Chapter Seven

Cloud gasped and sputtered as he looked around at his new surroundings. He had just been with Tifa and Leon and had planned to fly away again, yet instead something else had happened and now he was standing in the dark and deserted Olympus Coliseum.

"What the . . . ?!" He slumped back, badly shaken. "How did I get here?!"

"You don't know?" came a bored voice he had wished to never hear again. "You're the one who did it."

Cloud's wing stiffened and he looked with a jerk to where a blue-haired man was leaning on a pillar and watching him with folded arms. "Hades," he spat. "You're trying to tell me you didn't bring me here?!"

"Why would I wanna do that?" Hades shrugged. "You were less than useless when I used you before. Wouldn't even kill the kid when you beat him."

Cloud scowled. "I hadn't fallen that far."

"Then you started blaming that other guy for everything you did yourself," Hades remarked. "That was kind of entertaining to watch for a while, but it got old fast! I was glad when you both cleared out of here."

Cloud flicked his wing. "I don't want to talk to you. I just want to go back home."

"You must have wanted to come here for some reason," Hades said. "You just teleported in."

"I don't even know how to teleport!" Cloud retorted. "It couldn't have been me!"

"Well, it wasn't me," Hades shot back. "How can you be teleporting around and not know it?!"

"It's Sephiroth who teleports," Cloud said. "I've never done it!"

"Guess you must've picked it up from him then," Hades said. "Don't you ever get tired of passing the buck and refusing to accept when you've done something?"

Cloud bristled at that. "Yeah," he said. "I know what I've done tonight. I'm accepting it. But I also know one of the things I didn'tdo was teleport."

"Eh. Have it your way. I really couldn't care less. Unless you're gonna hang around here." Hades pushed away from the pillar.

". . . Are you planning something for tonight?" Cloud gave him a suspicious look.

Hades glowered and threw his hands in the air. "Nobody trusts me! No, I'm not planning anything! I just wanna enjoy a nice night with nobody around and then you show up!"

"I'll get out of your hair." Cloud turned and walked away from him.

"Not like you'll get very far if you don't accept you teleported in," Hades scowled.

Cloud paused. That was unfortunately true. Getting home any other way would take a lot longer. He could hardly call Sephiroth for help, nor would he under the current circumstances.

". . . Okay. So if I really teleported in, how do I teleport out?" he asked.

"Just think about where you wanna go," Hades shrugged. "Focus on it and poof! You'll be there if you've got the power to teleport."

"Which I don't." But Cloud accepted the instructions and began to concentrate hard, thinking of Radiant Garden. He wanted to go home. Not to Sephiroth, because he couldn't face the man right now. But home. Home. . . .

And suddenly he was standing on the roof of his house in Radiant Garden.

He gasped in shock, nearly pitching off of said roof before he caught himself. "This . . . this just isn't possible," he choked out. "I don't know how to teleport! How did I do this?!"

He jumped off the roof, using his wing to gently fly back down to the ground. His heart was racing. Was this some kind of weird side effect from the hate spell? That was the only magic he had been exposed to lately. Well, unless he counted Sephiroth's illusion magic or the . . . true love.

He turned and ran inside his house. He needed to know what was going on with him. It could be dangerous, and he couldn't have that. He'd have to call Merlin.

The phone only rang a couple of times before Merlin picked up. "Hello? Cloud, good Heavens, where are you?! You've been leading everyone on such an exhausting chase!"

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry," Cloud said gruffly. He hesitated. ". . . Tifa and Leon said Sephiroth's okay. Is he really?"

"Yes, he is," Merlin told him. "I made him rest, but he wanted to get up and look for you!"

"He really can get up?" Cloud demanded. "He's not paralyzed?!"

"My stars, no! He was moving all over when he woke up. He's going to be just fine, Cloud. He's just frightfully worried about you. Please, won't you come talk to him? He's at my house for now."

Cloud heaved a sigh. "I . . . I just don't feel right about seeing him," he said. "I'm not worthy."

"Worthy?!" Merlin scoffed. "He certainly doesn't see it that way."

"It's my fault he's hurt," Cloud retorted. "And . . . I hated him so much because of what happened to Zack, and it . . . it just wasn't right. I did so much worse to him because of the spell that was put on me tonight!"

