Zack reacted the fastest, flat side of his sword clashing with Masamune over Cloud's head.

Vibrations ran down his fingers, jarred his bones and wrenched his arms out their sockets, but somehow Zack kept up his sword. Maybe it was because his muscles remembered Sephiroth being lightning fast and every strike a hair's breadth from severing Zack's head, but really it was probably because of Cloud. The blond's face was red going on purple, his sputters and croaks getting fainter and fainter as his oxygen depleted.

"You again, insect?"

Acid green eyes met his and not Sephiroth smirked. It couldn't be the real Sephiroth, this wasn't the Sephiroth he knew. The general's grin showed too much teeth, nothing like the little quirk of Seph's lips when he feigned annoyance, but was inwardly amused. And his eyes, those catty eyes were unadulterated green, pupils dilated in manic pleasure.

Zack bared his teeth at the impostor. "Let him go!" He shoved up, muscles straining, yet Masamune didn't budge.

Fear wracked his heart as Cloud ceased clawing at Sephiroth's hand, arms falling while the light in his blue eyes dimmed.

"Cloud!" Zack stared fearfully at the cadet and fake-Sephiroth laughed.

Zack gritted his teeth, glaring at the impostor as he dug his heels into the tube beneath him and gave it his all to force Sephiroth's sword up. Even when it didn't budge, Zack kept pushing because Cloud was dying. Dying. I have to save him!

A silver blur whizzed towards Sephiroth's legs and the general dodged it, leaping back while Zack took advantage of the First's distraction to shove Masamune aside.

The shuriken arched back to Cissnei's hand as she stood at the bottom of the red tube, fierce determination carved into her face while she held up her weapon.

Sephiroth ignored her as Vincent reentered the room, Zack having last seen the ex-Turk run out to catch Tifa. Whether the girl was alive or dead, Zack couldn't tell from Vincent's cool expression while he aimed his gun at Sephiroth's head, nor could he dwell on it as Cloud hung limp in Sephiroth's grasp.

"So you are here as well." Not-Sephiroth chuckled, glare sliding down to the unconscious infantryman. "Now you get to watch me kill one more of these insects you cherish."

The corners of the room blurred, Zack's vision going red at the sight of Sephiroth sneering at Cloud's limp body. The impostor noticed, Sephiroth's grip slackening just enough for Cloud to breathe while something snapped in Zack's chest and he growled. "Jenova!"

Sephiroth scoffed, and Cissnei seeing this as an opening, hurled her shuriken at Sephiroth's back while Vincent shot at his feet, yet Sephiroth's arm blurred, his katana blocking the bullets as something tall and feathery erupted from his back, knocking the shuriken away. It took a second to register there was a black wing sticking out of Sephiroth's backside as the shuriken lodged itself in Jenova's container, fracturing the glass.

Cissnei gasped, Vincent's eyes narrowed and Zack tensed.

"I am no Jenova." Sephiroth smirked and waved a hand over himself. "Although, I am certain Jenova holds some sway over this body, for why else would your Sephiroth send all the other townspeople to safety except this inferior dullard?" He shook Cloud while Zack's rage ebbed into shock.

"You..." Zack exhaled breathily, eyes widening. "You're the Sephiroth from the future!"

Sephiroth's brow rose, impressed. "And you are not as foolish as the original Fair, though tell me-"

"Look out!" Cissnei cried, but their swords were already clashing, white sparks blinding Zack as he struggled to hold back Future-Sephiroth.

"Will you die as easily as him?" Sephiroth smirked, and to Zack's horror, tossed Cloud aside towards the mako pools below.

"No!" Zack watched the blond plummet to the lower levels and it costed him, Sephiroth successfully ramming him back.

The First shouted, flying into the smaller body behind him, and Cissnei cried out as she was sent tumbling out the room. Yet Zack couldn't so much as face her before Sephiroth struck the air, producing a wave of white-hot energy that surged towards him. The First yelled when the energy struck his torso and knocked him over the edge. He fell upside down to the reactor's sub level, barely twisting himself upright in time to land in a crouch on the glass platform below.

Zack grunted as he straightened, and tensed upon hearing footsteps tapping along the floor, only for his heart to ease at the sight of Vincent before him with Cloud hanging off his side. "You caught him?"

Vincent nodded and Zack hurriedly cast cura on the boy, bruises vanishing from Cloud's neck though his eyes remained close. A black feather floating down between them cut off any chance of conversation as Vincent and Zack leapt left, Sephiroth floating down to the spot they had occupied.

Zack swiftly raised his sword in front of them. "Get Cloud out of here!"

