Calamity's Reign: Chapter 11 - Old Wounds

Aerith watched as Zack, Cloud, and Angeal continued to take large portions of dirt and mud from the nearby landscape to slowly fill in the crater Morbunova had left upon his arrival. They had been at it for weeks, and would probably be at it for the better part of a year, if not longer. Midgar had been huge, and the crater where it had been, even bigger.

While those three worked. Genesis had gone off to scour for the remaining SOLDIERs of the world and had begun bringing them to Aerith to be cleansed of Jenova one by one. Vincent had abruptly disappeared without a word, and the other members of AVALANCHE had gone back to their homes. All that left was her to deal with the utterly obscenely difficult task of 'Midgar'.

Midgar had already been a horrific wound on the planet. It had blackened and sucked dry the land around it. It hadn't been obviously apparent, but it almost hurt and throbbed with the planet as badly as the Northern Crater. Now? After Morbunova's arrival, it hurt the planet even worse. It was up to her to tend to the land and try to restore the lifestream's proper flow through the area. This was something that should have required the guidance and aid of hundreds of Cetra. Unfortunately, she was it. Even as the Holy WEAPON, she was still only one person.

She knelt outside of the crater, praying, hours every day, willing the weak lifestream to try and thread through the land. The fact that the planet was weak after its struggles didn't help the mater. She didn't need to fully restore the land to perfection as it had been before Midgar had been built. If she could just restore it to some semblance of life, nature would take its course over time.

She sighed to herself. Midgar wouldn't be the last healing she had to do for the planet. The mako lake at Mideel had to be dealt with. Not to mention, with Jenova mostly gone, it was time for the Northern Crater to be healed as well. That however was a project for another day... and perhaps... one her child could one day help with as a way to teach him or her about their nature as a Cetra.

Aerith smiled warmly and put a hand against her stomach. With her heightened senses and abilities, she could already feel the threads of life starting within her. She blushed to herself, while she and Zack hadn't been that far in their relationship before he died, they had been in love. Perhaps it had been to quick to make this jump, but, they had a lot of lost time to make up for. She had no regrets about wanting to become a mother.

She slowly shook her head and knelt down, ready to start her prayers for the day. As she did, thoughts broke into her mind, ones that had to be dealt with before she could concentrate. Last night had been... a disturbing one. She was in-tune with the planet in a way none of the other WEAPONs were. She had detected Tifa's Reunion call... and had been utterly horrified by it. Being directly manipulated by a Calamity couldn't be used to excuse Tifa anymore. Tifa... dear Tifa... had truly become a danger to the planet. Closing in on becoming as physically dangerous as Sephiroth, and even more virulently dangerous than a pure calamity. Even her desires to shun those abilities and distance herself from Jenova and Morbunova when she regained control of herself would only go so far in the eyes of the goddess. It truly left Aerith at a loss at what to do or think of her friend.

That wasn't the only thing that left her at a loss. She had seen through Gaia's eyes, had been watching from the moment Minerva had started screaming in her head. Thank heavens none of the other WEAPONs could directly hear her in a state of panic. Sephiroth... his actions had left Aerith in an utter stupor. If she hadn't seen it she never would have believed it. Sephiroth had tried to comfort Tifa?! She thought perhaps it might have been an act of self-preservation, she had seen fear on his face for a brief moment. But even that wouldn't explain what she had seen at the end as Gaia turned its focus away. Sephiroth had been thumbing through her hair, numbly, almost on a reflex. As a woman watching that, she saw way to many implications there for her tastes, and she was really glad Cloud had no clue what had happened last night or he would have exploded.

Goddess forbid... was Sephiroth interested in her? In that way? Was that what all those intense stares had been for at the infirmary on the Highwind several weeks ago? Maybe she was misreading or something, but... if not... that was weird. And creepy, being interested in someone who you almost killed several times, whose hometown you had burned to the ground, and who also helped kill you, several times. Not to mention it was scary for Tifa...

Aerith sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Tifa would have to handle herself for the time being. Sephiroth had offered to teach her to restrain her Reunion abilities, so there was really nothing to be done about Tifa's situation for the moment. Tifa HAD to learn to restrain herself, otherwise... well... there was nothing more she could do to argue on her friend's behalf. Minerva would not allow such an unchecked danger to survive.

Aerith sighed one last time and began focusing on her prayers...