Merlin sighed. "Well, then I'm sorry to say such a horrible experience actually did you some good, Cloud. Perhaps it's a good thing it happened."

Cloud grunted at that. "Yeah, and now I can teleport?! What's up with that?!"

"What's that?!" Merlin sounded astonished. "Are you sure?"

"I wasn't at first. I went to Olympus Coliseum. I thought somebody must have sent me there. But then I thought about going home and I got home! What's going on with me?!" A bit of worry slipped into Cloud's voice.

"Well . . . I'm not quite sure," Merlin admitted. "It is strange. You've never been able to do it before?"

"Of course not!" Cloud insisted. "Do you think it's dangerous?!"

"Anything can be dangerous if you can't control it," Merlin said. "Teleportation is a fairly benign power, but without the proper restraint you could end up sending yourself anywhere, into any situation!"

"I ended up on my roof," Cloud muttered.

"Exactly what I mean! You'll need to train yourself to teleport into the right places whether this power is permanent or just temporary."

"Huh? How could it just be temporary?" Cloud blinked.

"I'm not entirely certain," Merlin said. "What happened must have come about during that clash of magic—the hate spell on you and the true love from Sephiroth. I wonder if somehow Sephiroth's power of teleportation was copied to you somehow, or if you copied it yourself without meaning to."

"I can't do things like that!" Cloud insisted.

"There's also how you apparently possess illusion magic—very raw, very untrained, but quite powerful," Merlin remarked.

". . . And Sephiroth can do that too." Cloud dug a hand into his hair. "Ugh, this just doesn't make sense! Why would I be copying his powers?!"

"Perhaps it has something to do with how you believed Sephiroth was a part of you?" Merlin suggested. "Then his powers would be yours as well."

"But Sephiroth isn't a part of me," Cloud said. "I finally know that now."

"Yes," Merlin mused. "He is his own person. He always has been.

"Cloud, I really wish you would come talk to him. He wants to see you and you desperately need to clear the air with him. He might have some ideas about the strange phenomenon you're experiencing as well."

Cloud heaved a sigh. "You're probably right. Okay, I'll think about it, at least."

"Good," Merlin said. "I'll let everyone know you're alright."

"Thanks." Cloud hung up and slumped back in bewilderment. At last, sighing, he concentrated on teleporting to Sephiroth. Merlin was right; they really needed to talk. Trying to get away from that had only resulted in a bizarre experience.

. . . And trying to accept it was also leading to a bizarre experience. Cloud choked as he suddenly appeared in a room and dropped into the arms of a broom.

"Well," Sephiroth remarked from the darkness of the room, "at least they're good for something besides sweeping."

"Ugh! Why did Merlin go in for these things too, like that other guy?!" Cloud leaped down from the broom's arms, deeply scowling at the lack of dignity. It wasn't really a surprise that when he turned to face Sephiroth, the older man was laying on his side, propped up on an elbow and smirking at him. Naturally Sephiroth would find this of the highest possible amusement.

If this was any other circumstance, Cloud would likely start snorting and cursing at Sephiroth's entertainment—which, of course, would only amuse him all the more. But the joy of seeing him awake and able to move eclipsed all other emotions. Cloud's embarrassment and anger faded. "Sephiroth . . ." He stepped closer to the bed. "You're alright. . . ."

Sephiroth smiled a bit. "Yes, I am," he said. "I never thought I'd see you glad about that."

"I . . . I thought you were dead . . . or paralyzed . . . and that it was my fault," Cloud rasped.

Sephiroth sobered. "It wasn't your fault, Cloud."

Cloud shook his head. "All this time, I've hated you so much . . . and it wasn't even fair. You never wanted Zack to be hurt. I can't imagine what you must have gone through after he fell. . . ." His voice caught in his throat. "I nearly killed you because of this stupid spell! I had no right to hate you so much for something you couldn't control!"

Sephiroth stared at him. He had never thought he would hear Cloud say such words as these, either. But he had to say, "I could have controlled it, had I listened to Zack. That is what is perhaps the most devastating thing about it. It didn't have to happen. But you, Cloud, you weren't seeking a power that turned on you. You were helplessly controlled against your will."

