Author's Note:
I've avoided the three Xenoblade Chronicles games for quite a while, but looking back now, I can't help but feel a warm wave of nostalgia. It's one of my favorite stories in any media. I wish I had written a fanfiction about it first, but I've already committed to this crossover project, along with my other Minecraft: Story Mode fanfiction.
(I know that Minecraft story is not as famous as this crossover, but I'm almost done with it. Feel free to check it out if you dare—it's my first attempt at storytelling, and it's turned into something a bit ridiculous and unexpected. Do I recommend it over this story? Probably not.)
I'm having fun creating this current FEA-FF7 story, even if I must reread JAGA's writing. Once I'm done reading his chapters, I'll become a happy, free man.
You might have seen it a few days ago, but I also designed a new, unique cover for this fanfiction. Mirage's design turned out quite well!
Anyway, I won't give you a big chunk of thoughts like the last note. See you later.
Chapter 5 – Approaching Wing of Despair
As everyone ventured through the windy, treacherous cliffs known as Breakneck Pass, Mirage returned from her brief scouting mission. She chose not to engage the enemy because she believed the Shepherds had to gain more experience for future battles. Instead, she explained in detail what she saw to Robin.
"I spotted a large number of wyvern riders and some ground mercenaries at about a mile out," Mirage reported, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. "They seem to be waiting for us."
"Thank you, Mirage. We need to be smart about this," Robin replied, furrowing his brow. Using this newfound information, the tactician organized everyone into specific pairs for optimal effectiveness in battle. The new pairings are as follows:
Chrom and Robin, Panne and Gaius, Stahl and Vaike, Cloud and Mirage, Severa and Marth, and Miriel and Sumia were to be positioned in the frontlines.
The defenders were Donnel and Ricken, Sully and Virion, and Olivia and Lon'qu. Phila stayed closer to Emmeryn.
On healing duty, Frederick and Lissa, as well as Kellam and Maribelle, were to be stationed between the formations.
The looming threat of a trap hung heavily in the air, a knowledge no one could shake. Robin had tried seeking a way around the cliffs before, but there was no faster option. They needed to reach the hidden location as efficiently as possible before they and their horses grew mentally tired.
Soon after, their fears were realized. Arrows, knives, and axes whizzed through the air, accompanied by the dreadful sound of wings. "Get ready!" Chrom shouted as many Plegians descended from the mountains. A few were shot down by the skilled mages and archers among the Shepherds before the two forces clashed. Chrom fought fiercely, wielding his Falchion with deadly precision. "Robin," he called, parrying an incoming axe strike, "draw their attention while I take the hits!"
"Right behind you!" Robin called, summoning sharp winds against the flying units, catching them off-guard and sending them spiraling down.
Sumia deftly maneuvered her pegasus against the ground foes. "Miriel, look out for those wyverns above!" she shouted, narrowly dodging an attack.
"Leave them to me," Miriel called back, her voice laced with confidence as she focused above, twisting their wyvern's wings. "Predictable," she added, adjusting her glasses as another foe was swept from the air.
Gaius and Panne flowed seamlessly into their rhythm, leaping from heights to ambush the incoming riders. "Panne, now!" Gaius said, intensely focusing as they executed a perfectly timed attack.
In her Taguel form, Panne executed her strikes with agility, "Don't order me, man-spawn," she grunted, dodging and weaving among their enemies. At the same time, Gaius focused on the fallen, injured riders.
Riding his horse, Stahl swung his steel sword against the ground enemies. "Vaike, cover me!" he called out.
"Don't worry. Teach got your back!" Vaike replied, rushing out to drive away the archers with brutal strength.
Meanwhile, Marth and Severa advanced steadily against the axe units, cutting through them with precision using two of their strongest parallel blades. "Think you can keep up, Hero-King Marth?" Severa teased, dodging an attack with fluid grace before retaliating with a swift blow.
Marth countered the enemy advance with a decisive strike of her own. "We're here to prevent this war, not to show off."
"Gawds. It's just as Inigo described you, always gloomy," Severa retorted, her blade flashing as she took down another adversary.
Marth pinched herself as she heard his name. "Stop. Now is not the time for this. I don't want to deal with Mirage again."
"Pff. What a scaredy cat."
Slashing her foes harshly, Marth glared at her. "Focus."