Sephiroth's lips curled as he watched Vincent leap into the air with Cloud, but did not give chase as his focus returned to Zack. "That won't save him." He smirked. "Just like nothing can save you." He shifted to a two-handed hold and leveled Masamune at Zack's neck.

Zack's own grip tightened. "Even if you are the Sephiroth of the future," his eyes narrowed. "You're not the Sephiroth of now, which means you've hijacked my friend's body." Future-Sephiroth sneered and fury darkened Zack's face. "And I'm getting him back!"

With a battle cry Zack lunged, buster sword slicing down at Sephiroth's wing.

Aerith was angry at first. Seeing all those fangirls crying over her Zack, as if they knew him. As if his eyes lit up at the sight of them in pink, freedom tingling their tongues and strong arms twined around their hips. As if they tasted his kiss, honey and spice bearing down on their lips, smearing their gloss and spreading glitter to their cheeks.

She wanted the anger to fester, to keep her blood hot, but as she scrolled through the fan club message board and read the honest anecdotes:

He always smiled at me and the other lobby receptionists,

I never gave up on my dream because of his speech,

He saved me from monsters and wouldn't accept any payment,

Zack Fair was my hero...

Aerith ended up smiling at her phone, a happy tear running down her cheek and a watery chuckle escaping her. It didn't matter if these people actually met Zack or watched him from afar, their admiration was genuine, their sorrow was genuine.

They were wrong of course, Zack was not dead, but she couldn't tell them that and expect them to believe her. Still, she pitied them, yearned to help them move on. It was agony being trapped by one's own despair, Aerith knew, so she typed.

Subject: Honoring Zack Fair

From: Lilyan Rose (Official Club Member)

To all those seeking to pay their respects to Zack Fair, you are invited to attend his memorial service at the Sector 5 slum church from 5-6pm this Friday. Spread the word of this event so all those interested may attend, and feel free to prepare speeches and bring flowers in Zack's honor.

Plastic flowers can be found at most item shops, however, if you want real flowers, please see the flower girl on the corner of Loveless Avenue. She sells there Monday-Friday from 8am-12pm and at the Sector 6 slum park between 3-7pm. Prices are 1 gil per flower and 7 gil per bouquet.

I hope to see you all there!

Aerith read the message, nodded, hit send, and got to work.

Every strike was lightning.

The atmosphere crackled and oxygen atoms ruptured as Sephiroth's katana cut through the air. Regardless of their blades connecting or not, Masamune sang like a thunder clap, leaving Zack deaf to everything save his ragged breaths.

He tried putting some distance between them, casting fire on the silver-haired demon, but didn't even singe the ends of Sephiroth's hair as the man seemed to teleport behind him. Zack swiftly ducked the blade thrust towards his neck, ignoring how the katana chopped off tufts of his bang, and launched himself up, sword falling down on Sephiroth's shoulder.

The man evaded and Zack hurriedly cast cura upon himself when a green halo illuminated the general's body. He was only given time to notice Sephiroth's two-handed grip on Masamune prior to a flurry of silver rushing towards him. Zack wielded his sword like a shield, yet the force behind the strikes propelled him into the air. He barely oriented himself when he glimpsed black feathers and Sephiroth struck him from above, younger First crying out as he smashed into the glass below.

Zack swiftly hopped to his feet, but there was a sharp cracking noise beneath him. He looked down right as the floor shattered and he entered a free fall. The First caught the rim of the bridge that been under the glass platform and flung himself up.

Yet the beast was upon him, Future-Sephiroth smirking in Zack's face as the buster sword flew in front of him not fast enough to stop Masamune from impaling his shoulder. He bit back a yell and twisted away, landing less than gracefully on the bridge edge. Sephiroth drifted down across him, flexing his black wing while blood streamed down Zack's arm and cooled his overheated skin.

The First forced himself to lift his sword, knowing there was nothing save a deadly mako bath awaiting him if Sephiroth managed to push him back. He didn't dare try casting cura since his SOLDIER body was already healing, though his enhancements did nothing to diminish the pain. Every breath felt like swallowing razors and sweat stung his eyes like acid. He wondered if the others were faring better, if Tifa and Cissnei were okay. What about Cloud? And Vincent too?

"The original Fair proved a far better diversion than you." Future-Seph taunted, skin unmarred by sweat or injury.

It wasn't a just comparison. Not only was Future-Sephiroth more experienced, but he fought and likely beaten a Zack Fair before while Zack had never engaged a Sephiroth outside of a simulation. Really, this Sephiroth probably knew all of Zack's moves before even Zack did.

