Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Mako Dreams ❯ Holy ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

"Cloud..."

"Aeris."

He found himself in a strange place, a small platform surrounded by a cool and crystalline world. Aeris kneeled there in prayer. He looked around slowly.

His head felt light.

Aeris turned her head to him, looking up with wide and troubled eyes of turquoise, nearly crying.

"Cloud..."

He didn't know what to say, to do. He reached his hand for her. She spoke again.

"Holy..."

---

He shot up from the bed, sitting and panting for air. The air was cold, his body was hot. He reached over, jostling Tifa's shoulder.

"Tifa," he spoke in concern. "Aeris."

Not waiting for a reply, he came to sit on the bed's edge, dragging on his pants, his shirt. He walked to the door, the noise of it banging shut nullifying the silence momentarily.

---

"You came," Aeris said, leaning her head forward.

The sun was out. The clouds were out as well. The sky was a vivid blue.

"Aeris," he spoke.

The two could hear each other over the bustling populace.

"Cloud," she said, bowing her head in troubled sincerity.

A protrusion formed between her eyes. Long, curved, pointed.

"...Aeris?" he asked, wary, afraid.

"Cloud..."

People passed them by. The world passed them by.

"Holy."

---

"Cloud!" Barret yelled. "What the hell?"

Cloud sat in front of a mirror, fixing his hair. Makeup. Accessories. Glamour.

"I don't care," Cloud said, shrugging.

"@#$%!"

---

It was dark, everyone was cleared out. She waited, sitting on the counter, feet not reaching the floor.

She'd see him once more. One last time.

He walked into the room. She looked to him, taking him in.

"Sephiroth..." she said.

"Tifa."

He stopped halfway to her. She slid to her feet, taking steps closer. He turned his back to her, only to feel her embrace from behind, her head on his back.

"Are you a killer?" she asked, longing.

"I'm a shadow," he said.

She tugged him closer, desperately.

"Are you going?" she asked, longing yet.

"I'm already gone," he said, pulling away.

She watched him leave, eyes growing damp.

"I'll be on AIM tonight," he told her before fading out the door.

---

His sword was over his shoulder. More soldiers were dead at his feet. It was all just a game.

His phone rang.

"Cloud," he said into it evenly.

"Cloud."

The sounds of combat echoed in the distance.

"Vincent?" Cloud asked.

"Vincent."

Silence fell. Cloud began to walk onward.

"I have to go," Vincent said.

Cloud put his phone away.

---

He walked forward, into the forest. A dragonfly glinted as it darted about... glinted?

"Cloud..."

He looked around. Thin trees reached for the sky, the air thinly veiled by fog.

"Are you following me?"

His head lowered as he stared ahead and thought.

He nodded.

"I'm looking for it, Cloud."

"Looking for...?"

"Looking for Holy."

He looked around. His whole life was looking around.

"In this place...?"

"Dragonfly."

---

Cid leaned against the stone bridge, his spear propped alongside him. Water ran underneath, smoke poured out of Cid's mouth.

The reflection of the sun wobbled upon the sea.

"Cid," Cloud said, approaching, leaning a few feet beside him.

"Hey," Cid said with a nod.

"Got a light?" Cloud asked.

He pulled out a cigarette.

Cid almost fell over. "The hell? Since when did your $#@% ass start smokin'?!"

Cloud stepped up to Cid and raised his hand. He slapped the man hard across the face, jarring him.

"You know what?" Cloud said. "Shut the fuck up, seriously."

Cid's half-burnt cigarette hit the ground.

"What the--"

"No!" Cloud snapped. "I'm fucking serious! I'm so fucking sick of you."

Cloud was angry. He stormed away.

Yuffie came walking along, taking big steps. Her arms were behind her head and she was grinning.

Cloud stared at her. She stopped, unsure.

"You are so fucking next," he said.

---

"Mother..."

That place again. He recognized it.

"No..."

Why was he here?

"I'm sorry, if this wasn't enough... then..."

Doom.

It was a sound effect.

Doom.

It was heard again.

Sephiroth was kneeling in prayer. It was this place again. Cloud knew it to be so.

Doom.

Cloud raised up his sword overhead. His arms were trembling. The sword was steady.

Doom.

No...

He swung his arms to the left, holding the sword like a bat. Arms trembling, sword steady.

Not like this...!

Doom.

To the right. To the left. Down...? Arms trembling, sword straight.

My head... Oh, God... my head...

Doom.

It was still a sound effect.

Sword up again. Ready to swing. Ready to cut in two. Ready to cut Sephiroth.

No... No!!!

Ringing flooded his mind. The sword clattered to the ground. Cloud fell to his knees and clutched his head in agony.

Sephiroth didn't notice. But then, he lifted his head.

Doom.

Something was in the air. So high, unseen. Death.

Aeris descended from above, dress rippling as she fell. Sephiroth could only watch. She lowered her head, her horn facing him.

DOOM.

Aeris impaled Sephiroth's helpless body upon the weapon between her eyes. Sephiroth's eyes went wide and he fell backward as she drew out her bloody prong from his form.

Tears ran down the sides of his face. He voiced words for the last time.

"Holy..."

Cloud came to his senses, all too late. He kneeled over Sephiroth's lifeless body, shaking.

"Cloud..."

"...Shut up."

Cloud rose and looked down upon Sephiroth's body with utter disdain, kicking it off the platform. He turned to Aeris.

"Sephiroth is dead. He'll never laugh... or cry again."

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