Things happen. People met and speculate. Big bad evil boss man is built up more. Suprise visit from someone we all know and love!

Cross-posted on Archive of Our Own (AO3). I read all comments so anything you guys want to say or questions and concerns don't hesitate to comment! Even if it is hate for something you guys think was rushed or not done properly I want to hear it all!

Want to also restate that Fanfiction does not allow replies to Guest comments so if you leave a comment as a Guest you just have to be aware that I read all comments I get and I don't miss any because I have it set up so I get an email every time a comment is left and I check my email constantly throughout the day. If you do want to have a conversation with me as a guest, Archive of Our Own (AO3) does allow replying to guests so we can talk over there if you want.

Thank you all and Enjoy!

Also because I do believe I actually need this somewhere in my work, I do not own Final Fantasy VII or its characters, this is just something fun for me to write and share to celebrate a game I really love and enjoy playing.

That should make up for it never being anywhere in the entire fic.

Chapter 9

The barn was incredibly peaceful without the other three in it. It was nice to not hear the constant shifting of feathers and wings as they tried to get comfy. It was also nice that he couldn't hear anymore whispered conversations between the three older chocobos while he was leaning against a wall or Seph. He got a lot of thinking done with Seph curled against him and sleeping peacefully.

The thinking involved plans for building a house for himself, and maybe making a room open to the outside for the SOLDIERs to sleep in so they could stay together and in a much more comfy place than his barn. Actually maybe that was why no one wanted to come and visit for more than just helping out with the Chocobos or getting Cloud to teach hopefuls about Chocobos. Most hopefuls were children who wanted to see a Chocobo up close and personal, but he enjoyed seeing the happiness his birds could bring.

His life was pretty much peaceful. Other than a few hiccups caused by the arrival of the four FIrst Class SOLDIERs, his life really hasn't been in any way turned upside down and thrown for a loop. It was nice. Maybe after he helps the SOLDIERs find a way back to their original bodies, he could actually settle down and make this plot of land home for him as well as his Chocobos. Maybe he could even make his friends a guest house of their own, his land was big enough.

"CLOUD! SOMETHING HAPPENED AND WE NEED HELP!"

Of course, once Cloud actually thought that the Strife Curse had to hit and throw him a curveball.

Which is what led to Cloud staring blankly at the two very human figures on Angeal's very Chocobo back while the very much still a Chocobo Genesis tried to explain what had happened. Of course, he was too panicked to make much sense, but Cloud did manage to get that they had managed to run all the way to where Zack had died, Zack had walked towards the exact spot he died, and then was suddenly throwing himself off a cliff to catch the female that was falling from the sky. Something happened and now Zack is human again and Aerith was alive and not in the lifestream.

What was his life anymore? What's next? Aerith is too terrified of him to actually let him help her because he knows for a fact that the red blooming from her stomach wasn't a dress design and it looked so very fresh.

"Cloud?" Came the soft voice from beside him, then a silver head nudging him to the side. "You need to move so they can get in so we can help her. Your mind melting and breaking can happen to the side or later. Miss Aerith needs help."

"Right," Cloud muttered, letting Seph push him out of the way. It took him a moment, but he was shaking off the mind-numbing sensation of seeing his two long-dead friends alive and human again. "Right! Aerith needs help and Zack is being really quiet so he needs to be looked at as well. Seph go get my bag from the other barn, I need the supplies that are in there and my phone. Something tells me I'm going to need Tifa real soon."

Sephiroth nodded and ran off. Angeal had crouched down next to the straw they were using as a bed and both him and Genesis were trying to coax Zack off of Angeal's back. Cloud went to help them.

"Hey, Zack," Cloud cooed out softly. He was spending too much time with these birds he was starting to sound like one. "You're safe here, alright? Nothing bad is going to happen. Do you want to get into the nest we made together last night?"

Zack nodded slowly and began to slowly climb off Angeal's bak and into the nest, never letting go of Aerith or relaxing his grip. Cloud frowned slightly and moved to help Zack climb off Angeal, careful to not touch Aerith. His gut was telling him that was not going to help their current situation at all, it would probably make it worse knowing his luck.

