Chapter Text
“Hel~lo!” Cloud heard the soft voice speak above him and let out a sigh as he felt warmth around him pulling at his healing wounds.
Letting out a mumbled “Mother?” was met with two equally warm chuckles, one deeper than the other as two hands lifted his shoulders up so he was sitting up.
“Why does everyone think I am their mother?” Aerith hummed one hand on her cheek with a smile on her face when Cloud opened his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye a cross shaped scar appeared with a chuckle.
“I don’t know maybe we can adopt this one?” Zack said leaning back slightly from where he helped his best friend find his feet. Not that it was easy to do when you were surrounded by lazily flowing sea green lights and there was no floor. Cloud starred as Zack slowly moved over to where he was standing side by side with Aerith.
Aerith green eyes soften as she and Zack held out a hand towards Cloud who instantly took both. “Think this one is a little too old to adopt.”
“Aerith, Zack” If Clouds voice wavered on their names neither of them would ever mention it. Before he could open his mouth to speak again, she rose her hand that wasn’t holding his and put a finger in his face.
“Not so fast, don’t even think about it buddy. No apologies today!” lowering her hand that was when Cloud noticed something strange. The Lifestream was full of soft light that was constantly moving and flowing around them, tugging at their clothing and even Tsurugi on his back but three very small lights were twirling around her dress without going along the other lights of the Lifestream. The colors were off as well compared to the soft green that surrounded them. One was a sea blue that hovered against the brown of Aerith boot, the second was teal color that stood out against the pink of her dress, The last was hovering at the end of her braid and was a deep earthy green. Something about the three lights tugged at Cloud’s mind.
“About that…” Aerith turned sheepish and it was Zack who nodded towards the lights and even playfully pushed the deep green one that was drifting towards him away. “You have a decision to make as we are running out of time.”
“What is going on?” Cloud looked between the two and Zack spoke first.
“Your nearly healed” he motioned his free hand towards the almost completely healed cut on Clouds arm. “Your Alive and so you have no place here. It is nearly time for you to go back.” Zack looked sad for a second before his smile was back full force. “Your friends are waiting for you.”
Frowning down at their still joined hands. “You said a choice?” he asked and Aerith cleared her throat.
“That’s right, A choice and one only you can make. These three are the remnants of Sephiroth.” At the name Cloud flinched slightly and it was only noticeable because they were holding his hands. Zack squeezed his hand as she continued. “They are only Fragments and will not last long here. If they vanish then He will come back complete this time. But if they become full souls then the link between them and Sephiroth will be broken.” The Sea blue one drifted slowly over into Clouds face and moved around his spikey hair. Cloud eyed it like a gun was about to be pulled from the small ball of light but it just drifted around his head slowly.
“If I send them to another world where they can grow into full souls then He would have nothing to form from and can fully be absorbed by the Lifestream however…” she trailed off and her eyes turned sad. “They will need someone to guide them. They know only that of what Jenova willed and that was to be the gateway between the Lifestream and Sephiroth. Alone they will have no chance to grow.”
“You want me to…” Cloud couldn’t finish the sentence as Zack spoke.
“You don’t have to. You can go back to your friends. While they might not become full souls they should last a few years or so before fading. That will give you a chance to prepare and you have defeated him before. This time you will be ready!”
“what about the Geo-stigma?” Cloud was trying to use his shoulder as both his hands were occupied to motion to the patch of black that was crawling across his skin but when he glanced down he found it was gone. Only a small silvery scar that was already fading away as they spoke under the soft pink ribbon.
“Taken care of” Aerith said gleefully as she raised her other hand pointing at herself. “You created a temporary bridge crossing over like you did and it let me send a little gift over there. They are all healed and will not be affected anymore, I am sure they loved the surprise shower I gave.”
There was a pause as neither of them said anything more. They were leaving the choice to him and were more than willing to give him time to gather his thoughts. When the moment seemed to stretch Aerith started to swing her hand that was holding his slightly. Zack noticed and did the same thing as they both shared a smile.
“Another world?” He eventually asked and they both smiled as she explained.
“It is like ours but different. Gaia can not send souls that already exist there. If two of the same soul were both alive at the same time it would tear the two souls apart trying to remove them. Luckily as fragments and not full souls this is not a problem for them but for you. There is one world that has the same history as ours with one difference. The Cloud there died at birth.”
Zack shook their joined hands as he spoke. “Since there is no Cloud there, we can send you there without worry. And don’t you worry about your friends here. We will let them know if you decide to go.”
“It will be hard, Since no one will know you. The connections you have with the others will not be there, there will be no history.” With a cheerful little hop Aerith raised their joined hands as well as Zacks. “But knowing you, will make connections again. You’re my bodyguard right and this time you will be their bodyguard! Only the best will do.” ”
The sigh Cloud let out was more a deep exhale and it sent the teal light spiraling away where it was drifting near them. “Alright” It was one word but it made the two of them beam brightly. Aerith quickly let go of his and quickly went about shooing the three balls of light close together.
Zack distracted him however when he let go of his hand and surged forward dragging the other into a large hug and ruffling golden spikes. “I am so proud of you Spike, I know it will be hard but you got this.” Warmth filled Cloud at the words and even he couldn’t hide the soft smile on his face. Aerith snatched up the three lights in the palm of her hand once they had been gathered and them folded her hands in prayer. The Lifeforce around them surged and started to flow down a different path like a river that had a floodgate open.
The smile on her face was fierce as she took a pitcher stance and then tossed the three lights as hard as she could into the new path. Turning towards the other two she held up a V as the three lights vanished into the Lifestream. “Now for you! Better hurry before it closes.” She briefly hugged her startled cloud even as Zack wrapped his arms around Cloud and lifted him directly up like a sack of flour.
“Wait What!” Cloud spoke as Zack lifted him above his head. “Hold on!” Before he could say another word he was pitched forward soaring through the air. “Zack! Aerith!” The lifeforce surged around him and cut off his scream but he still saw as Zack gave Aerith a big high-five before he was surrounded by green.