"~Alriiight." As she returned her attention to her enemies, they struck in coordination, nearly flawless, and the echo of their combined efforts filled the battlefield as they fought bravely against the wave of wyvern riders and ground mercenaries.
At the other side of the battlefield, Cloud glanced at Mirage. "Can you fight airborne?" he asked, shifting his stance as he prepared for another wave of attackers.
"Yes. But let's hold back a little. We need the others to gain experience, too," she replied, watching the chaos unfold.
Again? Deflecting the incoming flying axe behind him, Cloud sighed. "Are you sure?"
"We need them to learn," Mirage insisted, her eyes narrowing as several hostile figures swooped in. Unleashing a few small Blade Beams, she took out several wyverns. "Remember why I'm here in the first place?"
"Fine, but if it gets dire, we step in."
She nodded. "Of course."
In the back of the line, Ricken flung his spells toward any foe threatening his partner and the Exalt, desperate to prove his worth. "Take that!" he cried, casting a spell that knocked an enemy off its mount.
"Nice one, Ricken! Keep it up!" Donnel encouraged, thrusting his lance against the struggling enemies beside him. "We can do this together!"
Sully struck any enemies that tried to break their defenses. Behind her, Virion proved his worth as an archer, picking off targets with ease while maintaining a calm demeanor. She observed Virion's enigmatic smile, unsure of its sincerity.
"You always got to be this relaxed?" she sneered, cutting down an enemy charging at them.
"Ah, but my dear Sully, poise is essential," Virion replied, nocking another arrow. "One must always maintain grace, even in the chaos."
Sully rolled her eyes. "Sure, Ruffles."
Lon'qu and Olivia stayed vigilant, defending the Exalt from any attack with evasiveness and precision. "Keep your eyes sharp," Lon'qu muttered, glancing sideways at Olivia. "Every distraction counts."
"I know, I know!" she replied, her voice a mix of determination and anxiety as she dodged an incoming attack. "I won't let them get close!"
"No words needed; just fight." With a fierce glint in his eyes, he deflected an attack meant for Emmeryn. They fought in silence, each movement fluid and deliberate.
Lissa rode on Frederick's horse between the group, healing anyone who received injuries. "Hang on, I'm coming!" she called out to Chrom, sending him a burst of healing energy.
Frederick bashed into his opponents as he continued to move forward with his armored horse, deflecting assaults aimed at Lissa.
Kellam, running as fast as he could with his heavy armor, guarded Maribelle's rear, ensuring no enemy could flank them. "I've got your back," he said earnestly, eyeing the chaos around them.
Maribelle focused on infusing her healing magic on Sumia's pegasus. "Oh, Kellam, you're here. Do make haste and fortify my position against those insipid archers; they simply won't relent!" she exclaimed.
"Don't worry, I won't let them through," Kellam assured her, standing firm as enemies closed in.
As the fight continued for a while, Phila turned to see a lone, familiar red-haired Pegasus Knight fleeing from an overwhelming horde of additional wyvern riders behind where they came from. "It's Cordelia! We have to assist her!" she shouted in alarm. The unity among the Shepherds began to wane as they struggled to split their attention between two fronts.
Severa, who plucked her weapon from a Plegian's corpse, turned her head in Cordelia's direction. "Mother?!"
Picking up Severa's sudden surprise, Cloud jumped impossibly high without hesitation, feeling the wind rush by as he began hovering in the air. "I'm not holding back any longer." he declared, blade ready, his determination surging.
"I'm with you!" Mirage followed in her father's wake.
Cloud nodded and zoomed through the air while focusing on the flying enemies. "Together!" he shouted.
Nodding back, Mirage and Cloud began unleashing a barrage of small Blade Beams, targeting a cluster of wyvern riders approaching left and right. "Behind the others! I see their Commander!" she yelled.
A wyvern rider swooped down at Cloud as he jetted ahead where Mirage pointed. Reacting quickly, Cloud rolled to the side and delivered a powerful strike with his heavy, completed Fusion Sword as he passed the rider, causing the Plegian to crash into the ground. On his other side, he brought his sword down hard, cleaving through another one of the riders and sending the wyvern tumbling. Mirage unleashed another wave of magic beams that sent two more wyverns before Cloud reeling.
Cordelia, still battling a few riders, spotted them. "Help!" she yelled, her voice strained as she fended off an attack from above.
"Right." Positioning himself beside her, Cloud shielded her as more wyvern riders descended. Mirage flew alongside her father, readying another set of attacks.