"It's okay, Zack," Genesis cooed, taking over leading Zack into the nest. He carefully got Zack to let go of Aerith and curl against him. "It's alright. You're safe now."

"Angeal help me get Aerith laying flat where Zack can still see her," Cloud said softly, moving to get a part of the nest bedding more fluffed and comfortable. "I need to check her over. It looks like she was hurt recently and I need to make sure it is either healing properly or has healed completely."

Angeal nodded and moved to help Cloud get the bedding ready, Genesis' soft coos and reassuring words the only other sound besides the shuffling of the hay. When Cloud deemed the bedded area done properly he moved over to Aerith and motioned for Angeal to help him, and carefully they managed to lift her up onto his back again and then onto the bedding without bending her and possibly upsetting her injury. Thankfully Seph returned after he got Aerith situated on the bedding, and gratefully took the offered bag from him.

He had medical blankets and supplies inside, but unfortunately, he had given Tifa and Barret his only Cures so he couldn't use those. Damn him and his not being prepared for things. And damn Yuffie for stealing his materia all the damn time.

But enough of that, Aerith came first. Then he could dedicate himself to helping Zack out of whatever was plaguing his mind.

Cloud worked swiftly and efficiently, directing Seph and Angeal as he went on things he needed them to run out and grab while he tended to Aerith. They had to stop and calm Zack down a few times when Cloud had to move Aerith's dress and take part of it off her body to get to the cuts and gashes that littered her body. She looked like she had just gotten out of a fight with a swordsman and wolves with all her cuts and gashes. And for all he knew, she probably had. The lifestream was weird like that.

When Cloud finally rocked back on his heels and grabbed the heavier blanket used for actual sleeping instead of covering body parts to avoid flashing people, he had more blood on his hands and arms then he actually realized he had. Aerith was bleeding a lot, the back of her dress was soaked in blood so he had to completely remove it, which caused Zack to start panicking and trying to attack him. This was not an experience he wanted to repeat anytime soon.

When Cloud turned around to look at Zack again, Genesis had already gotten him to fall asleep against him, soft hums and coos keeping Zack peacefully asleep. Everyone seemed a lot calmer now. Maybe he could finally get a clearer picture of what had happened to cause this. Maybe Genesis wouldn't turn into a sobbing melodramatic baby again.

"Okay," Cloud began, moving back into his corner so he could watch over both Aerith and Zack while also keeping Angeal and Genesis in his sights. "Start from the beginning and tell me what happened in as much detail as you can."

"We were running around," Angeal began. "Zack was the one to suggest running laps around your land. He said it would be more beneficial to all of us if we ran off the negative emotions before coming back here. Said it would help Seph trust us more if we were able to approach him without anger in our systems."

"Zack was always the one who had to deal with cases like Seph's while we were in SOLDIER together," Genesis added. "So I told Angeal to listen to him and do as he said. It helped a lot more than I thought it would actually. By the time we were halfway through the first lap, I found myself being able to think straight again. But it was only when I started thinking straight again that I realized that we were no longer on your marked property and were heading out into the wastelands around Midgar. I didn't think anything about it, so I let my thoughts stray and I blindly followed Zack as he kept running."

"I didn't realize that anything was wrong until I saw a cliff ahead of us and Zack not slowing down at all," Angeal continued. "I shouted his name and he jerked and slid to a stop, but he was too close to the edge so we dragged him back, Genesis scolding him for his reckless behavior. He didn't really seem all that fazed by the fact that he almost ran off an edge, he just seemed embarrassed that he was so lost in thought that he wasn't paying attention to where he was going."

"Zack looked around to see where we were and to help us find our way back to your land," Genesis continued. "Except while he looked around he said that was the place he died, and I don't think he actually meant to say it out loud. When I tried to get him to leave faster, he kept looking past me at the ledge, or a spot just before the drop off point. He pushed past us both and shrugged us off as we tried to stop him, but he wouldn't stop moving towards where his gaze was fixed."

