muramasa, hand raising towards the sky, the bright blue magic of a Blizzaga collecting above.

"I'm not done yet!" he protested, getting to his feet, the familiar sight of a healing magic washing over him.

Cloud activated his own Limit Break, leaping towards Ariana with Tsurugi, his arm swinging to gain altitude.

The Blizzaga shot spikes of ice towards the blonde, Cloud deflecting and cutting through them before they could pierce his skin.

Tsurugi and Muramasa clashed once more as they met, both not budging in the open air before Cloud triggered his sword to eject all six blades.

Ariana scowled when she recognized the beginning stages of an Omnislash, her teeth gritting together.

"Cloud!" she shouted, her eyes tracking the afterimages of Cloud separating and grabbing the swords.

She was able to block at least four strikes with Muramasa and her Orion, which had been resummoned into her other hand, before she was struck by the other seven slashes, coughing up blood which fell towards the ground below.

"Hrah!"

Ariana's Limit Break had resurfaced, the damage from the partially completed Omnislash triggering the bright silver light.

A clone formed at least six feet above them both, before she teleported, switching places with it, and Muramasa shining red with a Firaga.

"Even if the morrow is barren of promises," the silver haired woman hissed, her face twisted with frustration, before letting her wing propel her downward, slamming into Cloud from behind, and piercing her lengthened sword into his lung, this time not letting go, and both of them slammed into the building once more. "Nothing shall forestall my return!"

Dust flew, the roof breaking and sending them both into another floor.

Huffing, Ariana straightened, her legs feeling like jelly, and collapsed to her knees, narrowly missing where Cloud laid. The black wing dematerialized, leaving a handful of feathers behind.

Cloud was logged out, his prone body disappearing from the simulation.

"You're a hard man to fight, Cloud Strife," she gasped, grabbing at her lower torso. Coughing up more blood, she spat it on the floor nearby before she was forcefully ejected from the simulation too.

Ariana's eyes opened, before she pulled the headset off her face.

"Well, that was a surprise," Aridai smirked, hovering where she was getting up.

"Lucky it was just a simulation, or Cloud would've really died," the woman grunted, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, before she stretched, the headset left on the pillow.

"Go take a shower, then review the footage with Cloud," her brother recommended, "Father was impressed. And I think you gave the other Cloud a round of PTSD."

"Yeah yeah," Ariana rolled her eyes, before taking his advice.


Before, Observation Deck

Unlike the number of observers from the Turks V.S. SOLDIER spar, nearly all of the AVALANCHE members from Alpha-1 showed up in the observation room, interested in how different the other Cloud was compared to their own.

From the Alpha-0 gang, Sephiroth, Genesis, Angeal, Zack, Aridai, and Yazoo had settled in to watch.

There was an ongoing conversation between Sephiroth and Genesis, Angeal occasionally giving his opinion, and Zack offering a few words, though he was mostly just watching the fight while talking to Aridai.


With Ari and Zack

"They look like they're having fun," Zack was sitting with his hand supporting his head, watching both of the fighters smile at each other while sometimes laughing.

"Of course they are," Aridai scoffed, "It's Ana's idea of having fun."

"I never really did get why she does things sometimes."

"Do you think I know either? Even though she's in my head I can't make heads or tails of her thought processes."

"Oh yeah, that twin bond you like talking about. What's it like, seeing through her eyes though?"

"Confusing. If I wasn't a Turk, the information overload would be unimaginable. I used to hate hearing about Loveless before bed as a kid."

"Must've been weird that she liked something Gen did before you guys met."

"We were twelve. Ariana never heard of romance novels before. Even though she complains that the tropes in it are used too much, and that even though Loveless is seen as romance even though it is purely tragedy, she still believes in those things. Ana's always hated the idea of needing a 'Hero of the Dawn', but she wholeheartedly believes in the 'Healer of Worlds'."