Together, they combined their aerial strikes, twirling in every direction crazily in the sky. Cloud swung his sword in a wide arc, creating a gust of wind that knocked away incoming projectiles, clearing a path for Mirage. She mirrored his movements with an agility that defied gravity, her blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Multiple wyverns approached, their rider aiming to bring them down with a sharp spear. However, Mirage twisted her body upside down mid-flight, her sword flashing as she struck heavily. She cleaved the enemy's weapon in two before thrusting her blade into every beast's side, sending them crashing to the ground below.
"Holding up?" Cloud asked, panting slightly.
"Yes," Mirage replied dryly, determination etched on her face. "Let's use our Finishing Touch!"
Tensing their bodies up, Cloud and Mirage unleashed powerful gusts of wind as they spun their Fusion Swords intensely. The Plegians could only watch in horror as a massive tornado approached them. They were instantly scattered when consumed by it, greatly diminishing their forces.
As they fought valiantly, the tide began to shift. The remaining wyvern riders fell to their coordinated efforts, knowing there was no way they were accomplishing victory in this fight. Soon, others among the Shepherds noticed the change. "Look! They're starting to falter! We can turn this around!" Chrom shouted, rallying his allies.
"Let's show them the might of the Shepherds!" Robin joined in, bolstering morale as he dispatched another enemy.
The Shepherds pressed on with renewed vigor, determined to overcome the aerial threat and protect their comrades on the ground. "Yes. We will not fail!" Chrom rallied, leading the charge. The chaos of battle raged on, but the united strength of the Shepherds began to tip the scales in their favor.
The echoes of clashing weapons and the cries of battle began to subside, and the remaining wyvern riders were scattered. The Shepherds moved cautiously, ensuring that no lingering threats remained. "Keep your guard up," Robin called out, scanning the horizon for any signs of more enemies. "We've won this battle, but we can't afford to be complacent."
As they finished off the last Plegian, a sigh of relief filled the air. Everyone stood tall, exhausted but triumphant. Sweat dripped from their brows, and the dust of combat clung to them. Fortunately, the strong, cloudy breeze helped them cool off.
Chrom turned to Cloud and Mirage, an impressed grin creeping across his face. "I thought I was hallucinating when I saw you guys flying. Who are you really?" he asked, adrenaline still pumping through his veins.
"No one special," Cloud answered. In that instant, a surge of dark energy emanated from the mountainside as Cloud caught a glimpse of black feathers. "Watch out!" he shouted, warning Chrom just in time.
Reacting instinctively, Chrom raised his arm, steeling himself for impact. Miraculously, Robin intervened, shoving Chrom to safety, but the heroic act came at a grave cost—the spell impaling his insides. Time seemed to slow down as Chrom locked eyes with Robin. The tactician was sent spiraling from the cliff's edge. Cloud's instincts kicked in, and he rushed to the brink within a heartbeat. However, Cordelia dove after him first. Cordelia's pegasus swooped low as she reached for Robin, her heart racing. "Hold on!" she called, her voice laced with urgency. Grabbing him firmly, she flared her wings to catch the wind just in time, pulling them both back from the brink.
"Thank you…" Robin grasped painfully, catching his unstable breath.
Landing softly, Lissa and Maribelle rushed over to assess Robin's situation. He was losing blood rapidly. Without hesitation, they cast Mend, stemming the flow and stabilizing Robin's condition.
Cloud turned back in the direction that the magic bullet came from. "Tsk."
"What's wrong, Blazy?" Gaius asked him.
Cloud shook his head. "The person responsible for this disappeared. You know where'd they go?"
Gaius furrowed his brow but maintained his confident demeanor. "Nope."
Cloud sighed, a hint of annoyance in his tone. "Is that so?" His eyes shifted back to see Robin sitting beside Cordelia's mount, resisting the painful, stitched-up injury.
"You have my thanks," Chrom said to Cordelia, his voice firm.
Cordelia shook her head dismissively, blushing before him. "N-no need to- Wait, now is not the time to chatter." Looking back, her heart raced in terror. "An army of Plegians will come soon! You need to take the Exalt away from here!"
"What?!" Chrom's eyes widened, disbelief striking him like a physical blow.
Phila stepped forward urgently. "Cordelia, what are you doing here?! ...Tell me our borders remain secure!" Her voice carried the authority of command, but uncertainty lingered beneath it.