Sephiroth's eyes lit up, green eyes bright as he grinned. "I was going to kill you in front of Strife." Zack exhaled through his teeth, yet was too winded to retort. "Make him watch you die all over again..." Zack gagged at the image conjured up, and distracted, only heard the sonic boom prior to seeing the winged-man suddenly a foot away. "But I suppose showing him your corpse will suffice."

Zack screamed as Masamune sliced into his side, tearing through rib bones and flesh while hurling him high into the air. He screamed again as he landed on the metal platform before Jenova, shattered ribcage stabbing his organs and splicing his veins. He tried pushing himself up, hearing a Voice in the distance, You okay?!, but then Sephiroth was looming over him and his buster sword was nowhere to be seen. The general's lips moved as he mocked Zack, yet he couldn't make out the words before Masamune plunged down.

Zack choked as it pierced his chest, splicing bone from marrow, and there was definitely someone screaming or was that himself? He didn't know anymore, everything was black and he couldn't even feel his heartbeat or the blood gushing out his chest as the katana tore free of his torso.

Zack wasn't dead. No, he knew what dead felt like and this wasn't it, but he also knew what dying felt like and this...

This certainly was that.

"Oh, no, nononono." Aerith's head shook, hands cupping her horrified face and nails digging into her cheeks as she gazed at the church garden.

Once green leaves were brown and wrinkled, petals dull or missing while some flowers lied on the dirt, black and rotting. Her garden, her precious garden was dead. What had she done?!

Tears flooded Aerith's eyes as she sunk to her knees, quivering arm reaching out to a sickly daffodil and hand fingering its stem. A petal snapped off, fluttering to the earth and a choked wail burst out of her lungs. Her spirit caved into itself and she bowed her head, hands clasping her shoulders as she hugged herself.

She never noticed her flowers dying. It wasn't until this morning she bothered to look at the ones outside her house and saw their withered appearance. Her mother must have been watering them, sparing her house flowers from the horror her church flowers endured.

This was terrible. She promised the entirety of Zack's fan club she would be flower-selling ready by Monday, thought two days was plenty of time to reverse any damage incurred by her negligence, but this...this would take a miracle.

Aerith's teeth clacked together, a sudden ferocity boiling under her skin as her face tilted towards the sun, tears streaming from her eyes as she banged a fist on the floor.

No, there wasn't time to wait for a miracle. Waiting didn't get anybody anywhere.

Waiting didn't bring Zack back.

Aerith got up, scrubbing the tears from her eyes. Her flowers needed her, needed her to get to work. Aerith was going to fix this mess, hold nothing back and spend all night if she had to cultivating these flowers.

Aerith regarded the flowerbed, forcing herself to examine the decimated garden, and quietly accepted some flowers were simply unsalvageable.

So she uprooted all plants devoid of green and piled their carcasses on the front pew.

She hunted down the sickly and spoiled them rotten, her fingers massaging their roots.

She went shopping and returned to scatter nutrients across the soil before replanting the flowers, the Planet kindly sprinkling rain on them while Aerith took a break.

Then she got down on her knees and willed life into Midgar's dead earth. It was instinct, her soul calling to the Planet and begging for the soil's stilled heart to beat once more. It was energy consuming, requiring much focus and even more time than usual since her garden was in such dire straits.

So maybe that was why she fainted halfway through the process.

When Aerith woke up, she was sitting in a pew with a fluffy blue blanket pulled up to her shoulders. The dead flowers were missing without a trace and in front of her were two flower wagons, one a simple brown cart and the other a metallic monstrosity gleaming in the sunlight.

Aerith blinked, blanket sliding into her lap as she leaned towards the wagons and discovered a paper bag in the plain one. After fishing inside, she pulled out a chocolate muffin as well as chamomile tea in a styrofoam cup.

She checked her PHS to confirm the sender's identity.

Subject: Special Delivery

From: Kunsel

I noticed you didn't finish your muffin yesterday so I bought you a new one, my treat :)

Aerith smiled, tucked her phone away and leaned back. Taking a sip of her tea, warmth filled her belly and ran up her veins while she watched her flowers stretch up towards the sun.

Bright light cut through the black and Zack shut his eyes against the intensity, hand shielding his vision until it dimmed. Timidly he peeked out one eye, and his jaw hit the floor, eyes fully opening at the sight of a pure white world. No colors or lines, no way to discern between up and down, earth and sky.