Cloud sank to his knees at the bedside. "I almost killed you," he rasped in horror. "And you saved my life . . . and broke the spell. . . ."

Sephiroth watched him carefully. "Yes, I did," he acknowledged.

Slowly Cloud looked up at him. "How? How can you possibly love me when I'm this kind of a screw-up? And when I've been trying to fight and kill you for years?! I thought that would make the darkness go away. It would have only made the darkness get stronger! I thought so many stupid things that weren't even true!"

". . . I'm glad you know they're not true now," Sephiroth said. "But . . . honestly, I don't know why I love you. Maybe I'm just fond of screw-ups." He was smirking again.

". . . Did you know before . . . ?" Cloud wondered.

Sephiroth was silent a moment. "I've known for a long time."

Cloud stared at him. "Didn't it hurt?" he said in disbelief. "Putting up with my garbage all the time?"

Sephiroth sighed. "Yes, of course it hurt. Even though your rants are highly entertaining."

"But you still kept trying to get through to me. . . ." Cloud's shoulders slumped. "I wouldn't have kept trying."

"Maybe you would have," Sephiroth mused, "if you loved that much."

". . . Maybe," Cloud conceded. ". . . And now I'm teleporting and I have no idea why."

Sephiroth frowned. "That is strange, isn't it."

Cloud stared at him. "How can you be so calm about it?! I ended up at Olympus Coliseum!"

"Why there, specifically?" Sephiroth asked, his tone mild.

Cloud scowled. "That's what Hades wondered too. He thought there'd have to be some reason why I'd go there instead of somewhere else!"

"Well, doesn't there?" Sephiroth replied. "Teleporting isn't a random act. One generally has to want to go to a certain place for it to start happening."

"Why would I want to go there?!" Cloud exclaimed. "There's nothing but painful memories for me there!"

Sephiroth was silent. "Are you asking me for my opinion on it?"

"You always act like you have all the answers," Cloud retorted. "So what's the answer to this?"

Sephiroth pondered a moment before he spoke again. "It was there when you really started your downward spiral," he said. "You made your deal with Hades there and your wing was formed. And you first decided I was your darkness there. Perhaps, with the turmoil you've been in tonight, you felt that revisiting that place of sorrows would help you make sense of everything. You say Hades was there?"

"Yeah, he was," Cloud scowled.

"Did he try to hire you again?"

"No. And if he had, I would have said No," Cloud said. "I've had enough of him and his stupid deals."

Sephiroth looked pleased. "Then you're making progress."

". . . You really think so?" Cloud stared at him.

"Of course."

Cloud pondered that. It was certainly the last thing he would have ever expected to hear. ". . . Merlin wondered if I was . . . copying your powers somehow," he said. "First the illusion magic and now this. . . ."

"Hm. It's an interesting theory, at least," Sephiroth mused.

"But why would I do that?!" Cloud exclaimed. "And I don't have the power to copy powers! . . . Or I didn't think I did. . . ."

"Your heart is strong," Sephiroth said. "Not just anyone's heart can create wings. When you're capable of that, who knows what else you may be able to do."

"Yeah, I guess." Cloud frowned. "But it's nerve-wracking! What if next time I end up in somebody's bathtub?! Worse, what if somebody else is already in it?!" He scowled.

Sephiroth looked highly amused by that image. "Well . . . we'll just have to figure out what's going on and either stop it or train you properly before that happens," he said.

"I was hoping for a more concrete answer," Cloud grumbled.

"I'm sorry I don't have one. I honestly don't know what could be happening with you, Cloud," Sephiroth said.

Cloud sighed in resigned frustration. "Well, that's a first." And then he frowned, realizing something.

"Sephiroth . . . you've been laying in exactly the same position this whole time," he said. "I can see your arms are okay, but how do I know you didn't have the brooms put you the way you are to try to fool me into thinking your legs and lower wings are okay?"

Sephiroth gave him a Look. "Do you honestly think I would ask brooms to do that?"

Cloud flushed. "No. . . . But . . . please, let me see you're really okay. . . ."

Sephiroth sighed. "I've told you I am. If that's not good enough . . . nevermind." He lifted the right lower wing off of his right leg and then moved both legs. "There. You see?" He flicked the lower left wing, which was stretched out behind him so as not to be laid on.