"I think I remember that line," Zack muttered, "Uhhhh, I know I've heard Gen say it a bunch of times…oh right. 'There is no hate, only joy, for you are beloved by the goddess. Hero of the dawn, healer of worlds.'"

"That's the one. 'Dreams of the morrow hath the shattered soul. Pride is lost, wings stripped away, the end is nigh.' Don't tell her I said that. She'll never let me hear the end of it."

"I won't tell if you won't," Zack grinned, "Cloudy boy complains about it sometimes too."

"Tch. Father complains about it all the time. According to him, it was bad enough that Dad is also enamored with the play, and once Ana and Genesis start talking Loveless, everyone leaves the room. If humans had a screensaver function it'd be playing on loop," Aridai huffed.

Through the screen, the female SOLDIER could be seen summoning Orion into her right hand, while using Muramasa on the left.

"Since when did Ariana dual wield? I thought she mostly uses the Muramasa with her right?" Zack noticed, his expression changing into one of confusion, "She uses lighter swords more often than a heavy one like the Orion. I've never seen her use both a Fusion Sword and a katana at the same time."

"I…don't know," Aridai said slowly, "But I shouldn't use the bond while she's still fighting, it'll just distract her. It's like…"

"She's using Cloud's technique. Almost exactly. Look closer."

Both men stood up, approaching the screen, and scrutinizing the spar that was taking place in front of them.

"The Orion and Sirius are still more or less new swords. She only forged them a few months ago," Aridai settled into a thinking pose, "Before that, the only weapons she had were Muramasa and Andromeda. The only reason she could use both at the same time is because she's ambidextrous. And her sword style is modeled after Father's. Down to the flick and lunge."

"I kinda noticed that she's using the same flourishes that Genesis does when she's casting spells, like the sweep she's doing right now."

"She's not that great with Materia. What the hell does she think she's doing? True magic runs more along her skillset."

"Maybe she's testing her skills? The Commander I know always strives to be better."

"Perhaps. Ariana…" Aridai sat back down.


The Ariana that was sparring now was strange. Her normal moves were bouncy, quick, and light, made to draw out a battle and exhaust her opponent.

What she was doing now was none of that.

Every collision drew sparks, and she never stumbled back, meaning she was using her full weight with every strike.

As for dual wielding, Ariana usually favored her left hand for heavier weapons, while using her right to cast magic or wield lighter swords.

Almost as if she was being the mirror image of herself, unrecognizable to people familiar in fighting her.

Just what is my sister doing?


With Sephiroth, Genesis, and Angeal

"She gets her dramatics from you."

"Moi? You're mistaken, Sephiroth. She takes after you."

"It was already bad enough watching you wax poetic about Loveless since I met you."

"Correlation doesn't mean causation."

"Still. She is much too like a showman to be a trait of mine."

"Is it, though? You can also be showy."

"Gen, Seph, Ariana's fighting style is more like mine."

"What! No! Sure, she has her own Fusion Blade, but wouldn't that make her more like Spiky?" Zack piped up.

"Cloud does have a habit to dual wield too," Sephiroth admitted, "Not to mention the Tsurugi is actually six swords. She carries up to four at any given time."

"And his Limit Break is similar to Ariana's Windrider ability," came from Zack.

"Back to Seph being dramatic, if I remember correctly, there was another, smaller reason why you never spoke at Shinra functions without a script. And also why you're banned from telling jokes."

"Genesis, don't mention that, for the love of the Goddess."

"Hush, Ange, he needs to know," Genesis slapped away Angeal's hand that was about to cover his mouth.

"Because whenever you talked on the spot you always sounded vaguely threatening."

"Gen, no."

"Like you were going to pull out their intestines when they weren't looking. Or like you were planning to kill them slowly."

"Genesis."

"Would you like me to demonstrate?" came the vaguely threatening reply, "On you?"

"That's exactly what I'm talking about."

At this point, Zack distracted the three by shouting, "Hey, wait, watch the fight! Ariana's Break is coming up!"


Successfully distracted, they watched as Ariana's black wing shimmered into existence, her magically enhanced katana thrown into the sky.