He quickly looked down, patting his front, and while it was reassuring to see black boots and gloved hands, he couldn't tell what he was standing on or if there even was a floor. Hmm, maybe he was floating. His body did feel light and airy, which made no sense considering the last thing he saw was Future-Sephiroth stabbing him and oh...oh, man, he was dead, wasn't he?

"No."

Zack stiffened, suddenly sensing a presence behind him.

"You're not dead."

Zack heard the smile in the other's tone, easily picturing the slanted upturn of the man's lips. His gaze dropped to the ground, and it was unsurprising he couldn't find his or the presence's shadow since darkness didn't seem to exist in this realm. Still, Zack refused to turn or search for explicit confirmation for what he knew to be true.

The presence chuckled and it was oh, so easy to picture the guy wagging his pointer finger as he said, "Come on, younger me. I know people compare us to a puppy a lot, but I don't actually bite."

Zack's hands balled up at the discording feeling of hearing his own voice speak without his input, much like experiencing a Planet vision except his own lips were pressed shut as he slowly, ridiculously slowly, angled his head back until he faced his grinning mirror image.

Future-Zack winked. "Now was that so hard?"

Zack fully turned to his older self, stepping back with wide eyes. "Y-you're me, my future self."

Older him flapped his hand side-to-side. "Ehhh, kinda, but it's a bit more complicated than that."

Zack couldn't think straight, jaw still on the floor and body on auto as he muttered. "But I thought you were..." He realized how insensitive it was to bring up his future self's death so his mouth clamped shut, yet Future-Zack smirked.

"Dead?"

Zack turned away, growing more and more apprehensive because he was discussing his own death with his future self who was like a time traveling, dead guy and this was really weird!

Future-him crossed his arms, looking off to the side, and sighed. "Yeah, that's complicated too." His eyes drew down, and wow, no wonder nobody could resist his kicked-puppy look.

Even Zack felt the instinctual desire to cheer up the guy so he asked, "How are we talking like this?" He gestured around. "And where is this?"

Future-Zack turned to him. "Like I said, it's a bit complicated, but the best answer I can give you is we're currently in your head," he tapped his temple, "Which is where I've been for the past three weeks or so."

Zack's forehead scrunched up. "Is that why I've been hearing your thoughts and sharing your feelings? Like when I first entered the reactor?"

"Mhm!" Older Zack nodded. "Same thing's been happening to Cloud, Tifa, Vincent..." His face hardened. "Sephiroth."

Zack's expression mirrored Older Zack's. "That's how Future-Seph took over present Seph's body, he's in Sephiroth's head." Further realization washed over him. "Wait, is that what's happening? Our future selves are taking over us?"

Older Zack quickly shook his head, emphatic. "No, you've got it all wrong." Zack calmed, reassured no version of him could be so cruel. "What Sephiroth has done to his past self isn't right." His voice lowered. "It's you that should be taking over us."

Zack recoiled. "What?!"

Future-him smiled sadly. "Remember how I said it's complicated? Well, I'm not actually you or your future self, I'm more of another version of you from an alternate timeline."

Zack's brain exploded, and dazed, he mumbled. "Explain."

Future-Zack chuckled. "Don't break your head now, since that is what were in." His smile fell away. "So I am Zack Fair, in fact I'm the original Zack Fair, the first one to ever come into existence twenty-three years ago. You are also a Zack Fair, but you haven't existed as long as me." He scratched his head. "I think the Planet said your world only popped up a few years ago."

Zack raised a brow. "But I'm eighteen."

His other self amended. "No, I meant a few years from my perspective. See, our worlds run on different clocks, so what was five years ago to me was eighteen years for you."

"Time runs faster in my world?" Zack pinched the bridge of his nose when his other self nodded. "I'm starting to regret asking."

Older Zack smiled wickedly. "Too late for refunds, buddy." Zack groaned as his other self continued. "So five years ago your timeline was born, and nobody is sure how or why, but that's not important. Really, you guys didn't become important to the people in my timeline until recently."

Zack pouted, crossing his arms. "Gee, thanks."

His other self grinned. "No offense, but your existence didn't really matter at first, it didn't use to affect us."

Zack sobered, reading between the lines. "But we've started affecting you?"

Other Zack nodded. "May of last year, the Planet noticed your world was starting to touch ours. We thought it was odd, but it didn't seem to affect us until September."

He trailed off, solemn, so Zack softly prompted. "What happened?"

Original Zack shut his eyes and suddenly looked very old once they opened. "Our world started disappearing."

Zack's breath hitched, horror bleaching his face paper white.

"It wasn't so bad at first, we just started losing some memories, but then people started disappearing and most of the world forgot they ever even existed." His breath shuddered, and teeth gritted, his hands balled into fists. "I can barely remember Angeal."