Finally Cloud relaxed. "Thanks . . . for humoring me."

Sephiroth leaned back with a smirk. "Having you actually worried about me is quite an experience."

Cloud went red again. "Yeah . . . yeah. . . ." He sighed. "So . . . what do we do now?"

"Do?" Sephiroth repeated vaguely.

"I mean . . . everything will be different now," Cloud said. "We won't be fighting . . . and I won't be hating . . ."

"We'll just live our lives," Sephiroth said. "Maybe you'll actually listen to me now. But somehow I'm sure we'll still end up having disagreements along the way." A smirk. "We may seem different on the surface, but we're actually very similar people. Maybe that's why we have so much trouble getting along."

"Maybe." Cloud hesitated. ". . . Wait, did Merlin really tell me this whole mess happened because that creep was mad that you're . . ."

"The fairest of them all?" Sephiroth said dryly. "Yes, he told me that too. Strange how even though we know what she's like, we didn't even consider that was why she was after me."

"Yeah, well . . ." Cloud went an even deeper red. "I guess we just didn't think that you'd really be . . ."

Sephiroth was smirking again. "I guess not."

". . . You probably think that's pretty funny, don't you," Cloud muttered.

"I think your reaction right now is 'pretty funny,'" Sephiroth remarked. He sobered. "But no, Cloud. Considering all the Hell you've just been put through, I don't think this situation was funny at all."

Cloud slowly looked up in surprise. "Really?"

"You know my feelings and that still surprises you?" Sephiroth countered. "How could I possibly find anything humorous in this mess when you've been so badly hurt?"

Cloud flushed. "I guess it's just . . . still hard to get used to. That's all."

Sephiroth nodded. ". . . And I amsorry for what I said to you in our performance today." A lifetime ago. . . . "It was the best option for the outcome we wanted, but I hated when I realized that was what I would have to say." He sighed. "Considering how it all turned out, I wonder if we didn't go about everything incorrectly."

Cloud gave a shrug. "I don't know what else we could have done."

"I don't either," Sephiroth said.

"So . . . don't worry about it," Cloud said. He paused. "I'm glad you're sorry, though."

Sephiroth laid back in the bed. He was still worn-out and hurt from everything, and now that he and Cloud had talked, he finally felt relaxed enough to sleep. The random teleportation was a strange problem, but it didn't seem too serious to him at this point. They would figure it out later.

He started at the sound of quiet snoring. Had Cloud . . . fallen asleep kneeling at the bedside?

He looked down. Yes, Cloud definitely had. He was slumped against the edge of the mattress, his wing completely limp. That was going to be highly uncomfortable for him when he woke up.

"Cloud?"

No response.

"Cloud, get up."

Still nothing. The boy was simply too exhausted both physically and emotionally. Even touching his shoulder elicited no reaction whatsoever. Sephiroth didn't have the heart to actually shake him.

Finally Sephiroth leaned back in resignation. He couldn't lift Cloud onto the bed. That would be too taxing on his back right now. He would just have to leave him there.

But . . .

He moved over a bit closer and lowered the nearest wing over Cloud in his best attempt at a blanket. Then, sighing, he laid back down and soon also fell asleep.

xxxx

The newspaper story of the Evil Queen's plot against Sephiroth hit stands the next morning. Residents of Radiant Garden were soon devouring the juicy gossip and passing it along.

On one lonely corner stand, a young man was reading the tale under a lamppost. The whole thing sounded crazy. Trying to kill somebody because they looked better than you? This place really was weird.

He kept being drawn to that picture of the intended victim, a full-color shot of him in mid-flight, all three wings spread majestically across the sky. Something . . . something about it was so familiar. It made the boy feel . . . happy. Happy in a way he hadn't been for the past several years, ever since waking up not knowing who he was.

He turned the page and a gasp caught in his throat. The second page of the article featured a close-up of the man—a rare thing these days. Unlike in the past, he was elusive and would not pose for pictures any longer. Someone had snapped this one with him unaware. And seeing what he really looked like, something clicked.

"Seph . . ." the boy whispered.

He paid for the paper and ran off down the street. He had been searching for so long, trying to find out where he belonged, trying to remember. Now he knew where to go.

He was going home to Seph.