Genesis whooped when the woman brought out Firaga spells, a grin widening on both of their faces.

There is a blur of blue energy, Ariana's conjured clones taking their slashes at Cloud's front, when the original catches Muramasa and rams it straight into Cloud's shoulder.

"Maximum pain with minimal damage," Sephiroth noted, vaguely noticing his husband's alternate stiffen from the other side of the deck, his SOLDIER senses catching the hitch in his breath.

"Shit, how's Spike gonna recover from that?" Zack breathed as Cloud was thrown down into the simulated building.

Ariana's voice can be picked up from the VR set, a mocking "Come on, Cloud. I told you yesterday you'd taste my blades! Unless you want a little gift?" coming clearly from a speaker.

"See, there's the vague threat," Genesis mumbled.

There's also a visible smirk on Ariana's face, her hair loose and flowing in the artificial wind, her green eyes glowing in the shadow that's casted on her face from the sun, a jet black wing taking up her left side as she holds onto Muramasa with her right. The bright icy blue glow at her other hand is almost too blinding to look at.

From the side, the sight makes the younger Cloud's jaw clench, his mind going back to fighting Sephiroth on Advent day, only that this was supposed to be a sparring session.

"I'm not done yet!" is Cloud's response, Zack almost jumping from his seat when he realizes what's about to happen.

Cloud takes to the air, sword swinging as he shattered the Blizzaga spikes, his body glowing the familiar blue of his Limit Break.

Everyone holds their breath when he executes the Omnislash, Ariana's cry of "Cloud!" also coming through.

Sparks fly when Ariana deflects some of the slashes, blood spurting from newly acquired wounds.

None of them expect her to glow with the light of a Limit Break again, right after a Break not even five minutes before.

When the woman makes a clone and switches with it, the Alpha-1 observers are caught off guard.

Ariana's quote of, "Even if the morrow is barren of promises," makes Sephiroth and Aridai groan and Genesis only smiles wider, before she stabs into Cloud and continues in her trajectory, slamming the blonde into the building, the swords of the Tsurugi scattered around them.

"Nothing shall forestall my return!"

"So that's what she meant, beating Cloud at his own game," Aridai realizes a little late, "Sister isn't naturally a counter hitter, but at this moment…"

"The Digital Mind Wave. No wonder she pulled off Cloud's type of move set," Zack says out loud, "She must've been locked on since the beginning. Fighting like he does…but not only him."

"Ariana has adjusted her fighting style since the beginning. Normally, she relies on quick, light attacks sustained over a prolonged period of time, while Cloud is a counter striker. A terrible combination for someone of her style. But, to mix other's techniques…," Sephiroth continues the thought, "It would explain her dual wielding, counter hitting, anticipating Cloud's strikes as if she is the one doing them. The multiple uses of Firaga from Genesis' set, and how he controls the spells. My style of wielding Masamune through the use of her Muramasa. And Angeal's technique of using the Buster Sword. A seamless blend of technique and skills from all four of us. I feel a little flattered."

The sight of the simulated arena faded, the screen turning back.

"I'll get my sister," Aridai said, before he teleported away.


With the Alpha-1 people

"Wow…is that what it's like fighting…him?" Tifa asked Cloud quietly, the blonde man almost reliving his fight not even months prior, during Advent Day.

"How…how is this world even possible?" Cloud shook off his stupor, "The other me…lost."

"That woman's dangerous," Barret gruffly gave his opinion, "If someone like her was fighting against us…"

"Yeah, Ariana's kinda badass," Zack came up to them, having stayed behind while the other four of his friends went to get Cloud and Ariana, "She's…a very confusing person, actually. She can act pretty ridiculously when she's outside, but in a battle, she always pushes her limits."

He repressed a wince when Cloud shied away, "I'm not sure how Seph, Gen, and Ange managed to raise the twins after they went under their custody. By the time I met them, Ariana was already a SOLDIER Third Class at the age 14, and Aridai was already starting to make a name for himself as Shinra's Ghost."

