Silmeria - Happy reading.

Disclaimer - I claim no rights to Final Fantasy VII

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Edge and Midgar

"Nothing?" Zack murmured, reading over the short text the scout sent him. He leaned against the wall of the cave and shared a cautious look with Sephiroth. Across from them, Aerith was giving the path ahead a worried, almost harried look. Almost ten minutes in and not a soul? She turned back to her Sentinel and gave a short shake of her head. She was positive that this was a cave system Edge used in case of an emergency. The land was given as a celebratory gift fifty years ago when Edge and Midgar became allies. She was sure that people would be here since the borders were getting assaulted, but no one? No one at all?

"You alright, Aerith?" Zack called out turning her attention away from the long pathway and back to the Alpha Sentinel. "You looked worried. You feel like sharing with the class?"

"I thought there would be people in the caves," Aerith confessed. "The land was given as a gift from us during your grandfathers' reign - as a symbol of the new alliance, but I don't see or hear anyone."

"It's not so outrageous that they decided not to use them," Sephiroth murmured. "And considering that it's well-known information between us, it would be a bit foolish to hide the citizens in it."

Aerith's brows furrowed before turning back to Zack. "What about the information from the scout? What did he have to say?"

"The streets are deserted." Zack's lips pulled into a frown. "He said it's a ghost town up top, but there's still guards patrolling." Zack shrugged, sharing another cautious look with his Second. "Weiss should have known we wouldn't go knocking on the front door. Is he using the guards as a diversion?"

"I wouldn't put it past him," Sephiroth uttered, displeased at the situation that sat at their feet. "I'm more concerned that we haven't seen sentries since we entered the cave either."

"No people or soldiers," Zack uttered. What in the hell was Weiss up to? Could this be a trap? Zack's jaw clenched at the thought of being played like a fool. He didn't have the time or the patience for the Alpha Sentinel's games. "We don't have time to play twenty questions as to why Weiss doesn't have soldiers in the caving system. The more we speculate, the more time we lose in rescuing Cloud."

"We're merely being cautious, Zack." Sephiroth scolded the Sentinel's retreating back. "We're no good to Cloud or anyone if we're dead."

"And we're no good if we're standing here and waiting for something to happen." Zack shot back. "I don't know about you, but I have no intention of using my soldiers as a distraction longer than need be. I'm not-"

"Xavier." Aerith finished firmly. "We know. So, let's press forward and find Cloud."

Zack should have known better - he did know better. But, the thought of Cloud being captured and tortured or killed caused him to lose what little sense he had left. He knew he was walking into a trap. He knew that he was putting his life along with Sephiroth and Aerith in danger, but he had too many regrets written across his soul: the inaction against his grandfather, the murder of his parents, the war that broke the bond between Junon and Edge. Those would be regrets he would bear for as long as he lived, but he would never regret giving it his all to find and save Cloud. Even if Cloud died at the end of it all, Zack would be able to look his people in the eyes and state that he gave it his all to find their Alpha Guide and bring him home. And bring Cloud home he would -

Dead or Alive.

"Stop," Sephiroth commanded, breaking Zack's degrading thoughts and forcing their march to a halt. "Listen. Do you not hear it?"

Impatient, Zack turned to his Second and asked what he was talking about until a soft whirring noise caught his attention. He turned back to the path leading to the exit of the caves.

"What is it?" Zack murmured, taking a cautious step back, relieved when his back met Sephiroth's. "It...sounds large."

"Very." Sephiroth sounded wary which didn't bode well for Zack's confidence. It wasn't often that his Second lacked the confidence to control a situation. "Aerith? With me." Sephiroth's jaw clenched when Aerith didn't follow his orders. He opened his mouth to repeat it when the walls of the cave shook causing a few rocks and stalagmites to fall loose and hit the ground before the far left wall burst open and a massive red leg peaked through before the rest of its mechanical body burst through.

"Is that a...-" Zack started drawing his blade and sliding into a defensive stance.

"Scorpion Sentinel." Sephiroth finished in a dry, sarcastic tone that would have sent Zack into a laughing fit on any other day than this one. "What an oddity. Didn't this monstrosity belong to the Shinra Family?"

"Now's not the time to put on your tin hat, Seph!" Aerith called out from the other side of the Scorpion Sentinel. "Less talking, more swinging, please."

"Of course, darling." Sephiroth drew his own blade and slid into his own defensive stance. "Shall we dance? Outside, perhaps? Where the threat of the cave collapse is less imminent?"

"Sounds like a good idea!" Zack dodged the scorpion's tail and he didn't fail to notice the laser attached. Great. "What are we going to do?"

