Author note: Hogwarts legacy is out, and it's enjoyable so far. I recommend!

Chapter start

The shadows were so long. Somehow even more impenetrable than when I was apparently gesticulating in that woman's womb. Time had, for me, once again ceased all meaning.

I wasn't sure how long I'd been there, like this. But this time I knew, I wasn't dead. I clung to that thought, desperately holding it, repeating my name, my friends names, Rufus.

Occasionally I felt like something was shifting, prompting me to reach out to see. It was as though electricity shot through me, white pain dancing along my nerve endings whenever I tried. I wanted to stop trying. I knew that it was that barrier that kept me in this darkness. So I couldn't stop. But I just wanted to rest. It was so easy to just… exist here. Just a break.

Finally there was a different shift, sudden green light flaring around with enough strength it obliterated everything , including me. If what Ilfana had done had been gentle yet encompassing, this was raw and controlled. It pushed me from that peace I'd felt, demanding I listen rather than coaxing.

My eyes snapped open, prompting a wince at the lights above me. Green danced from around my peripheral vision. Nausea grew and I stifled it, groaning.

"How dare you? The data we could have collected…"

"Sophie!"

Rufus was half out of the chair beside the bed, his gaze drifting between me and the door. The voices were so loud. I tried to force myself to focus, counting to ten and glancing around. The room was sterile, grey steel. Medical instruments hanging here and there. Hospital room?

"What is the meaning of this?" Rufus had placed a hand along my forehead, but his voice wasn't directed to me.

I felt so heavy. Curiosity stirred vaguely enough I tilted my head over. Sephiroth stood partially in the room, green light coalescing along his fingertips. It faded as I locked eyes with him.

"Forgive this intrusion, Sir," a voice said from behind my guard. A form slunk from around him, but Sephiroth moved forward, closer to us and acting as a shield. Hojo eyed him, humming.

"It would seem that the young miss has a very… shall we say POOR defense for certain magic. A simple sleep spell should only incapacitate someone of her age and size for an hour, two at the most."

"Your point?" Rufus demanded it harshly.

Hojo shrugged his thin shoulders. He really was sickly looking, sick in the brain and the body. "Merely commenting on her lack of resilience towards the spell. I'd meant to let her come out of it naturally, run some tests on her psyche while she was under. It would have been fascinating. Is it that she is that weak? Or Ifalna that strong?"

"You would dare-"

Hojo cackled a little. "This SOLDIER third seems to have taken umbrage with my methods."

He was glaring at Sephiroth now despite the grin on his lips. The SOLDIER bore it all silently, eyes flicking to the Professor dismissively. Even through my fog I thanked him profusely in my head. Gods knew what that demented fruit cake wanted with any of my parts.

Rufus tightened his grip. "As her guard, he better have. My Sister is not one of your toys."

Hojo looked hardly bothered. He shrugged, making a small noise as he grasped at my chart. "Of course, of course. I meant no offense. Merely that this is something we should know. Measures must be taken if she's weak to magic."

Rufus made no comment. I wanted vehemently to protest, to demand the mad scientist be removed, but I couldn't. My tongue was thick in my throat, vision still distorted somewhat. My limbs were heavier than I ever remembered them being before.

"Sophie?" Rufus used his fingers to turn my head towards him. His frown was deep. "What is wrong with her?"

Hojo shuffled forward, and I whimpered unintentionally when his cold fingers pressed into my pulse, counting.

"Disorientation, deep lethargy, slowed reactions. It's almost as though the spell is still on her. Sephiroth should have a strong enough cast to completely dispel it and its effects… interesting."

His eyes weren't necessarily cruel. And that was the worst part. It would be almost a comfort if he was cruel because he hated. His cruelty wasn't due to that however. It was a lack of empathy, a lack of any human emotion beyond the thrill of experimentation. Of digging out secrets however he could. Nothing was regarded as a human, or pet with emotions. Nothing was precious. Nothing was sacred. And that was somehow even worse. That brand of cruelty couldn't be reasoned with.

I hated him. But I was also terrified by him. "I want… to go to my room, now."

My voice was so low even I wondered if I'd spoken. Rufus and Hojo were still talking though. Going over what a sleep spell was capable of, versus what Ifalna had done. Thinking of it almost made me close my eyes again.

"If I get my hands on that woman, I swear... what has she done to my sister that she can barely focus?" Rufus was getting even angrier, fists clenched so tightly the skin was pale white.

"You needn't worry. Though the half blood is still at large, we recovered the Cetra at a train station. She's already paid for her crime, as it were. Her remains are being prepared for extraction."