"That I could, milady! But it would be false..." Cordelia's voice trembled with anger and guilt. She felt as if she had torn herself from the very fabric of her family, her knight-sisters' pleading faces still fresh in her mind. "Gangrel himself led his might against us! The end was upon us when my knight-sisters begged me to fly and warn the Exalt... I should have stayed... I should have stayed! Ah, gods, I can still hear the screams..." Her voice faintly cracked, the agony spilling forth in raw honesty.
"Peace, Cordelia. You did your duty," Phila assured, standing tall. "The sisters rightly valued your youth. You have many years ahead to keep their legacy alive."
"But I abandoned them! I'm weak... Their legacy deserves so much better," Cordelia lamented, her body shaking as the floodgates of emotion opened further. The grip of fear tightened around her heart, squeezing her with the cold hand of regret.
"Sometimes fleeing takes the most courage. They knew that. Pull yourself together. Let the faith they placed in you give you strength." Phila's words were meant to be comforting, but Cordelia, still wrestling with her inner demons, could barely find solace in them.
"But, Captain… how can I continue like this? They were my… my family…" Cordelia sobbed, trembling, her anguish palpable in the taut silence of the gathering storm.
As Severa watched her mother break down in tears, she felt guilty for bearing a grudge against her. The jealousy she had held onto for so long began to wane as she saw the vulnerability in Cordelia's eyes. She had always considered her mother a wall to overcome. But now, in this moment of weakness, Severa saw just how human Cordelia truly was, how deeply she felt the weight of loss and the burden of responsibility. A similar experience that she once had.
Clenching her fists, Severa struggled to hold back her tears, forcing herself to remain strong. She resisted the urge to rush to her mother's side to avoid revealing her true identity and risk exposing their connection.
"Damn those monsters!" Chrom cursed vehemently, fury igniting his spirit. The flicker of anger roused him from the depths of despair, feeling the fire of protectiveness blaze anew.
Emmeryn stepped forward, her gaze unwavering yet imbued with the quiet weight of inevitability. "I must return to the capital." The gravity of her words settled over them, a blanket of dread overshadowing their resolve.
"Your Grace, I cannot advise—" Phila started.
"I should never have left. If it's discovered that I'm away when this news hits… the people could panic. Riot. More Ylisseans could die unnecessarily. Here, Chrom. I entrust this to you." Emmeryn placed her hand on a unique golden shield, the Fire Emblem. This sacred relic glowed softly—a symbol of hope amidst despair.
Grabbing the ancient relic, Chrom stopped his breath for a moment. "Emm... you can't... Don't talk like that!" He protested, desperation clawing at his words, fearing for her safety.
"No part of House Ylisse matters more than the Emblem. It possesses tremendous power. But too much blood has been shed over it already. I hope it finds a better guardian in you than it did in me." Her eyes shone with unwavering conviction, yet they seemed clouded by an unfathomable depth of sorrow.
"Emm, come on, I can't let you do this!" Chrom's voice was almost a plea, trembling with unresolved pain.
"No, Chrom. I am not giving up; I am simply giving what I can."
Chrom could almost taste the bitterness of fate that laced her words. "Please! This is madness!"
"Sis, wait!" Lissa cried. "Let me go with you!"
"Lissa, stay with Chrom. I command it." The order rolled off the Exalt's tongue, fierce yet softened by affection.
"This isn't fair! It's not fair! I know our people need you, but we need you, too!" Lissa continued.
"Emmeryn..." Chrom choked.
"Emm, please!" Lissa pleaded, tears escaping her bright eyes, flowing freely.
"Dry your tears, love. This is not goodbye," Emmeryn reassured her softly.
Phila nodded, steeling herself. "Your Grace, I will accompany you to Ylisstol." Her voice was steady, but the tension in her shoulders hinted at the burden she bore.
"Very well, Phila. Thank you." Emmeryn accepted the reality of her situation with quiet grace, the pain of parting etched in every line of her face.
Frederick stepped up, determination etched on his face. "I will keep the prince and princess safe, Your Grace. You have my word." His conviction radiated strength, solidifying their resolve.
"I know you will, Frederick. Thank you." Emmeryn's appreciation flickered in her gaze.
Phila turned to her subordinate. "Cordelia, you will stay here with Chrom," she ordered.