Cloud temporarily glanced towards Aerith off in the distance at her soft, frustrated sigh. "Hmmm."

"She's been doin that alot, ain't she Spikey?" said Zack, walking back carrying a huge clump of dirt and mud.

"Mhm," was Cloud's reply, following after him.

"A man of many words, aren't you Cloud," jested Angeal.

Cloud smirked. "Mhm."

He wasn't sure what to make of Angeal Hewely yet. It was so... strange... to see the Buster Sword on his back, and to see Zack so happy in the man's presence. He hadn't wanted to intrude, but... he was curious. He had to many gaps in his pre-Nibelheim memories, he felt he ought to know who Angeal was, but he didn't. The man was obviously important to Zack. Though, sometimes he thought he saw pain when the two of them looked at one another when the other wasn't watching. Something had obviously happened between them, but, Cloud figured it wasn't any of his business.

Angeal came off as a kind man. Serious at times, but capable of joking and playing around, though not as silly as Zack was when he did so. He hadn't sparred with the man yet, but he had seen Angeal and Zack go a round during a break a few days ago. Angeal was strong, powerful, but obviously rusty. Both of them were to be frank. Being dead for years would do that to someone he supposed.

He smirked. Guess he'd have to whip them into shape at some point.

They deposited their payloads into the crater and started back, Zack took a look around their vicinity and pointed to a cliff off in the distance. "Plenty of dirt and rocks with that one."

Cloud followed his finger and then flinched when he saw where Zack was pointing. "Oh..."

Zack turned his head, raising an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Umm... are you sure?" asked Cloud awkwardly.

Zack raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I be? It's just a cliff."

"It's where you died," whispered Cloud.

All emotion left Zack's face. "Oh."

Zack stared at the cliff for a few moments before starting towards it silently. Cloud could of kicked himself, he ought to have kept his mouth shut and just let them destroy the cliff and use it to fill in more of the Midgar Crater without word. Zack was alive, that place was nothing but a painful memory now, an old wound, it ought to vanish.

Cloud and Angeal walked behind Zack quietly, both of them exchanging uneasy looks. Zack leaped up, and they followed. Cloud saw the rocks he had hidden behind while Zack fought and died... damn Mako poisoning... he should have been there in that fight. He could have made a difference, and then with Zack alive, who knows how Meteorfall would have gone with the two of them? If they had taken a different route, had changed their course By a Fraction of a Degree... with Zack's Tenacity, who knows what The Difference One Life Makes would have been?

"Angeal... can I see the Buster for a sec?" asked Zack quietly, offering his own blade in return.

Angeal handed him the blade without a word, and Zack put it on his back. Cloud saw a glaze seem to come over Zack's eyes, as if he wasn't there anymore. Zack walked forward slowly, watching his feet until he found the spot he wanted and then looked up.

He put his hands on his hips and slowly shook his head. "Boy oh boy, the price of freedom is steep."

Slowly, Zack drew the Buster Sword from his back and gripped it two-handed in-front of him, pointing it into the sky as he bowed his head. "Embrace your dreams, and whatever happens, protect your honor as SOLDIER."

Cloud had a solid lump in his throat, and by the looks of it, so did Angeal. Zack hadn't moved, but, his muscles were flinching and tensing slightly in different directions. If Cloud had to guess... Zack was reliving his final battle. After he had recovered his memories, this one moment, when he had crawled to Zack and been entrusted as his legacy... he had seen the utter destruction, wreckage, and corpses Zack had left in that battle. Cloud half-closed his eyes and could practically watch it happen, each twitch was another enemy felled. Each stagger was another bullet taken.

Finally, when Zack suddenly fell to a knee, Cloud knew the fight was over; He walked over and silently put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "It should have been you who made it, not me."

Zack slowly shook his head, but didn't say anything.

"If it hadn't been for me slowing you down, you could have escaped, reached Aerith," said Cloud quietly.

Zack sighed and stood up. "Spikey..."

Before Cloud could react, Zack had his head under his armpit and was giving him a full force noogie. "How could have I possibly leave my adorable Chocobo head best friend behind?"

"Zack! Leggo!" wailed Cloud.

"Uh uh, no way, your being way to gloomy and moody and stuff, more than me and this is where I bit it," he scolded, "You, my spikey haired friend, are getting an extra special super noogie attack!"

God dammit! He was not a cadet anymore! Not to mention, WEAPON grade noogies HURT!