"Who?" Zack blurted before he could stop himself and Other Zack sent him a broken smile.

"Angeal was my mentor in the SOLDIER program. He gave me the buster sword, I think." He frowned, uncertain. "Like I said, most of the memory is gone. That's why whenever my memories leaked into your head they were fragmented."

Zack threw up his hand. "Hold on, you mean those visions of me-us dying on that cliff weren't from the Planet?"

Older Zack nodded and the younger mulled it over. That actually made sense. The Planet visions always felt so real...because they weren't visions at all, rather they were memories.

Feeling like he was on a roll, Zack asked, "And the Planet Messages, they-"

"Weren't from the Planet either." Older Zack cheered. "You can blame Aerith, my Aerith." His smile softened while Zack recalled Cloud saying the Planet sounded kind of feminine, no wonder since it was Other Aerith speaking all along.

"She thought she could lend you guys a hand by giving your Aerith some warnings. The rest of us would have too, but it's hard to communicate with people in this timeline unless you're an Ancient."

Zack frowned. "If it's hard just to communicate, how did you get inside my head?"

"Like I said, my world started disappearing in September." Zack straightened though his original self spoke nonchalantly. "And the Planet estimated by March your world would overtake ours entirely."

The younger First wilted, depressed and confused by the news.

"There was nothing we could do to stop it, so we decided to make the best of it." Original Zack's eyes grew tender as he said, "My Aerith worked with the Planet to save as many as she could." He gestured to the white space around them. "Before our world disappeared, Aerith found a way to transfer my conscious into your body. She did the same to Cloud, Tifa, and the rest of Cloud's friends while the Planet rescued people like Tseng and Rufus."

Zack cocked his head. "So you guys transferred your conscious into the alternate versions of yourselves living in my world?"

"Yes, that's why I'm technically not your future self." Original Zack shook his head. "This isn't my world, it's yours," his gaze bored into Zack's. "Which means what my life was doesn't have to be what your life will be." He turned away. "Though there are a lot of similarities between us, after today, I doubt you'll continue following my footsteps so closely."

Zack ran a hand through his hair, mind on the fritz. "So, you're the Zack who lived and died in the original timeline, but then my timeline, an alternate world, showed up five years ago and it started overtaking yours back in September. This made your world disappear and the only way to save you and the others was to send you guys into your alternate selves, AKA the versions of you living in my world."

Original Zack clapped. "Yup. It was pretty tricky though, when we had to send over people who exist in my world, but don't exist in yours."

"Like who?"

Other Zack shrugged. "Cissnei, Kunsel, etcetera."

Zack's eyes popped. "You mean Kunsel and Cissnei weren't originally in my timeline? Your Planet sent them here?!"

"Yup!" Older Zack grinned. "Saving them took some work, but eventually the Planet managed to combine their existence with people similar to them, who already exist in your world."

Zack felt like he took a mallet to his brain or maybe a whole mountain dropping on him would more accurately describe his feelings. Yet, it made sense. No wonder Cissnei never heard a Voice or got feelings from the future like Cloud and Tifa. Cissnei didn't have an alternate self camping out in her head like the rest of them.

"So," Other Zack asked, "That answer all your questions?"

Zack started bobbing his head, yet stopped and frowned. "You still haven't explained what you meant about us taking over."

Trepidation trickled into his heart as Original Zack grinned. "This is your life, not mine." His smiled broadened. "We aren't meant to be talking like this, Zack Fair isn't meant to be two people." He held up two fingers then brought down one.

Zack pointed to himself, frown deepening. "You mean only I'm supposed to exist?"

"Yeah." His other self shrugged. "I can't say it's what I prefer, but it wouldn't be fair for us to continue like this, my feelings and thoughts influencing yours." Earnestly he sought Zack's eyes. "You deserve to be your own person." He sighed, looking down. "Sephiroth didn't get that, neither does Jenova, that's why when they found their way to your timeline they took over their younger selves." He closed his eyes. "But I've accepted it, so did Aerith and Cloud and the others." His sky blue eyes burned into Zack's. "We have to let you guys take over as the dominant conscious, we have to fade away."

"No." Zack shook his head, tremor in his voice. "I don't want-"

"Doesn't matter." His older self cut in, not unkindly. "The Planet has already sent us on the path to a full blown convergence. Besides Sephiroth and Jenova, I'm the only one left whose hasn't fully integrated into my younger self's conscious."

Zack stepped forward, desperately demanding. "Why?"