"You're going to draw it out," Sephiroth stated as if it was a simple errand and Zack would have taken a swing at his Second if not for the dire - ridiculous - situation. "And no complaints."

"Great." Zack drawled, turning on his heels with the Guardian Scorpion close to his heels. "Just fucking great."

Cloud was positive that his right hand was frostbitten and his left was inching towards first-degree burns. It didn't matter how many shots he launched at Nero, the man did nothing but absorb them into the tendrils of darkness. It was frustrating and forced him to realize that there was a chance he wasn't going to survive this battle.

"You do realize that I'm on a time limit, correct?" Nero called, slashing into Cloud's degrading thoughts. "Weiss wants me to bring you back to him alive, but with how tenacious you're becoming, it might not be a viable option."

Cloud swallowed sliding down the wall he was hiding. He was exhausted and he didn't know how many spells he could cast without passing out. And the spells he did manage to cast were low-level and wouldn't harm a hair on Nero's head. It took too long for the mid-to-higher level and when he managed, he was caught unaware, forcing him to be caught in the shockwave. He-

"Do you know Midgar is attacking us?" Nero called out in an almost conversational tone, startling Cloud with the information and the fact that he was drawing closer to his hiding spot. "Who knew that he had his own air force? Did you know that your Sentinel is in the tunnels with his second-in-command? How do I know this? Well-" Nero lifted his hand and curled his fingers as a tendril of darkness emerged and reached the location Cloud was hiding. "I am one with the darkness: where it sees, I can." Nero's lips curled into a wicked smile as he pulled his hand back dragging a now screaming Cloud out of his hiding spot. "Did you honestly think that you can continue hiding from me?" He lifted a hand, raising Cloud into the air. "What could you do by casting those little spells of fire and ice?"

Nero swung a hand, lips quirking when Cloud struggled against the tendrils. "Careful. Those can become quite sharp. I've seen them cut through flesh as if it were butter. You'd best stay still."

Cloud tensed, his jaw clenched, his eyes stinging with tears. For not the first time, he felt utterly useless. He couldn't escape. He couldn't warn Zack or Sephiroth of the danger. He could do nothing but-

Cloud tensed further as a dangerous thought entered his mind. There was a way, but the risk was great. It was a last resort and Cloud had intended it to remain in that particular box, but, well, when push came to shove, wasn't it worth the risk? And with time, he would be able to pull himself together again. And then, maybe the world wouldn't be ravaged by the fires of war.

"Are you ready to meet with Weiss?" Nero murmured, watching with an intense gaze as Cloud finally relaxed in the grip of his tendrils. "I do wonder what my brother could want with such an irritant Guide." Nero curled his hand, urging Cloud closer. "What does he see in you that I cannot?"

"I don't know." Cloud croaked out, reaching out with damaged hands and cupping Nero's surprised face within them. "I suppose we won't find out for a long time." Cloud closed his eyes and eased his shields down until nothing was left between himself and Nero but their true selves. It wasn't surprising that he felt nothing but anger and pain, but these were emotions that Cloud embraced and molded into himself and into Nero.

"Stop-!" Nero snarled but it was weak in the face of Cloud's emotions. "What are you doing!? Get out of my mind!"

"You must be stopped." Cloud whispered into the darkness - into Nero's mind - "We both knew that I could never defeat you in battle but as a Guide? An Alpha Guide? One that has the blood of the Cetra coursing through his blood? That's another story." Cloud gripped his hands tighter around Nero's face as his mind grew and eyes grew heavier. He didn't know how long he could hold Nero in the prison of his making, but he hoped it would be enough time to make a difference.

"Rest," Cloud murmured, closing his eyes and pressing his head against Nero's. "Rest with me." As the words slipped passed Cloud's lips, he felt an immeasurable peace fall over him, and the anger and pain that seemed to cloak Nero as a blanket vanished. He felt a short, but harsh burst of pain as he was released from Nero's hold and dropped to the ground with Nero collapsing next to him, body stilling and the darkness which held them so long splintered revealing a massive, but empty arena. He was exhausted but accomplished. He was fearful, yes, but the thought of him clearing the way for Zack and Sephiroth? The fear and sadness were worth their weight in gold. He hoped in time Zack would forgive him and that he would walk with him in peace and prosperity.

"I love you," Cloud murmured into the still and cold air. "I love you Zachary Caelum Fair. I love you with all that I have and am and I hope that this is enough."

One down, Cloud smiled as his eyes slipped closed and his body stilled into a quiet sleep, and one to go.