He tried scrambling out of it, failed, tried yanking Zack's arm off, failed, and yelled, "Angeal help!"

"Puppy, down," ordered Angeal playfully.

"Aww 'Geal...," whined Zack before letting Cloud go.

Cloud massaged his head, wincing. "Damn Zack..."

"What?" asked Zack with fake innocence.

Cloud shot him a dirty look.

Zack stretched for a moment before walking back to Angeal and exchanging swords. "Alright, let's wreck this cliff and get back to the patch job."

They started working in earnest. Cloud thought kept one eye on Zack the entire time. Despite how he had played it off and turned the focus back on Cloud, Zack smashed the terrain with a bit of barley concealed frustration and anger, and had a hint of pain in his eyes. It would be far better when this place was gone.

"Ya know, This entire area's gonna be totally flat when were done, won't be a hill or rock in sight," said Zack.

"Who knows, might make a good farmland if that's the case in a few hundred years," offered Cloud.

"I wouldn't eat any food grown on this god forsaken place," muttered Angeal.

Zack snorted with agreement.

"Okay, maybe leave it as a plains then, or plant a forest over it or something, I don't know," he muttered, "If I can come across this place in a hundred years and not recognize what it once was, then I don't care what it becomes."

Within the hour, the three of them had all but demolished the place and the memory, not to mention filled almost close to a sector size of the crater. Cloud was about to go for another patch of dirt before a sound caught his ears. The flapping of a wing off in the distance...

Cloud turned his head and narrowed his eyes, honing in. "Looks like Genesis has another one."

Zack and Angeal paused before changing directions. Most SOLDIERs that Genesis had 'taken', or rather, abducted, to them had been... moderately... civil in the process of being purged of Jenova. One though had flipped out completely and nearly stabbed Aerith when she was taken by surprise. They didn't take any chances after that incident. Usually though, a word from Hewely or Zack set them straight for some reason. It was more than apparent Hewely had held great respect in SOLDIER.

They closed in as Genesis began his descent, the SOLDIER in question appeared to be in WRO military clothing, complete with a helmet blocking his face, oh boy, this wasn't going to end well when Reeve found out. "Let me go dammit! I'm NOT being turned into one of your clones!"

Genesis scoffed and set him down. "I'd have better options if that was what I wanted to do with you."

"Wait a second," said Zack, "I know that voice."

Zack started running and waving his hands, a mad grin on his face. "Hey! Kunsel!"

The SOLDIER in question froze, Cloud didn't need to be able to see his face to detect the shock rocketing through the man. "Z-zack?!"

Zack reached him and slapped a hand on his shoulder. "Good to see your still alive man!"

Kunsel didn't respond, he simply leveled his helmet-stare right on Zack. "..."

"Uh... I think this is where you say 'good to see you too Zack'?" offered Zack.

WHAM

Cloud raised an eyebrow when Kunsel hit Zack, hard, across his face. "You damn idiot!"

Zack winced. "Owww! What was that for Kunsel?!"

"We thought you were dead Zack!" exclaimed Kunsel, "It practically destroyed what good was left in SOLDIER when you were labeled KIA. Where the hell have you been hiding?"

Zack scratched the back of his head. "Well... I was dead Kuns. I got revived by the Goddess."

Kunsel was flabbergasted. "The... Goddess? What..."

Zack thumbed behind himself to Angeal. "Him too."

Kunsel shifted his gaze and gave a visible flinch before reflexively snapping to attention. "C-C-Commander Hewely!"

Angeal seemed amused. "At ease. I don't really hold rank anymore mind you."

Genesis snorted. "If only I still garnered that reaction."

Kunsel shot him a look. "You dug your own grave in that regard."

Genesis tilted his head in grim acknowledgement. "I suppose I did."

Kunsel's gaze changed back and forth between Zack and Angeal. "Revived by a Goddess, huh... weirder things have happened I suppose."

Zack hooked an arm around the back of Kunsel's head and started dragging him along. "I'll say. Anyway, c'mere, I want you to meet my girlfriend..."

"Fiancee," corrected Angeal.

"Gah! Angeal I wanted to surprise him!" whined Zack.

"Wait, she was revived too?" asked Kunsel.

Zack pointed to Aerith off in the distance. "Yep."

He paused. "You knew she was dead?"