I was too low pitched. This was the last thing I needed to hear. So cavalier about her remains. I knew Hojo was going to dismantle her corpse as one did a lobster shell, bending and snapping it for twisted purposes. The woman was with the planet again, ideally reunited with Gast. Her body was nothing. I knew she wouldn't feel it. Still, it was so despicable.

The nausea reached a crescendo inside me. I tried to shift over, to spy a bucket but my limbs were too uncoordinated. Hands grasped me suddenly upwards, clasping me firmly. One guided me to lean forward, leading one of my hands to a rim, and I began to wretch before I realized it was the trash can.

Bile burned in my throat as I shuddered violently. Mostly stomach acid, I assumed. The two spells had drained me. My body wasn't sure what was happening and so it began a purge. It didn't help when my mind was conjuring images of Ifalna. The woman had been so alive when I'd seen her last. I imagined Hojo gleefully slicing her down the middle, digging through viscera and organs, dissecting and cataloguing everything. I highly doubted there was any difference between her and a regular human biology wise. Granted, I wasn't a mad scientist to feel driven to know for sure.

I was more if it walked, talked, sounded like a duck then guess what? It was a duck. That was my thought pattern.

After moments of this, I leaned back. Scratchy cloth under my cheek, mixed with something soft. "I'm sorry, Seph."

Rufus and Hojo still had trouble hearing me it seemed. Rufus looked sick himself. Hojo looked like the whole thing looked fascinating. The freak was probably going to dig around the fluids I'd expelled to figure something obscure out. I gagged again, and Sephiroth pressed the can closer again.

My hand came to push it away as I breathed deep and fast. I felt a little better now, at the least.

Sephiroth paused briefly before he set it to the ground beside the bed. I realized he had settled next to me, my small form pressed against his chest. His body propped me up so I wouldn't flop down. It was somewhat unfair how much larger he was than me. I wondered if I'd ever meet even a fraction of his height or strength. Probably not.

"It is fine," he said softly. I appreciated it, as even my head was beginning to feel heavy. "Do you still want to go to your room?"

SOLDIER hearing. Of course, he'd heard me. I'd wondered if I'd even spoken as no one had acknowledged the request.

"Please," I muttered.

He didn't waste any time. With mocking ease, he shifted me around, lifting me into his arms and immediately cradling my body so all the weight leaned onto him still.

"And what do you think you are doing," Hojo demanded dryly.

"She isn't comfortable here."

His eyes were on Rufus, ignoring Hojo. I was aware he didn't have any respect for the Scientist, and I found myself happy, at least with that. Rufus nodded his head, before gazing back to Hojo. He would extract all the information he could from the lead of R and D, before coming to see me.

Sephiroth had a smooth gait to him, smooth enough I let my eyes slip closed to relieve the pressure of keeping them open. It wasn't until I felt him bend and my body meet the soft padding of my bed I blinked them open again. His hair was spreading out like a curtain, sealing me off from the world outside.

"What is it?" I asked.

"This would not have happened had I not left you alone yesterday." He was blaming himself.

I grasped his hand, turning onto my side so I could hug it close to my body. "I'm glad she's free."

He was quiet for some moments before he uttered, sounding almost pained. "As am I."

I hummed, closing my eyes again.

I awoke the next day feeling so much better. My limbs were all functioning normally, no fog clouded my brain in a false serenity. I was aware of what had happened. Also thoroughly embarrassed at the fact Sephiroth had apparently spent hours beside me, with me clutching his hand in sleep as though he were a pillow. Rufus had said the SOLDIER had remained that way until I released him, not wanting to hurt me by pulling away.

Rufus had a teasing look on his face, commenting about the adorableness of his baby sister. Tseng had remained a background character to the scene, though I saw the slight twitch to his lips, knew he'd most likely witnessed poor Sephiroth being stuck. Had he looked miserable? Or had his face been the usual caricature made of granite.

Either way, when he'd arrived to collect us that day I apologized, which he of course brushed off. Today I was meeting the President. I doubted it was out of concern for me.

He wasn't alone, of course. And we weren't in his office. Rather this time, he'd chosen to summon me like a dog to the boardroom, all his lackeys seated. Scarlet had an amused look on her beautiful face, twisted ugly by the excitement at potential carnage in her features. I had seen true beauty in Ifalna though, so Scarlet looked sad to me. A woman with no makeup, not even an all together healthy body, was a hundred times more regal and beautiful than the blond before me.

Palmer was sweating, it seemed. Though he was technically an uncle, I hadn't had much dealings with him. He didn't care for his brother's children, only cared for tea, desserts to go with the tea, and space.