"He stopped," Angeal continued hesitantly. "But he was engulfed in a bright light once he did, and when it faded, we saw him leaping off the edge to catch Aerith as she fell from the sky. It terrified us, but I don't think Zack was actually conscious when he leaped off the edge. If he was, he hit his head too hard to remember doing so. When we made it down to Zack and her, Aerith was waking up but Zack was out cold."

"She got in our way of checking on Zack," Genesis said, glaring over at Aerith. "She wouldn't let us near him no matter how unthreatening we made ourselves and no matter how much we tried to explain to her that we only wanted to help Zack. She wouldn't move or listen."

"When Zack woke up," Angeal continued, causing Genesis to look away from Aerith. "He looked at her and then instantly looked past her to see us. He didn't acknowledge her until we told him he had jumped off the cliff to catch her. But even then he didn't actually talk to her until she grabbed his hands in hers. Then he fussed over her as best he could. She passed out after saying his name, and then he held her tight and was silent like you saw the entire way back to you."

Cloud hummed and shifted to get more comfortable in his more cramped corner. Seph really had a problem with moving quietly and just squeezing behind him to rest. It was highly concerning but at the same time, he didn't want to stop him. Seph was a really soft and warm Silver Chocobo the perfect size to rest against and get really comfortable and just sleep against.

Cloud shook his head to get rid of the thoughts of falling back asleep against Seph, he had to stay focused. He was supposed to help Zack and Aerith, and be a stable rock that Angeal and Genesis can rely on while their worlds are still in complete chaos. He could do this. He could figure out how to help them.

"So let's break this down into the bigger parts," Cloud said, shifting to sit up and dig through his pockets. He unconsciously hummed the victory theme Barret was so fond of as he pulled out a pen and paper. "Perks of being a delivery man! Okay! So what I can see as the big things from your adventure is Zack becoming human after being at the place where he died, Aerith coming from the sky alive, and we were all very underprepared for this. Anyone see anything else?"

"You still don't have a house to hold humans in," Seph said, his head resting on his shoulder. "Add that to the list. I enjoy cuddling you, but sleeping like us has to hurt your back and make your muscles stiff."

"Not adding it to this list but I will add it to the ones that I need to do around the land," Cloud replied absently. "Anything else?"

"No," Genesis and Angeal said at the same time. Cloud only glanced up at them before going back to writing on the paper.

"Okay," Cloud said slowly. "It seems like it is entirely possible that Zack was given back his human form when he was in the exact place he entered the lifestream. Aerith was probably kicked out of the lifestream to protect her from something inside, or she was forced out by something inside the lifestream that is trying to gain more power and say over this world. Wouldn't be the first time something tried to take over the lifestream, the only difference is that Gaia hasn't tried to drag me into it to fight it off again."

"Wouldn't that mean that whatever was in the lifestream was stronger and attacked faster then Gaia could react?" Angeal asked, head tilted in thought.

"It's possible," Cloud replied. "But I don't know of anyone strong enough to do that besides myself and I'm not going to ruin the lifestream unless I have a very good reason to do so."

"What about the Cloud from Seph's world?" Genesis questioned. "If nothing but you would be strong enough to do something like that so quickly, isn't it possible he could as well?"

"That would explain why Aer looked so scared when I said that I was going to take her to you for help," Came the yawned reply from Genesis' wings. "Stop smothering me, Gen. I'm awake and feeling better than ever. Let me up."

"Which would mean that Aerith is going to have a heart attack when she wakes up," Cloud sighed, leaning back into Seph. "Great. And I am the only one around with the medical knowledge to actually tend to her and make sure she gets better as well."

"He really messes everything up," Seph sighed, moving his head to rest in Cloud's lap. "Unfortunately, him doing this does make a lot of sense in a way. I was his prized possession, and the Ancient did find a way to send me away at the cost of her own life. He probably made her daughter tell him how to traverse the lifestream to find me."

"True," Cloud blindly agreed. Then blinked and looked down at Seph. "Wait, what?!"