"I guess," Original Zack stared up at the white sky. "I wanna make sure history doesn't repeat itself."

"Huh?"

Original Zack grinned at him. "Don't you remember, silly?" His smile sharpened. "You're dying."

Cloud woke up to a muttered curse and a potent toxin tinting the air. His eyes cracked open and he saw a blurry, black figure darting around, pausing once to cast a green glow over something beside him. He weakly turned his head, vision clearing as he regarded the raven-haired girl propped against the wall next to him, her body trembling.

Ti...Tifa?

Alarm jump-started the rest of Cloud's senses and the boy quickly sat up, blood pressure sky rocketing as he took in the chaos around him.

Was...was this a nightmare? The same monsters that attacked him and Tifa in the reactor were loose and had them surrounded. Broken glass and warped metal littered the floor. Glowing mako saturated the steps and puddled around the ruptured pods. Tifa and him were safely tucked against the wall by the door, but Cissnei and Vincent were trapped in the heat of battle.

The Turk was limping, her shuriken spinning and striking the mako monsters from a distance. Although when one got too close, the woman was forced to dodge. As she leapt and teetered upon landing, she gritted her teeth and shouted from a combo of pain and rage while stabbing her spiked shuriken into the monster's throat. The creature screeched, mako leaking from its wound, yet Cissnei kneed it in the gut and it collapsed. She stomped on its chest and kept hacking at its throat until it stilled while Cloud turned away, not wanting to see its severed head.

Up the staircase a crimson blur fired his gun at the monsters. Vincent was everywhere at once, the stairs, the top floor, and Cissnei's side. Cloud heard the gunshots and saw the mako monsters dropping dead or dying, but didn't see the man who felled them until Vincent paused to reload.

It was pretty obvious if the monsters weren't so thick-skinned they wouldn't even be an issue for the Turk duo.

"You're awake."

Cloud started, head whipping up to see Cissnei hobbling back to him, not taking her eyes off her weapon as it returned to her hand. "You need to get her out of here." She pointed at Tifa while slinging her shuriken back into the fray before casting cure over the younger girl once more. Only then did Cloud notice the blood staining Tifa's front, scarlet spot growing. She was bleeding out badly, enough that even a Hi-Potion wouldn't save her. She needed a doctor now.

"But what about Zack?" Cloud got to his knees, gently tugging Tifa into his arms.

"Leave his safety to me." Cissnei regarded him, brown eyes wistful yet determined. "Before this mission, Tseng said, 'You're going to save Zack's life.' Those are my orders, and I am a Turk, so I always follow orders no matter what!" She raised her shuriken and cast cure on Tifa again before looking Cloud in the eye. "Go!"

Cloud needed no more prompting as he scooped Tifa into his arms and tried not to jostle her while fleeing out the door. As he awkwardly climbed up the chain ladder, Tifa slung over his shoulder, he caught the faintest whisper.

"I haven't even told him my real name."

Cloud grimaced, knowing the Turk was sincere, yet unable to stop worrying. Sephiroth was in there with Zack, having lost his mind or been taken over by some malevolent entity. Cissnei and Vincent were alright for now, most mako monsters already dead, but even if they aided Zack, would that really be enough to defeat the great Sephiroth?

Tifa didn't make a sound as he landed on the metal platform and transferred her to his arms. His breath hitched at the sight of her torn shirt and the severed skin tissue soaked with blood beneath it. Could he actually save her? What if he wasn't strong en-

No. He didn't have time to put himself down. Keep moving. Save her.

Cloud sped out the door and sprinted into the brisk night air.

He rushed down the mountain side.

He ran past monsters.

He dodged pincers and flames.

He shielded Tifa with his body when he couldn't.

He reached the burnt remains of town and collapsed on his ashen house porch. His body was trembling and numb, which didn't make sense until he looked down and saw the tattered fabric of his uniform. Blood coated his back and he felt the wind cutting into the exposed, gnarled flesh there. He was also dizzy, which was why when he fished a potion out his pocket, he almost used it on himself prior to remembering the girl cradled in his arms.

He didn't think twice before dumping the potion on her chest and smiled upon seeing the skin mending together as green wisps glittered around her injury. After that Cloud blanked, and body tremors worsening, slumped against the porch pillar.

He didn't know what to do now, didn't know where to go or if he should go. Tifa was getting worse, her chest rising and falling rapidly like she couldn't get enough air and making a rattling sound every time she inhaled. Wasn't that a sign of blood in her lungs? Of internal bleeding? Cloud wasn't sure, wasn't a doctor. The only medical doctor in Nibelheim left with the others and all the medical supplies been burned up in the fire, but Tifa was dying, and the next town was miles away yet Cloud, failure that he was, wouldn't make it that far even if he were walking alone, and Tifa was dying, and Cloud was scared.