Kunsel scoffed. "Zack, are you honestly surprised? I know practically everything."

Zack grinned. "Except that we were back."

Kunsel sighed. "Okay, except that. How long ago?"

"Few weeks," answered Zack.

"Well there you go, I just hadn't had enough time to learn it," defended Kunsel.

Zack had a winning smirk on his face. "Sure Kuns, whatever you say."

"Heeeeey Aerith! We got another one you gotta purge the space tick out of!" called out Zack.

Cloud coughed at that. "Space tick?!"

Angeal raised an eyebrow. "It's fairly accurate."

Cloud slowly shook his head in amusement and turned away from Zack and his friend, eyeing Genesis. The man in question was quick to avert his attention away and have his eyes follow Kunsel. Cloud was a bit... annoyed... with the man more than hateful or angry at him. It was more than obvious to Cloud that Genesis was at least feeling guilty and remorseful over whatever part he had played in Sephiroth's descent into madness. That spoke alot on his behalf considering most monsters in the world that had a human form were practically soulless in his opinion and wouldn't have given two shits about the chaos that resulted out of Nibelheim. Hojo, Scarlett, Heidegarr, and Rupert Shinra being prime, and thankfully dead, examples.

He just wanted to get a straight answer out of the man. He could live with being in the dark about whatever happened between Angeal and Zack, or on who exactly Angeal used to be. But Genesis and Nibelheim? No. Absolutely not. He of all people deserved the full truth in what happened there, especially from someone who had been 'apparently' intimately involved. Though, Cloud was still wracking his mind on when Genesis possibly could have popped up between the gaps of his and Zack's own imparted memories.

There was a flash of light off in the distance. Cloud briefly turned his head to see Kunsel stagger and collapse against Zack. Fairly strong reaction to having Jenova being purged out of his system. Might have been a 2nd or even a 1st class if he had to guess. Zack and Aerith helped him to his feet and led him back towards the rest of them.

Kunsel sat down on the ground. "Whew... that... really... takes a lot... out of you..."

Aerith giggled a little. "That it does."

"So, what... happens now?" asked Kunsel.

"My friend, do you fly away?" quoted Genesis.

Kunsel gave him a blank look.

Genesis scowled. "I fly you back to where I picked you up from."

Kunsel went silent for a moment before turning, to Cloud's surprise, to him. "Before that... Mr. Strife."

Mr. Strife? "Cloud is fine," he offered, hating whenever someone called him Mr..

"Does... Mr. Tuesti know about all of this?" he asked warily, "Because I get the feeling he doesn't."

Cloud opened his mouth, and then promptly closed it. Ut oh...

Kunsel gave him a cross look. "Aren't you guys supposed to be working closely with the WRO? Exchanging information and helping out."

Cloud winced. "Yes..."

Kunsel pulled a phone out of his pocket, dialed a number, and raised it to the side of his helmet. "Mr. Tuesti? Yes, yes I'm fine. No, Genesis didn't... I... yes sir I... permission to interrupt?"

Zack looked like he was going to bust a gut laughing.

Kunsel spoke swiftly, "I have a certain Cloud here that is waiting to talk to you."

Kunsel listened for a moment before handing the phone to Cloud.

Cloud hesitated briefly before sighing and taking the phone and putting it to his eat. "Reeve."

"Cloud. Why is there a crater where Midgar used to be?" came Reeve's voice.

Cloud winced. "Well..."

"Why do I have confirmation of Sephiroth being sighted without a word from you as warning?" asked Reeve.

"Well...," he tried again.

"And what happened in Edge? The last satellite image I got showed it having been burnt to the ground. Cloud, what is going on?!" demanded Reeve.

"Well..." he tried for the third time.

"And why in the world did you have one of my men kidnapped by Genesis Rhapsodos of all people? Your working with him all of the sudden?" exclaimed Reeve.

"Reeve...," Cloud began, slightly raising his voice.

"Cloud, your supposed to work with me, trust me, and... no, actually, forget it. I don't have time for this. I have a meeting with the Rufus and the Turks to prepare for. You, Cloud, can get over here and tell me in person what the hell is going on," said Reeve.

Cloud paused at that. Reeve was meeting with Rufus? That usually wasn't a good sign, even if the president had 'reformed'. Cloud suddenly had a very sinking feeling that the meeting had something to do with either Sephiroth, what happened at Midgar, or both.