"But, Captain—" Cordelia protested softly, feeling her soul tugged in conflicting directions.
"I know your heart is restless, but this is how it must be. Your knight sisters will remain with you in spirit, no matter where you go." Phila's words were both a command and a comfort.
"...May they give me strength. As you command, Captain. I will pray for your safety." Cordelia bowed her head, embracing the weight of her responsibilities, even as her heart ached for her fallen comrades.
Emmeryn turned to Cloud, a sympathetic glint in her eyes. "Cloud Strife, though we haven't known each other long, I want to express my gratitude for your efforts to assist us."
Cloud gave a solemn nod in response.
"Can I ask of you to continue to accompany my brother?" she asked.
...This is troublesome. I have a business to run, and further delaying my work will ruin my reputation. But at the same time, I want to prevent this future that these time travelers mentioned...
Looking at the Exalt, Cloud slightly nodded. "I will stay a little longer, but after we reach Regna Ferox, I'll have to take care of other things."
"Thank you." Emmeryn returned her gaze to her bodyguard. "Come, Phila. We must go." Emmeryn's voice was resolute as the inevitability of their choices lay heavy upon them.
"NO! You don't have to go! This is absurd!" Chrom shouted, his voice rising as panic clawed at the edges of his sanity. The thought of losing Emmeryn was unbearable.
"It's for Ylisse," Emmeryn replied.
"Walking to your own death won't bring peace, Emm! Ylisse needs you. WE need you! Be selfish just this once!" Chrom's voice cracked as he fought against the tide of despair lapping at his feet.
"I love you, Chrom. You and Lissa are my everything. As for the peace I seek… you cannot see who it is for. I have to go. I'm sorry—I truly am. Let's embrace again safely in Ylisstol when you arrive with Feroxi reinforcements. I know you will come."
Each word struck Chrom like a dagger, deepening the chasm that suddenly yawned between them. "...This is a terrible plan," Chrom whispered, fear gripping his heart as confusion blossomed alongside dread.
"The blood of the first Exalt flows strong in us. You and I will ensure Ylisse is safe. I have faith in that." The conviction in her voice stood in stark contrast to the uneasy turmoil in his mind.
"Emm... Emm?!" Chrom's voice broke as he grasped for her.
With Emmeryn's final glance, she turned away, stepping into the unknown as Phila followed closely behind.
Chrom stood frozen, his heart pounding as the weight of loss settled in. "Emm..." he whispered, watching them fly back to the capital. A mixture of emotions swirled within him, each heartbeat punctuating the silence left in their wake. The bitter taste of impending conflict churned like a storm within him, a reminder that he needed to take action now. "Right," Chrom turned his attention to the Shepherds, "Let's make haste to Regna Ferox!"
The Shepherds settled in for the night, tired from today's fight. Robin, who received the most severe injuries, lay down in his own bedroll, trying to ease the tension in his aching muscles. The flickering firelight in his lamp danced about. As he adjusted, a soft voice broke through his tent. "Are you okay?"
Robin opened his eyes to see a woman standing a few paces away. Her crimson hair caught the light and framed her face beautifully. He had heard stories from Sumia about Cordelia, the talented pegasus knight, but this was the first time they had been introduced. "I'm doing better than I look," Robin said, managing a wry smile. "Just a few scrapes and bruises. It's nothing I can't handle."
"Liar," she replied, her expression a mix of concern. "A dark magic has impaled close to your heart." She stepped closer, her gaze steady as she assessed him. "You almost died."
"It's nothing really, Cordelia," he said. "Did you come here to pity me?"
Cordelia's brow furrowed, her concern palpable. "Pity? Not at all. I know how it feels to face battle after battle, losing friends and companions. You almost died for your friend," she replied, her voice thick with regret. "I wished I had enough strength to do the same. That fight—so many lives faded from my eyes."
Robin shifted, the weight of her words pressing down on him. He could see the pain in her eyes, the echoes of loss etched into her very being. "You seem to carry a heavy heart," Robin observed, intrigued by her vulnerability despite the distance of their newly formed acquaintance.
Cordelia nodded, her gaze drifting for a moment before returning to his. "I lost my sisters that day. They were fighting bravely, but ultimately... I didn't get to help them when they needed me most," she confessed, her voice quaking slightly. "I was forced to warn the Exalt instead. It feels like it was a worthless choice—they deserved my loyalty at their side. I should have stayed to fight."