Sephiroth could be heard from talking with his friends, voice clearly carrying to the other side of the room, "Windrider is much like Cloud's own Limit Break. She maximizes speed over power, multiple strikes instead of a single one. Magic used to sharpen and lengthen her blade, and her Fusion Sword and katana to create a network of slashes and stabs. An imperfect cross between an Omnislash and an Octaslash."

"Huh, I never thought it that way," Zack muttered, thinking back to witnessing other spars between Ariana and Cloud, or Ariana versus Cloud and Sephiroth, "I guess it can be due to learning by fighting both Sephiroth and Cloud at the same time."

There's a choked sound that came out from the younger Cloud and Tifa, Zack glancing at him strangely.

"She…she fights both me—I mean—Cloud and Sephiroth at once?" the other Cloud looks horrified.

"Yep. Ariana says that it only makes her better, and more than once she said, 'I will never learn unless I'm close to death'," Zack shrugged one shoulder, "Who knows. Ariana's always been like that. Doing her best to become better than she already is. Kind of scary, not gonna lie. And the DMW only works if you know the other really well. She's very close to all of her parents, so it sticks that she'd pick up things from them."

"Both Big Sister and Big Brother are formidable opponents," Yazoo said quietly, "Going against them together…there's no way their enemy would win."

"We're lucky they have pretty strong morals. I wouldn't be surprised if those two could destroy the world three times over if they put their minds to it," Zack grinned, "And it would be even worse if Aridai's added to the mix. There's a reason that everyone calls the Crescent Twins the Disaster Twins. Usually, if there's a world ending event, they're involved, either directly or indirectly. Kinda why everyone kept blaming you guys coming here on them."

"Not every strange event is on them," Yazoo shook his head, "There was the time that there was this small creature that called itself a…Pichu? That was summoned with an experimental materia Big Brother Cloud was trying to tweak. It got really attached to Father in a span of five minutes. He was disappointed when it went back to its world five hours later."

"Oh! I remember that! It was so cute too! Could do something like a really weak Thundara but it'd get stunned if it pushed too hard," Zack whipped out his PHS, "I even got a picture! Though, if Seph didn't like it he was going to throw my phone out the window."

He pulled up the picture, which was a small, yellow rat with huge, triangle shaped ears being cradled by Sephiroth like it was a baby, the yellow and black creature nuzzling its face into his chest.

"And I think he made a joke too. 'I've only known this creature for five minutes but if any harm comes to it, I will kill everyone in this room and then myself.' Though, no one laughed."

It looked like none of Alpha-1's people laughed either.

"Zack. Ariana told me that usually, people do not like entertaining the idea of being murdered," Yazoo said to the black haired man with the tone and face of an adult explaining to a small child, "I believe that is what Genesis meant by Father implying threats even when he is not intending to."

"Oh, it's just a little SOLDIER humor," Zack waved a lazy hand, "You guys gotta lighten up."

"Your version of humor, you mean. Either way, I'm sitting in with the Turks on Angeal's behalf," the silver haired secretary got up from his seat, "I will see you later. Farewell."

"Bye Yaz!" Zack waved to the man's retreating back, "No one gets gallows humor nowadays."

He gave a short laugh, before thinking about the spar again.

"But man…Ariana was using the DMV for multiple people? I'm surprised she didn't lose herself like that time she tripped into the Lifestream. But she did get a sick wing out of it that she likes curling up with, so that's a plus I guess," Zack muttered under his breath.

Obviously, he didn't say it quietly enough because the other Cloud had obviously heard him, the blond choking over his own spit.

"She fell into the Lifestream?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. This was like, four years ago. So, the Disaster Twins usually like sparring against each other near the Forgotten City. Keeps their battles far away from the civilian population and lessens any property damage Shinra has to clean up. Boy, Lazard was not happy about that time they were sparring near the North Crater," Zack shook his head, "Anyway, they were sparring when I guess Ana tripped near a ledge and wasn't able to catch herself in time. So, she kind of fell straight in, and her brother dove in after her."