"I forgot to tell about how I died didn't I?" Seph said, sounding very sheepish. "Well, she couldn't send me off to a safer place while I was alive, so she crept into my tent at night while the President wasn't around and she stabbed me while I was sleeping. She killed me quickly and then asked her ancestors to guide me to the Champions world, where I would be safe. She joined in the trip and made sure I arrived safely before she destroyed her own soul so she couldn't be summoned or called upon to lead the way to me. She told me the President had entered before she could leave, and after seeing what she had done and learning I couldn't be brought back, he killed her when she refused to send him after me. He probably did the same to her daughter after he got what he wanted from the young girl."

"Shit," Zack said, finally free from Genesis' wings. "That man sounds worse every time you open your mouth and talk about him. And here I was thinking that no one could be worse than the Hojo of our world."

"Well this is an enlightening conversation," Genesis droned out. "Maybe some Loveless will lift everyone's spirits?"

"No!" "Say one word of Loveless and we're eating you for dinner!" "What's Loveless?"

Cloud blinked. Out of everyone in the room, the responses were all in line with what he was thinking, but to hear them all come out like that. Masterful. But did Seph really have to open his mouth to ask that question to the very man who had every play, book, and line memorized?

The soft female groan from the pile of blankets was a saving grace.

"Hey!" Zack yelped out, jumping to his feet and running over to Aerith. "She's awake! Aer, you feeling better?"

"Loveless is more important than your stupid crush!" Genesis scoffed in anger. "Cloud took good care of her, so sit down and listen to me!"

Cloud chuckled slightly as he stood up and moved over to Aerith as well.

"Hey there beautiful," Zack muttered softly, his hand holding Aerith's shoulder to keep her in place. "You feeling better?"

"Y-yeah," Aerith responded. "Where are we?"

"We're at a friend's house," Zack responded, his free hand waving at Cloud to stand back for a bit longer. "Can you tell me what the last thing you remember is?"

Aerith frowned and closed her eyes in thought. "The last thing I remember?"

"Don't force yourself to remember if it's too much for you alright?" Zack assured softly, brushing Aerith's hair out of her face.

"I-I…" Aerith began, only to open her eyes and look up at Zack. "I remember Cloud coming to the flowers where I was. I tried to talk to him, tried to figure out how he was there because I didn't call him and Gaia was still keeping me in lockdown, but he wouldn't answer me or look at me. When he did turn towards me, he swung a blade at me. It was too fast to see what the blade was clearly, but before he could hit me, Gaia yanked me out and threw me from the lifestream. On the way out, my body was attacked and my physical form was injured."

Aerith shifted slowly and hissed in pain.

"Hey take it easy, babe," Zack said, using his hands to still Aerith as gently as possible. "You really were beaten up really bad. If my friend wasn't as good with tending to wounds as he is you would be in a really bad position."

"Then I should thank him," She said softly, her eyes starting to drift shut. "Can you get him so I can thank him?"

"He's already here, Aer," Zack said softly. "Go ahead and thank him."

Cloud came closer, so he could rest his hand on Zack's shoulder but still stay behind him. No need to get Aerith scared while she was resting and recovering.

"I see," She muttered, her eyes drifting and staying closed longer and longer. "Thank you, Cloud."

Cloud stiffened, but moved out from behind Zack anyway, his hand moving to brush hair out of her sleeping face. "You never have to thank me for anything Aer. I never need thanks for saving people, it's just what I do."

"You need to stop being so modest, boy," Genesis said softly. "You do too much for us to not be thanking you. You do so much for everyone, people should be thanking you everywhere you go."

Cloud didn't respond. He just stood up and started walking out of the barn.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Just let him be, Gen. Cloud just needs space to process all this."

FINAL FANTASY VII

Usually, when he wanted to take a stroll through the lifestream, he would have to fight Zack and Aerith every step he took. So when he managed to split from the lifestream again, he knew something was terribly wrong. The normal flower-filled meadow he always enjoyed wandering around was torn apart and wilting.

And a monster wearing Cloud's skin was standing in the center of the destruction.