He slowly shook his head. "Alright Reeve, I'll be there at some point."

"Good," said Reeve.

CLICK.

Cloud winced and handed the phone back to Kunsel. "He's... not in a good mood. Apparently I need to go pay him a visit."

"How about we all go?" chimed in Zack, "No offense Aerith, but, we've been doing this for a few weeks straight. We need a vaaacaaatiiiooon!"

Aerith rolled her eyes. "Sure you do Zack."

"I seem to recall you being able to go months without any need of a day off, let alone a vacation," observed Angeal.

"Ah c'mon 'Geal!" whined Zack.

"It's fine, besides, it's important that we go," said Aerith, "I think Reeve deserves to know whats going on. Besides..."

She giggled. "I'd like to actually meet the man being the moogle for once. Does he even still use Cait Sith?"

Cloud shook his head. "Not to my knowledge, he just doesn't have the time anymore."

"Well, I can call us a helicopter...," began Kunsel.

Zack shook his head and grinned. "Hey Kuns, watch this!"

Zack threw a hand to his side and his wing extended out from under is clothes. Kunsel went rigged at the sight. Cloud was moderately surprised the man's jaw wasn't crashing out of the helmet.

"I got Aerith, Angeal's got Cloud, Genesis's will take you back," said Zack.

Kunsel groaned. "Not his flying again..."

Genesis's lips curled. "Oh? Was something wrong with my 'driving'?"

Kunsel tilted his head towards Genesis in what Cloud imagined was a hidden glare. "Yes."

Cloud decided to force Genesis's hand. "How about we swap then?"

Kunsel jumped on the offer, walking over to Angeal. "Yes please."

Genesis winced at that, but said nothing.

Zack picked Aerith up bridal style and flew into the air. "Let's goooooo!"

Angeal slowly shook his head in amusement, released his wing, grabbed Kunsel's shoulders, and took after Zack.

Cloud walked up to Genesis and spoke thinly. "We need to talk."

Genesis sighed. "I suppose we do."

Genesis grabbed Cloud by his shoulders and started flying after the others. "Speak, Gaia's Champion."

Cloud scowled. "I have a name you know."

"There is no hate, only joy, for you are beloved by the goddess, hero of the dawn, healer of world," quoted Genesis.

"I would have preferred remaining a cadet and maybe getting a second shot at the SOLDIER exams then watching my home get burned down, being experimented on for years, losing Zack and Aerith, then fighting Sephiroth over and over again to become the 'hero'. Let someone else have that title," said Cloud with disdain.

Genesis chuckled softly. "I suppose that's what differentiates us, Cloud. I wanted that title, never got it. You never wanted it, and had it forced on you."

Cloud sighed. "Genesis... what happened in Nibelheim?"

"First, allow me a question. I know that you bested Sephiroth in Nibelheim, where were you? I never recalled seeing you there," asked Genesis.

"I was one of the Shinra Troopers in full uniform," replied Cloud.

Genesis snorted. "Wait, the one guarding the guide at the reactor?"

Cloud nodded.

Genesis scoffed. "The great Sephiroth, beaten by an unenhanced trooper, I can see why he's been obsessed over you."

Cloud glared up at him.

"While you were busy outside, I went in to 'talk' with Sephiroth and Zackery," began Genesis.

Cloud frowned. Genesis went inside? But... the memory he had of Zacks didn't...

Hrm...

Maybe the memory was wrong then, or just incomplete and spotty...

"It will sound petty, but, I will speak my memory of the moment," said Genesis, "Of perhaps the worst damage I did to the world, in under five minutes time..."

Genesis stood to the side of the door into the inner Nibelhiem reactor, sneaking a glance as Sephiroth and Zackery took turns looking into one of the Mako pods in the Nibelheim reactor, studying their reactions.

"Ugh! What is that?" said Zack with disbelief.

"You average SOLDIER members are mako-infused humans. You're enhanced, but you're still human. But then... what are those things? Their mako energy levels are exponentially higher than yours," stated Sephiroth.

To Zack, that voice might have sounded normal, but to Genesis, he felt the beginning of a tremor in Sephiroth's voice. How fascinating, was the 'great' general Sephiroth troubled by the monsters? Troubled by the truth infront of his face. Ha...

"Are they... monsters?" questioned Zack.

Genesis's eyes went wide with glee. Oh Zackery, what a question to ask.

