The sixth chapter of Insanity Season One is now underway! Cloud has been transformed into a creature of the shadows, and the Protectors now know of his fate. Will they be able to release him from the darkness or will he be lost forever? Read on and find out!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story, my OCs, and the saga. Thank you.
The demonic Cloud landed in the street, his dark indigo eyes glared at each of the Protectors. He gripped his Buster Sword in his clawed hands, and held it out in front of him. Dark growls escaped from his throat. Kairi stepped towards him, tears flowing out her eyes. Even though she was often tough, she sometimes had a soft side. The people around her had become her family.
"Cloud, why did you join the shadows?" she inquired, still trying hard not to look their former member in the eyes. "Tell us that."
"Sephiroth guided me into this state," he explained in a hiss. "Before I left to fight and defeat him, he created dreams of my former past, my old friends. But NO! I gave up those attachments when I fell into the darkness! I no longer have a mortal soul. The darkness is my soul now… These shadows that appear all around us, they are my allies! Including your own shadows…" He lifted a hand up slowly into the air, laughing cruelly as the Protectors' shadows appeared near him, solid with golden eyes. They even held their weapons in their black hands. They stared down their counterparts, who were trembling with fear. Cloud continued laughing as he pointed at the Protectors.
A dark form leapt over all the Protectors before their shadows could launch an attack. It was an animal, a wolf that stood on its hind legs. It was Toby. He turned his furry head, staring hard at Kairi.
"I'll take care of your shadows," he growled. "You guys just focus on Cloud, and figure out how to bring him back! Go!" With that, he began clawing through the shadowy forms of the Protectors, snarling. Kairi held her sword between her chest, and started to charge at Cloud. The others did the same. Cloud disappeared into violet wisps, and reappeared behind Leon. He lifted his sword to strike, but Leon blocked it with his Gunblade. Cloud suddenly grabbed Leon by the throat, more violet wisps beginning to curl down his arm and towards Leon. Suddenly, Cloud gasped out in pain, which caused him to let go of Leon, the wisps disappearing before they could do him harm. They then saw who caused Cloud to let go. The Protectors stared and saw the Pharaoh, grasping his sword tightly. He was panting hard, sweat dripping down his brow.
"So, you're alive, are you?" Cloud hissed, staggering backward, causing the sword to be pulled out of his back. The Protectors then saw the wound heal itself. "I'll make sure that this city will be your graves." Atem aimed his sword at Cloud's heart, but before he could strike, they saw a green light above them. It coiled around them, forming into the shape of a woman. When the light faded, a woman stood, wearing a pink dress, her brown hair in a braid.
"A-Aerith?" Cloud inquired, recognizing the woman at once. "Why are you here, you fool?"
"To help you find your true self, Cloud," the woman, Aerith, replied, stepping forward. She held a staff in front of her, and a ring of light surrounded her body. "Come forth, Lifestream… Show Cloud his past…" The same green light appeared and entered Cloud's body. His eyes grew wide, dropping his sword.
"Cloud, RUN!" a voice shouted in his mind. He recognized it.
"Zack…" he muttered, his eyes slowly lightening to its original color. The demon wings were vanishing, as well as the Protectors' shadows. Toby looked up, reverting to his human form. Aerith walked over to Cloud, placing a hand on his forehead. A tear fell from her left eye, landing on Cloud's fallen sword. A bright light appeared from where the tear landed, which nearly blinded the Protectors. When the light faded, they looked up, seeing Cloud in his original form, embracing Aerith. She disappeared into green wisps, rejoining the Lifestream. Cloud fell to the ground, his shoulders shaking.
"Forgive me, Aerith…" he whispered. "I failed you by becoming this…monster." As the sky became its original color, he looked up at the clouds.
"Sephiroth, even though I defeated you, I know you're still out there. You will pay for killing Aerith…" He looked at the Protectors, who were smiling at him, glad to see that he was back to normal. He stood up, moving towards them. Looking back up at the sky, he saw the faces of Aerith and Zack in the clouds.
"Arigato…"
What will happen now that the Protectors are back together? Find out in chapter seven, Farther Away.
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