"I presume you are the reason everything is screaming and making it impossible for me to actually sleep peacefully for once."

The monster turned to look at him, the twisted and curving blade in his hand coming up to point at him.

"I take it you either wish for a fight, or you want me to move along and leave you here alone?"

"Mine." The monster spoke coldly. The blade was still pointed at him.

"I am yours?"

The monster nodded slightly.

"Fool. I belong to only one man, and he is not here."

The area got colder around him. Clearly the monster didn't like that response. But unfortunately for the monster, he was the master at pissing people off and kicking their asses. Just ask Genesis.

"If you truly wish to make me yours, beat me in a battle. If I win, you go back to wherever it is you came from. If you win I am yours."

"Fine. But know that you will lose."

The bastard looked like Cloud and even sounded like a twisted insane Cloud. This man was dangerous and insane. If he wasn't in his right mind he wouldn't even stand a chance. But Jenova had no hold over him now. She hadn't had a hold on him for a while now, and Zack did love to spar randomly at any given moment.

This would be one hell of a fight that was for sure, and if he finds himself losing? Well, he can always just cheat and throw himself out of the lifestream again. He never needed Jenova to throw himself out after all. That was all him, he just always ended up right where the biggest mass of her cells were always located and found himself under her control faster then he could gain conscious thought.

Besides, not even Cloud himself actually stood a chance against him while he was sane and serious. This man would put up a fight, but he would ultimately fail.

And with a flick of his wrist, Masamune was in his hand and he was ready to take this man down.

Time in the lifestream was warped and twisted, but Sephiroth knew that with each clash of their blades, with each cut and wound they inflicted in their battle, the lifestream shook and shuddered. And so for hours, they fought, each one never gaining any ground against the other for long. They fought and the lifestream shook and shuddered.

When he jumped back away from the next strike instead of parried or blocked, the monster stayed in place and watched him, a smug smirk on his panting and flustered figure.

"Do you admit defeat?"

He raised an elegant eyebrow and lifted his blade to check his reflection. Long silver strands fell perfectly, his skin not even slightly flushed, not a drop of sweat on his person. A quick flick of his sword and a roll of his shoulders showed no strain or signs of fatigue.

"Admit defeat? Shouldn't I be the one asking that to you? You are the one who looks ready to collapse at any moment."

The monster growled at him and charged, his blade held in both hands ready to cleave him in half.

"So you still wish to fight? Fine by me. Then let us take this somewhere more favorable shall we?"

And with a quick flick of his sword, the charging man was thrown back and through a portal he had created, him following along quickly.

And with a quick elegant flip in the air, he had summoned his wing and was hovering over the monster on the peaks high on the Northern Continent.

"You may have the will to keep fighting, but even that will soon break. I will have you know that you should have just left while you had the chance. Cloud would have been easier on you then I am being. Cloud would have made you feel as if you actually had a chance at victory before taking it from you. But me? I will make you regret pointing your blade at me. You will find yourself begging for a death that may never come before I am done with you."

The monster shivered slightly, and made eye contact with him, his eyes glowing brighter. He smiled at the monster and then charged, his blade sliding right through the monster's left lung unblocked and unstopped.

"You think I will fall for that? The only one who can control me with their eyes is not here. Maybe research your foes before going into a battle. Nothing worse than going into a fight blind."

He was out of the way of the monster's blade before it even twitched into motion. He was going to have fun ruining this monster defiling his Cloud's image, and he would send it sobbing back to its own worlds lifestream.

The child version of him would never be hurt by this monster again.

Their battle continued full force, but it was becoming crystal clear who the true powerhouse and victor would be, and he couldn't help but smirk. He would beat this monster into submission and then present him before Cloud. Maybe then his Cloud will actually look at him with something other than hate.

The thought excited him, and with that excitement, he fought even harder. This monster was strong enough to hold its own against him for long periods of time, but nothing would stop him from defeating this enemy and bringing it before Cloud to judge its fate.

'Hold on, my dearest puppet. I shall have your enemy delivered to you so very soon.'