His home was in pieces, his hero gone mad, Tifa was on death's door and Zack might be too.

Cloud's throat clogged up and tears welled in the corner of his eyes. What if Sephiroth killed Zack? What if he killed them all? Maybe the man was already on his way here to kill Cloud, force him to watch Tifa die slow-

"C-Cloud?"

He stiffened, gasping as he took in Tifa's half-lidded eyes focusing on him.

"Yeah, it's me." Gently he cupped her face, uncertain if it was appropriate and ready to pull back, yet Tifa leaned into his palm and smiled, so he relaxed.

"You..." Her voice was faint so he leaned in to hear better. "You kept our promise." His eyes widened. "You really came when I was in a pinch."

She smiled tenderly at him, and it hurt when Cloud had to turn away from her brilliance, jaw clenching. "I'm sorry," he grounded out. "It's my fault you got hurt." His voice shook as self-loathing filled him, but then a cotton soft hand slid over his and he looked down to see Tifa lacing their fingers together.

"It's alright, Cloud." Her eyes fluttered, drooping despite her efforts, yet he saw the sincerity there. Maybe she was delirious, maybe she would blame him once she recovered, but in this moment she didn't hate him. Maybe she never hated him, even back when he failed her after her mother died.

Emboldened by the possibility, Cloud whispered. "Tifa..." He waited for her eyes to refocus on him, though they were hazy. "No matter what happens, I'll see you...in Midgar." His face hardened. "Remember, Midgar. I'll meet you there."

Tifa exhaled what was nearly a laugh. "P-promise?"

Cloud just smiled, squeezing her hand as her eyes dropped close. Gently he set her against the porch pillar, released her hand and stood. He allowed himself a moment to memorize every crevice of her face, her dark bangs swaying in the breeze and silver earrings glistening in the moonlight.

Then he ran.

Up the steps, up the mountain, and down the reactor shaft.

He stopped in the doorway, chest heaving and breath catching at the sight of the general sitting sideways on the top of the staircase. Sephiroth's arm was resting on a propped knee while his right leg rested on a lower step. His silver hair moved slightly as black and gray winds rustled it, drifting out Jenova's room, which was on fire. The lighting from the flames danced on Sephiroth's face, ruby and saffron highlighting the dark rings around the general's eyes as well as his predatory expression.

That would have been intimidating enough, but the man's apathy to the carnage and destruction didn't help. Especially since Zack was lying on the lowest level, blood beneath his body spilling onto the staircase under his head, too too much like the vision of his death, yet Cloud couldn't dwell on that as there was another body set across the First.

Cissnei lied on the same level, on her back with her shuriken sticking out her chest. Her face was turned away from Cloud, but it was obvious she was dead, chest unmoving and blood matting her curls.

Then there was Vincent, lying further up in the crushed remains of a pod. It looked like he had been thrown in, limbs akimbo and hands splayed open with his gun on the floor amongst the wreckage. His back was to Cloud, but he was clearly dead or unconscious like Zack, either way leaving Cloud alone with the monster.

Sephiroth stared blankly at the wall, inferno raging behind him as he said, "I knew you would come back." His lips curled up. "You cherish these inferiors too much." Slowly his glowing green eyes fell on Cloud and the cadet trembled under the weight of hate and sadistic pleasure burning within them.

"W-why?" Cloud finally found his voice, fighting the urge to flee. "Why did you burn Jenova?" His eyes flicked towards the flames.

The man chuckled lowly. "My mother outlived her usefulness once you departed." He hummed. "And I rather not have her interfere with my plans this time around."

"What plans?"

Cloud regretted asking when Sephiroth got up and smirked. "Destroying you of course." He tore out his sword and the flames dyed the blade red as he seethed. "Useless puppet."

Aerith made sure to eat a hearty breakfast before entering the church, only to be dismayed upon finding her newborn flowers yet to bloom. To be fair, they only been planted two days ago and it was great progress for them to have sprouted and budded already. Typically it took a week if not several weeks for that to happen. However, today was Monday and she didn't have time to care for them beyond the usual.

She did so, examined the result of her ministrations, and quickly decided her house flowers would sell better.

She wheeled her new flower wagon home. The cart wasn't as pretty as the first, but Kunsel did a great job beautifying it. She hadn't asked him to, yet somehow Kunsel figured out she preferred the prettier things in life, and as a result, Aerith found the plain wagon newly-decorated yesterday morning.