Sephiroth stepped away from the pod, his tone growing a little sullen. "Yes. The Shinra scientist Hojo was the one who created them."

He turned to level his gaze at Zack. "Abominations spawned by mako energy... That's what monsters are."

Genesis slowly shook his head and thought: Oh dear Sephiroth, what then did that make of you? Of us? Of Angeal? Pumped full of Mako and Jenova as we are?

"You said 'average' member. What about you?" questioned Zack.

Genesis raised an eyebrow and shifted, risking to peek around the door to watch. That question, oh how he desired to see Sephiroth's reaction. Did Zackery have any clue just what kind of questioned he had asked? The arrow has left the bow of the Goddess indeed.

Genesis's eyes went wide to see Sephiroth stiffen and stagger away, hands reaching up to clutch his his head. Genesis tensed, hearing a faint murmur in the back of his head. So... the mother monster stirred and reached out to her son... this could be interesting, and potentially, just what he needed.

Zack rushed over and put a hand on Sephiroth's shoulder. "H-hey Sephiroth!"

Sephiroth threw Zack off of him. "C-could it be... that I... was created the same way?"

Genesis's lips curled in amusement. And now the truth was realized...

"Am I the same as these monsters?" questioned Sephiroth.

Genesis closed his eyes, resisting the urge to sigh as it would give him away. Finally, at long last, Sephiroth had asked the question out-loud that he and Angeal had asked themselves. It was almost time, for one monster to seek the aid of another.

"I knew, ever since I was a child, I was not like the others. I knew mine was a special existence," said Sephiroth.

Genesis rolled his eyes.

"But this... this was not what I meant," said Sephiroth shakily.

Sephiroth held up his own hands, a bit of despair in his voice. "Am I... a human being?"

It was time, Genesis stepped through the doorway and flew into the air. "No such luck. You are a monster."

Genesis released a blast to know Zack out of the way and give Sephiroth a 'friendly greeting'.

"Sephiroth, you were the greatest monster created by the Jenova Project," explained Genesis, forcing his voice to be monotone this one time as he landed on the steps.

"Genesis... so you are alive!" said Zack painfully.

Genesis turned to face Zack, scowling. "I suppose I am, if you can call this living."

"What is the Jenova Project?" demanded Sephiroth, turning to half-face Genesis, as if he couldn't bare to ask, but at the same time, couldn't bear not to.

"The Jenova Project... was the term used for all experiments... relating to the use of Jenova's cells," answered Genesis.

Sephiroth's eyebrows furrowed, and his voice became hoarse. "My mother's... cells?"

Genesis could hear the whisper echoing in his mind again, not for him, but for Sephiroth, once again he was ignored, even if he did not want that things aid, it bled out into his words, "Poor little Sephiroth. You've never actually met your mother. You've only been told her name, no?"

He sat down on the steps and prepared to enact his plan. "I don't know what images you've conjured up in your head, but..."

"Genesis, no!" gasped out Zack.

"Jenova! Was excavated from a 2000-year old rock layer. She's a monster," said Genesis, purring out the last word.

Sephiroth staggered back, looking utterly lost and devastated. He could hear the voice whispering again, plaguing it's chosen child. Now was the time!

"Sephiroth... I need your help. My body is continuing to degrade. SOLDIER 1st Class Sephiroth! Jenova Project G gave birth to Angeal... and monsters like myself. Jenova project S... used the remains of countless failed experiments to create a perfect monster," said Genesis.

"What do you want of me?" demanded Sephiroth bitterly.

"Your traits cannot be copied unto others. Your genes can't be diffused. Therefore, your body cannot degrade. Share your cells with me. My friend, your desire...," began Genesis.

Now... time for the final touch, the offering, from one monster to another...

He held out a Banora Apple to Sephiroth, "...is the bringer of life, the gift of the goddess."

Sephiroth turned to face him, momentarily looking toward's Jenova's door. "Whether your words... are lies created to deceive me... or the truth, that I have sought all my life..."

Yes... yes!

"It makes no difference," continued Sephiroth.

Wait... what?

Sephiroth slapped the apple of Genesis's hands and spoke viciously, "You will rot."

Genesis felt hollowed. Had his miscalculated? Or... perhaps... was this simply the fate of a monster? To be abandoned and cast aside by a more... perfect monster?

"I see... perfect monster, indeed," said Genesis faintly.