"Sephiroth had to be notified, and there was a huge commotion. Aerith had to be called, because she's you know, half-Cetra and everything, and it was hard, getting to them. Ariana was pretty much comatose, and so was Aridai. They wouldn't wake up for about a year. And when they did, they said that Gaia had spoken to them while they were under."

"The Planet did?"

"Well, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but the Disaster Twins were genetically modeled after the JENOVA Project's subjects, plus a portion of DNA from Aerith's mom. So essentially, she's technically Aerith's sister too. Anyway, the Planet's been talking to the twins for a long time, back when they were in Mt. Nibel as kids. When they woke up, they said that while they were in the coma, Gaia had appeared to them, and gave them the decision to become her WEAPONs, in case another Calamity hit the Planet."

"From the report that they submitted to the President, the Planet gave them two choices. One, since mortals aren't meant to be in contact with the Lifestream at all, they would essentially die and never wake up. Or, they could become Gaia's WEAPONs, and defend the Planet from any world ending events. Like bodyguards of a sort. And obviously, they said yes."

"How…how were they after they woke up?" asked Cloud, the normally stoic man sounding a teensy bit concerned.

"It was rough. See, like I said, you aren't really meant to be touching the Lifestream, since you know, it's the spirit of the planet. And if they were anyone else, there's no way they'd survive. Sometimes, Ariana and Aridai would speak like they were born a hundred years ago. Sometimes, they'll stare off, seeing something that isn't there, or speak in the language of the Cetra. And it was like that for a year after they woke up before they were able to handle it. The 'stream is a collective, and it scrambled their minds."

"Are you gossiping, Zack?" Aridai reappeared at the deck, after feeling his name being mentioned several times. His parents knew better to mention either of his names, "Every time you say my name, I get a tug on my end. Stop calling me."

"Oh, Ghost, you're back!" Zack brightened up, "Hey, I was just telling them the time you guys fell into the Lifestream."

Ari crossed his arms, a contemplative expression settling on his face.

"Is that so? Then by all means, you should've said my name sooner. Ariana is sadly indisposed for the time being. If they want to know anything more, we should go to one of the conference rooms. It's unlikely I'll be called by Rufus," the man said after a moment.

"Ah, right! The whole thing is technically a secret, I forgot," Zack laughed nervously, "Please don't let Angeal know. He'll make me oversee how the cadets are doing with sword training. Again. Some dumbass nearly cut my fingers off."

"And what would you give in return?" Aridai asked, "You'll owe me a favor."

"Done! Don't care what it is as long as it doesn't kill me," the older man pleaded.

"Kill you? Ariana is too fond of you for me to allow your death," Ari scoffed, "Deal. If you back out I'll make sure you train her Second Class SOLDIERs for three months. The Third Battalion basically loves you."

Zack blanched, "Oh no."

Aridai only gave a sharp smirk in response, "Yes. Even Father would pity you. Be grateful I turned off the surveillance in this room when we first arrived here, or Tseng would run you into the ground."

The SOLDIER First only became paler. "Thanks, Ari," he said weakly.

"A favor from one of the illustrious SOLDIER Firsts is no small matter. I'll use it well, Zack Fair," Ghost only looked more gleeful, before glancing to the side, "If any of you Alpha-1 outlanders would like to know more gossip, you may find me in Seventh Heaven in Sector 7 by 1800. Tifa mentioned tonight's special is fried fish. Farewell."

Aridai was gone the next moment, a few feathers falling in his wake.

"Whew. I thought I was a goner, hahaha," Zack breathed a sigh of relief, "Welp, see you around, Spiky, everyone else. I promised Kunsel I'd meet him later. See ya!"

The SOLDIER First left the room, almost running in his haste to leave.


End Note: I'm not that great with fight scenes so if you recognize the hurried pacing, good on you.