Robin hesitated, considering her turmoil. "This might not be my place to say this, but you did what you thought was right, Cordelia. Sometimes, we have to make choices for the greater good, even when they feel selfish in hindsight. You stayed alive to warn the Exalt of an urgent problem; that's honorable, not weak."
"But it feels like running away," she insisted, clenching her fists. "They deserved better. I wanted to be there for them."
"It's true. We can't change the past, but we can honor those we've lost by continuing to fight for a better tomorrow," he said, finding a sense of conviction within himself. He hadn't known Cordelia long, but he felt drawn to her struggle and her strength.
Cordelia met Robin's gaze, her eyes glimmering softly in the firelight. "You speak with wisdom," she noted, her voice steadier. "But who are you, really? I've just joined the Shepherds. I hardly know any of you except for Sumia. You seem to know how to inspire others."
Robin's smile gave a hint of warmth. "I'm Robin, the tactician of this group. Strategizing isn't about knowing everything; it's about making choices, rallying those around you, and working together."
Before Cordelia could respond, the air shifted slightly as Severa entered the tent, arms crossed over her chest. "What're you two whispering about?" she asked, her face filled with curiosity. "A love confession already?"
Cordelia shook her head in denial. "No. Where did you get that idea?"
"I…" Severa grunted in frustration. "It's not fair that Mirage is the only one that gets to experience it," she grumbled.
Cordelia glanced at her. "What was it?"
Unable to contain her emotions, Severa jumped on Cordelia, embracing her tightly. "I don't care what she says. I'm finally back, Mother!"
"Huh?" Cordelia was in complete shock. "What are you doing? I'm not your Mother!"
Severa released her. "Yes, you are! Um, take a look at this ring."
Cordelia picked it up. "I don't understand." Observing every area, the ring seemed to be almost worn out; it wasn't recently made. She found words engraved beneath it. "Robin & Cordelia…" She glanced at Robin's confused face. "You're lying."
Too weak to stand up, Robin turned his attention towards Severa. "You are saying that I and Cordelia are married?" He coughed. "I'm sorry, but I find that hard to believe."
"Of course it is. That's because you guys marry in the future, and I was born as your daughter, Severa."
Cordelia's gaze flickered between Robin and Severa, trying to piece together the absurdity of the moment while the weight of reality pressed down on her. "Wait, you're serious? We… got married? And I… I'm supposed to believe you're my daughter?" Her voice trembled between disbelief and intrigue.
Severa nodded earnestly, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Yes! And… um, well, sometimes time travel stuff is complicated." She shifted, her bravado wavering for a heartbeat. "But it's true! You have to believe me!"
Robin cleared his throat, trying to regain some composure. "This is a lot to take in. I… I've never considered… well, being a father, let alone to a child born in another timeline."
"Neither have I!" Cordelia exclaimed, clasping her hands together nervously. "I mean, I've never even thought about what it would be like to have… children. I've always been focused on my duties." She looked down at the ring, pondering the implications of such a reality—if it was even true.
"I know it's strange," Severa admitted, her cheeks warm. "But… it's nice to finally meet you again." She took a step back, taking a breath, the nervousness dissipating as curiosity seeped in. "Maybe we can create new memories here—"
"Severa… This is a bit much," Cordelia interrupted, her voice showing doubt. "I'm not sure how to process this. I thought about Chrom—"
Severa snapped. "Is that all you think about?!" She marched out of the tent, leaving them with more confusion.
As Severa stormed out, her frustration was evident. Cordelia felt a pang of regret. She had never intended to upset her daughter or dismiss the bond they shared. Moments later, Robin broke the silence that followed. "I think we should give her some space," he suggested cautiously.
"Yeah," Cordelia agreed, though she felt a twinge of guilt. Looking at the ring, she shook her head. "If this is true... I just… I don't know how to be a mother. This is just too sudden."
Robin nodded. "You and me both."
Opening his eyes, Cloud saw a familiar friend stepping out of the crystal cave. "Vincent?" Looking around, everything felt strange. "Where am I?"
Suddenly, a sharp chill enveloped him, and the world twisted into a heavy haze. The soft glow of the sun's light faded, swallowed by a cloak of gray mist that curled around his feet like restless spirits. As he looked around, everything felt impossibly distant—foreign and eerily familiar. The air was biting cold, and he shivered involuntarily. Uncertain shadows flickered at the edges of his vision, blurring the line between nightmare and reality. Somewhere in the depths of the haze, he sensed a figure approach.