With one last sigh, he left the reactor and flew away...

Cloud frowned, mulling over Genesis's words. So that was it... the part he was missing out of Nibelheim. At this point... he really didn't know whether to pity Sephiroth or not. He hadn't just been going insane. Genesis had made it perfectly clear Jenova had been working to weaken Sephiroth's will, and Genesis certainly hadn't helped Sephiroth's sanity either. Yet...

"Why?" asked Cloud, "Why did you go after Sephiroth like that? What did you mean by your body was degrading?"

"My body was literally tearing itself apart at the cellular level in a battle between my Jenova cells and my human ones. My mind became addled, by body weakened and aged. My hair began turning gray. I was dying and desperate. Even with degradation plaguing my judgement... there was no excuse for what I did. No honor remains," said Genesis heavily.

Cloud absorbed the information before turning to another point he Genesis had said, one that couldn't be ignored. "You said that Angeal was also a part of the Jenova Project?"

Genesis nodded. "He was the same type of Jenova spawn that I was, but, more complete and properly breed rather than simply injected with cells. He did not degrade to my knowledge, but, the truth in the matter of his birth destroyed him, made him lose control and become just as mentally 'sound' as the rest of us. He ended up committing suicide by puppy."

Cloud's eyes went wide. "Puppy? You mean Zack?!"

"Indeed," answered Genesis, "I blame myself. I never should have told Angeal the truth. Without Angeal, SOLDIER was without honor, and without the two of us on Sephiroth's side, he was left alone to his dear 'mother's' tender mercies."

Shinra... what the hell was it with with them and creating mentally unstable super soldiers? One went insane and started a copy war. One went insane and made his own student kill him. The final one went insane and tried to destroy the world. Was he supposed to hate or pity those three? Was there honestly an answer to that question? It's a question that never should have been asked because Shinra had done what should never have been done, had awakened something that should have been forever left to sleep. Rupert Shinra and Professor Hojo, they could die a million times over and never have paid enough for their crimes.

"So, Gaia's Champion, what is your verdict? Am I a monster to be hated? Off with my head?" asked Genesis with dry amusement.

Cloud sighed. "Genesis... I'm to tired to hate anyone anymore."

Genesis looked down at him, eyebrow raised. "Not... exactly the response I predicted."

Cloud shook his head. "Everything in this world is so convoluted. Back then, before and during Meteorfall, it was so easy just to hate everything. Sephiroth, Shinra, Hojo... but... the more I learned, the more I realized how little choice, how little chance for normal lives those involved even had."

He gave a bitter laugh. "Can I honestly be surprised that Nibelheim turned out how it did? That Sephiroth went crazy? What chance did he even have against you, Jenova, Hojo, and Shinra all going against him at once?"

"No more of a chance than Tifa did," murmured Cloud sullenly, "And unless I want to hate and blame her, can I honestly feel the same towards him without being a hypocrite?"

Genesis chuckled softly and sadly. "My friend, the fates are cruel. When tragedy strikes close to home against those you care about, it changes ones perspectives, doesn't it?"

"Hmph. Life is just one great tragedy if you ask me. There's no winners, only victims," Cloud murmured, "Everyone is in some way a loser in all of this."

He frowned. "Save for Jenova. That thing deserves every ounce of hate it gets. Every major sin in this world can almost be traced back to that thing. Of that, I'm certain."

Genesis nodded slowly. "Heaven's dark harbinger indeed, a Calamity of which no one was spared. Even now with her all but killed, she still plagues us by having drawn in her kin."

He sighed. "For what little it's worth Cloud, I am sorry about what happened."

"Apology accepted," Cloud answered, "At least you gave one."

Genesis snorted. "Would you even accept Sephiroth's if he so deigned to give his?"

Cloud smirked. "I think I'd just walk away and leave him in suspense."

Genesis gave a laugh. "Oh wouldn't that ruffle his feathers. Being ignored is not something Sephiroth ever took well."

They shared a chuckle at that before growing silent, hearing nothing but the flapping of wings and the faint conversations of the others...

Author's Notes:

I might have made a not-so-subtle references to three Fanfics where Zack survived his final battle (or not even fought it), 'By a Fraction of a Degree', 'Tenacity' and 'The Difference One Life Makes'. If yer lookin for an okay FF7 Zack fic one of those can work.

Cloud's on Reeve's shit list! Kekekkeke