Heidegger looked indifferent; arms crossed as he bore a hole into the wall with his gaze. Hojo looked a tad irritated, whilst my so called father looked angry.

Only Reeve smiled at us when we came in, Rufus immediately placing a protective hand along my back. "Little Sophie. I heard you were in the hospital wing. How are you feeling now?"

I upped my childish game, per what Rufus instructed me, half shrinking behind him. He'd pulled me aside earlier and told me to cling to him, to keep my mouth shut about my ideals. Practically ordered me to act like a child. Which made me realize he wasn't at all fooled by me when I tried to use it on him.

"I'm okay," I said timidly. "I slept a long time."

"You did. We were all worried about you." He agreed with me easily enough, smile so warm it made me sad. He, Rufus, and maybe our guards were the only ones who'd been worried.

"Thanks Uncle Reeve!" I chirped at him happily, making sure he knew I appreciated him.

President Shinra leaned back, drawing all of our attention. "Yes, we're all glad. Sophie, do you remember anything?"

As if I'd tell any of you. "About?"

"The woman who stole your friend… did she say anything? Where she meant to go, what she was going to do with the girl?"

"With Aerith?" I acted obtuse, wanting to force them to use her name. She had more value than as a damned guide to a place that was fake anyway.

The Promised Land was literally the land we all stood on. That's what I thought at least. The Cetra seemed more aware once they were in the lifestream, and probably guided regular people along until they sunk into the planets stream. Thanks to Shinra, I wondered what happened to the ones used up as electricity or materia.

"Yes, Aerith. That woman stole her. Surely you want her back?" Scarlet tried to sound sympathetic, almost nurturing.

I shrunk away further, half turning my head into the jacket Rufus wore. "No, Aerith is better safe."

"But she isn't safe, is she?" Scarlet leaned forward towards me. "She's all alone out there. She could die."

"Scarlet!" Rufus snapped it out and she slightly flinched.

I let my eyes water, and decided I was going to take her words in the worst way. I tugged on Rufus, who glanced down to me. His own reaction to my sudden sobs was comical, making me have to bite my tongue not to turn the cries into laughter.

"They're gonna kill Aerith!" I threw my arms around him. "Please don't let them, Rufus. Aerith is good where she is. She won't die out there."

"Now hold on!" Scarlet protested violently, face going near purple with suppressed rage.

"Now Sophie, no one is going to harm your friend. We simply want to know where she is," President Shinra chimed in.

They all looked so uncomfortable. Whether it was because I was a girl crying or a child, or both, I was definitely cracking up in my head. Rufus sighed, lifting me into his arms so I could bury myself against his neck.

"That hussy said so!" I wailed it out, covertly eyeing everyone. Reeve flushed red and coughed, whilst Heidegger had to stifle his chortle. Palmer looked unwell, really. Scarlet however had flushed even further, before Shinra reached over and she flung herself backwards, huffing.

I was so close to Rufus I felt his deep breath, before he patted my head a little roughly. "There, there. Father this is utter ridiculousness. Sophie was attacked in her room. The idea someone attacking her would then divulge where she intended to go is foolish."

He made a gesture and Tseng stepped up. To heighten the performance I lifted my head, reaching a hand out to him. His brow arched but he obliged, giving me a pen he'd had in his pocket. "We apologize for the weakness in security. From now on Turks or members of the infantry will be on guard at the top floor, to prevent such from happening again. We've also determined it was the keycard of Executive Palmer used to gain access to the room."

He paused, catching the pen as I tossed it to him. "A suggestion, if I may. We wish to reorganize the keycards so only direct family, and the ones assigned as guards have access to the rooms of you three. That way this can be prevented from occurring again."

"Permission granted. Of course, I want all measures taken to protect my little girl."

That would be believable if your first thought wasn't to interrogate me. Rufus seemed to agree, if his scoff was anything to go by. He cleared his throat. "If that is all… the person who needs to be questioned is Palmer. I'd be very interested to hear how he allowed his keycard to be stolen. Even Sophie knows not to frivolously show hers off."

Palmer shrunk back into his chair and I hummed. Then I squeaked when Rufus handed me to Tseng suddenly, who took me gingerly, like he'd never held a child before.

"Sophie isn't required anymore. On her part this matter is closed." His eyes glanced around the table, and despite his youth, it was clear he was to be obeyed.

That's what power was. It didn't discriminate based on gender or age. It was just harder to get under most circumstances.

"Take her back to her room. You're both dismissed."

Tseng bowed, causing me to cling to his neck in order to keep my balance. Sephiroth swiped his card, keeping the doors opened for us. "Bye!" I cheerfully waved before settling against Tseng.