It was Vincent, though he seemed almost ethereal, wrapped in the same swirling fog surrounding them. His crimson eyes glinted with an ominous intensity. His gaze focused as if he were on a mission transcending the mundane. "This way," he called, his voice cutting through the fog like a blade.
"Vincent?" Cloud replied, his voice sounding distorted in the dense air. "What's happening? Where are we?"
"We're near Lucrecia's Cave," Vincent replied matter-of-factly as if discussing the weather. He strode forward with purpose, undeterred by the heavy atmosphere. "Follow me."
Cloud felt a pull toward Vincent as if the gravity of his presence grounded him in this dreamlike state. He stumbled after Vincent, the cold gnawing at him with each step. As they moved through the haze, visions began to flicker to life—a series of disjointed memories reflecting moments he had almost forgotten.
Suddenly, they stood on the high ruins of Midgar, covered in frost and silence. In this surreal version of his past, the familiar skyline was replaced by an icy, desolate wasteland where shadows lingered. The streets were eerily still, echoing with the distant sounds of whispered voices—laughter and cries intermingled, reverberating through the air.
"Do you hear them?" Vincent asked, his voice sharp against the cold. "The echoes of those you lost?"
Cloud nodded, feeling the weight of memories pressing upon him. "Zack… Aerith…" The names slipped from his lips like an incantation, conjuring those who had been such a vital part of his life. They flickered in the mist, silhouettes of a time that felt close and infinitely out of reach.
But Vincent remained unfazed, guiding Cloud deeper into the chilling fog. They passed through disjointed images—the cold night covered the Forgotten Capital, the voices haunting the absence of the ones he had failed to protect. The scenery morphed again, and he found himself in a vast, icy expanse, vast and silent, save for the soft crunch of snow beneath their feet.
"Why does it feel so cold?" Cloud asked, patting his arms for warmth.
"Because it reflects Him," Vincent murmured, his tone distant yet piercingly clear. "The cold is a relentless echo, a resentment that refuses to give up."
As they walked, shadows stretched and distorted, causing Vincent to disappear. The air thickened with tension, the fog swirling around him, giving birth to a ghostly visage—the One-Winged Angel, overwhelming and eternal, bathed in the pale light of the frozen surroundings. He stood unmoving, a specter of Cloud's enemy and fear, his presence a chilling reminder of battles half-won.
Cloud stepped back, faltering slightly. "Sephiroth... Why... I thought I'd gotten rid of you!"
"Come. Fight me," Sephiroth's voice echoed, rippling through the haze. "Where is your resolve?"
With every word, the cold deepened, pricking at Cloud's heart. Cloud hesitated, the weight of his past pressing against him, but remembering all his old and new friends and family, he found a flicker of strength. "No," he replied, determination rising within him. "I won't submit to you."
In a heartbeat, he charged forward, facing Sephiroth, who regarded him with a sinister smirk. The chill deepened, slowing Cloud's movements in the cold fog. The mist began to transform into the very same snowy forest he had woken up in the new world, close to Regna Ferox's borders.
Sephiroth slashed the floor, shattering the world beneath them into a million pieces and consuming Cloud into an endless void. "Don't let anyone fool you, Cloud. This world is not real… Your soul may be confused, but we will become one soon enough."
Cloud jolted awake, the cold mist of his dream lingering as a memory. He lay on his blanket, breathing rapidly as he stared at the ceiling of his tent.
"Cloud?" Olivia turned her sleeping position towards him, her sleepy face showing concern. "Are you okay?"
He covered his glowing eyes with his hands. "I'm okay. Just had a bad dream." Cloud took a moment to steady his breathing, the remnants of the dream still gripping at the edges of his consciousness. The vision of Sephiroth loomed large in his mind, a chilling reminder of the battles he had fought and the losses he had endured. He felt the weight of that icy desolation still clinging to him as if the darkness from his sleep had seeped into reality.
"Are you sure? You seemed restless," Olivia pressed, her voice laced with genuine concern. She shifted closer, propping herself up on one elbow, her gaze searching his face. "Want to talk?"
Cloud shook his head, feeling the heaviness settle on his chest. "It's nothing. Just… old ghosts." He offered a faint smile.
Olivia, ever perceptive, didn't press further. Instead, she reached out, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "If you ever do want to talk, I'm here." The sincerity in her voice momentarily dispelled the shadows lingering in his heart.
"Thanks, Olivia," he said, grateful for her unwavering support. Moments like these reminded him that he wasn't alone, even when the specter of his past threatened to drag him back into that abyss.
Rising from his bedroll, Cloud's gaze shifted back to Mirage, who was sleeping on the other side of Olivia. Her brow furrowed as if she were locked in a silent battle of her own. He felt guilty, knowing all too well that she carried the same Jenova cells as him. As a result, the same kind of nightmares haunted them both. "Mirage…" he whispered, but the sound barely pierced the stillness of the tent. He hesitated, unsure if he should wake her. It was clear she was suffering; the faint tremors of her expression told tales of her struggles.
"Hm? What about Mirage?" Olivia asked.
Cloud shook his head. "I can't understand what my future self was thinking when deciding to have a child."
Olivia's heart sank at Cloud's words. "You… you don't mean that," she stammered, feeling a wave of depression wash over her. "You can't possibly hate her."
"Sorry. I didn't mean that," Cloud quickly replied. "The thing is, this abnormal strength I possess isn't because of simply training all day. It's because my blood has been cursed. And bringing a child into this world? It feels like I've doomed her to a life of agony just like mine."
"…I see," Olivia said softly. "What so bad about this curse?"
He gripped his hand. "…A man by the name of Sephiroth once used to bring despair to the whole world. My blood has been fused with his, making him able to control my body and give me severe hallucinations. Fortunately, my friends and I removed the world-ending threat from existence. Nevertheless, Sephiroth would still sometimes appear in my dreams, haunting me and sometimes possessing my body for a mere second. I didn't know how he was still doing it, but I avoided telling anyone about my ongoing condition, hoping that I would find a cure. Well, until now."
Olivia listened intently, her heart heavy with the weight of Cloud's confession. The shadows of his past and the curse that loomed over him felt suffocating. "I can't imagine what that must be like for you—to carry that burden." Her voice was gentle yet firm as if she were trying to provide him with some semblance of comfort.
"It's a nightmare I can't escape," he replied, his gaze drifting to the ground. "And now our children have to suffer the same fate."
"Cloud…" Olivia began, her voice woven with empathy. "You're not alone in this... She has you to protect her, and from what you said, you've fought against this curse before. You can do it again."
"And that's why I'm here," Mirage suddenly added, her voice cutting through the quiet as she stirred awake.
Startled, Olivia jumped and instinctively hugged Cloud's arm tightly, her heart racing. "You scared me!" she exclaimed, cheeks flushing with surprise. Cloud, slightly taken aback, couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction.
Mirage, looking groggy but resolute, sitting up. "I overheard you two talking while I was drifting out of sleep," she said, her expression severe yet conveying warmth. "I know I carry the same blood that haunts you since you've used to explain it to us. The fallen angel within me is persistent, but I refuse to succumb to his lies… Father, I didn't just come from the future to stop Grima but also to prevent your defeat against Sephiroth."
"Sephiroth…" Cloud's attention turned fully to Mirage as he watched the determination in her eyes. "Do you know how my defeat came to be?"
Mirage shook her head. "No, we were still young, unable to fight, when you went with the Shepherds to fight Grima's wrath. By the time we grew older in that depressing world, we found the surviving Shepherds… They were brutally tortured by that monster. I saw Mom there and..." She frowned at the thought. "To put it simply, they were beyond saving. I eventually found you, Dad, on the burnt battlefield with my brother. Your skin was frozen white, slowly disappearing. Before you faded away, you gave us your Fusion Sword." She gripped her hands. "I know it was Sephiroth doing. I will never forgive him."
Cloud's heart raced as he absorbed Mirage's words, the weight of her revelation sinking deep into his chest. "That's," his expression shifting from concern to fierce resolve. "I won't let that happen again. I will protect you and anyone else who stands by my side."
Mirage's determination ignited a flicker of hope, pushing back against the shadows that had often haunted her mind. "Thanks," she said, her fiery spirit shining through.
Olivia, recognizing the strength in their unity, felt a surge of courage within herself. Still clinging on to him, she looked up at Cloud's eyes. "I'm also here for you. We will stand against Sephiroth, Grima, and any other bad guys that will threaten us."
Cloud looked between them, gratitude swelling in his chest.