Luggage again. I couldn't wait to be old enough no one would think of nonchalantly carrying me through the tower, or anywhere else. Still, it meant something that Rufus had sent his own personal bodyguard with me along with Sephiroth. It meant he was prioritizing my protection, and that I wasn't to be touched by any of the other executives. Thankfully that included Hojo.

Once back in the room he dropped me unceremoniously, huffing. "Quite the performance."

"Hmm, what do you mean?"

Tseng chuckled lightly, whilst Sephiroth and he exchanged a look. "You'll be dangerous one day. Perhaps it's part of your bloodline."

He bowed and left shortly after, citing work. Sephiroth sat when I gestured, and Boulder trotted up. His enormous head plopped onto Sephiroth's lap, whining until the SOLDIER pet him.

"My deployment has been decided." He said it casually, as one might mention that it looked cloudy.

"But you're a kid like me," I said.

"It has been decided that my talents are more useful with the troops."

When I remained silent, he took surprising initiative. He reached over and gestured to get my eyes on him. "I promise I will return as is."

"Promise?" I asked it roughly. I'd known this was coming, but I hadn't thought it would come right after losing Aerith. I grasped his hand, lacing my fingers between his. He allowed it with a small flex of the digits. Aerith had made a line to him being most likely touch starved. I wanted to fix that, at the least.

"Of course. We're friends, right?"

At the least I had that. Sephiroth considered me important beyond a mission.

"Absolutely! Family forever," I giggled a little. Who'd have thought? "I'm gonna write to you every chance I get.

"I cannot guarantee I will have much time to indulge in penmanship."

He looked so grave that I had to snort. "Course not. But it'll be something. So you won't forget about me."

He stared me up and down, and I wondered what he saw. I knew Sephiroth was one of the few who wasn't fooled at all by my appearance. Which was equal parts annoying as it was relieving. Faking things wasn't something required when in his presence. For a teenager though he was already remarkably stone faced. Like a statue from Greek times. Created to be flawless, beautiful, and without expression.

If you weren't focusing on him, he could blend easily and be mistaken for a statue. My second friend in this strange world. I worried terribly for him, for Aerith. Hell, I worried for the world.

He had just lifted Boulder into his arms and dropped him onto the table, knowing I wouldn't care, and the hound wouldn't stop until he got his way. The Hound was destined to be pudgy, if he kept eating all of my snacks. After how his short life was before I got him… I wasn't going to stop him. Spoiled to death, that seemed healthy. I wasn't sure how to spoil Sephiroth. The bitch.

"Hojo has noticed you again," he suddenly mentioned.

"I know. He's creepy as heck." My arms folded along the table; I pillowed my head there.

"He believes something is off about you. The way the sleep spell lingered…"

"Is that really that unusual?" This caught my attention.

He eyed me with a tilted head. "A low grade sleep spell should only have an effect for an hour or so without interference. It isn't known how long you would have slept had I not intervened.

"Why did you?" This had been bothering me.

I already had my theory about what had happened to me. Ifalna had been a full blooded Ancient, the last of her kind. It made sense she could absolutely crush someone with magic, especially someone actively trying to submit to it, and it wasn't like I'd wanted to wake up. I'd been worried about the fall out. Maybe she simply had more magical ability than they knew, since they'd imprisoned her rather than worked with her.

And it also made sense that his interference had messed me up a tad. If Ifalna was purity in her magic, graceful wisps of it curling gently around the target… Sephiroth was a sledgehammer, with zero nuance. The goal was the end for his magic, and there weren't added flourishes to lull or entrap the victim. Just total submission demanded. Like a calamity imposing its will.

The calamity versus a Cetra. And we all knew how that had originally turned out.

"I could not say." He declined to give a straight answer, but it was fine. I merely hummed, sighing.

"I know why!" I used a teasing tone that made his brows raise.

"Feel free to guess."

"You love me. It's okay, I am pretty awesome. I mean, where else would you find this amazing personality in such an adorable packaging?"

"Not words I would use to describe you."

"Okay, ouch. Just for that one of those letters is going to be a Dear John letter."

"I'll be sure to pass it on to him."

Oh, for the love of the Gods!

End chapter

XENOCANAAN: I'm just dreaming of the day Sephiroth stops being so emotionally constipated. If that day ever comes. I may have my doubts. Here's hoping this chapter was just as amazing for you. Sophie being devious is definitely amusing for me.

The Resident Cat: I absolutely adore chatter, and that image. If I could draw it, I would. Sadly my art is at a stick figure with some awkward squiggle for hair. I'm glad you're enjoying so far.