It was painted pink like her bow, a fact which made her smile, while realistic portraits of flower tops were drawn atop the pink. The wheels and trims were now baby blue while silver glitter was sprinkled over the whole cart, making it twinkle in the sunlight as Aerith parked it in front of her house and hurriedly plucked the healthiest-looking flowers from her garden. She had spoiled them like she spoiled her church flowers this weekend, and since the damage hadn't been nearly as extensive here, these flowers recovered better.

Soon Aerith finished wrapping them in plastic for bouquets and setting single flowers in metal pails, so made her way to the train station. It didn't bother her to picture the blue sky awaiting her above since Tseng was trailing her, as all she really needed was a familiar face to center her in face of the endless blue.

Still, she ducked her head before strolling out into the sunlit over world and didn't dare look up until she reached the Loveless Theater. She reluctantly peeked up to locate Tseng, who was oddly conspicuous on a park bench down the street. Did he know of her fear? Was he trying to help?

It wouldn't surprise her, Turks were a rather observant bunch.

Aerith took a deep breath and sighed slowly, steadying herself prior to lifting her head. She was greeted by congested streets as well as an infinite blue horizon. Her heart raced and mouth dried, yet Aerith forced a smile when a trio of smartly-dressed women in pencil skirts came over and requested three bouquets.

She realized they were fellow fan club members when the brunette asked, "You hear about the Zack Fair memorial?" She wanted to know where exactly the slum church was as she never been below plate, and Aerith was happy to provide directions.

It only occurred to Aerith after a successful day of flower-selling while she was setting her wagon in the church that she needed to make sure the old building looked presentable for the memorial. It needed a good dusting, floorboards swept and pews polished. It was going to take hours to clean, and what about the speeches people would be making? Shouldn't she rent a stage and microphone? Oh! And didn't memorials normally have a picture of the person being commemorated set on the stage? Then there was the problem of lighting, as it got awfully dark after sunset in the slums and the chandeliers hadn't worked since Aerith found the church...

Well, getting the place ready was going to take a lot of work, but somehow, Aerith would manage.

Cloud wavered, stepping back once as Sephiroth slowly descended the staircase.

There was a hunger in his green eyes as he neared, but Cloud couldn't outrun him and didn't have any weapons. Zack's buster sword was sticking out the metal platform in front of the fire-covered doorway, yet Cloud couldn't reach it without crossing paths with the madman first. Therefore, Cloud only had one defense left in his arsenal, one he was no good at wielding.

"Why do you want to kill me?" His voice trembled, so he steeled himself and darkened his tone as he asked, "Why did you hurt Tifa? And Zack?"

The general didn't respond as he continued down the stairs so Cloud raised his voice. "Answer me, Sephiroth!"

The man stopped at the bottom, but considering the length of Masamune, cutting Cloud in two wouldn't be a problem even from this distance.

Worried backtracking would instigate a violent action, the boy continued wielding words. "Sephiroth! Have you completely lost your mind?"

The First's only response was to impale Cloud through the stomach and smirk while the boy screamed. He raised the katana higher, eliciting another cry from the blond as he admitted. "It seems some things must happen, no matter the timeline we live in."

"S-Sephiroth..." Cloud wept, hands on the sword in a poor attempt to relieve pressure as he gasped through the agony branded into his veins. "I trusted you."

Sephiroth opened his mouth to retort when Cloud shut his eyes and cried. "I still trust you!"

The general froze, eyes wide and stunned while the boy stared him down, pleading. "I don't know why you're doing this," he swallowed down the bile and blood rushing up his throat. "But you're still..." His breathing stuttered and he fought hard to shout. "My hero!"

The declaration echoed throughout the chambers, louder than the crackling flames and stronger than the stench of mako in the air.

Cloud couldn't stop the tears from streaming down his cheeks as his ligaments and organs were snapped and torn with his every breath, inhales and exhales wedging him just a little farther along the sharp blade. Gaia, it hurt! It hurt so much!

Cloud didn't care if it was the easy way out, he wanted to die. Anything, anything, to stop this torture.

Despite his mental begging, the world only went black momentarily as the katana was torn out of him and Cloud was flung to the floor, rolling into the doorway. His head cracked against the metal wall and his ears rang, but Cloud couldn't so much as twitch while Sephiroth raged.

"How dare you." The general spat venom, ferocious storm brewing on his face. "How dare you test me!"

Cloud didn't try speaking, didn't have the will to try anymore. He tried to save Zack, Tifa, Sephiroth, himself. He failed, doubted his trying even helped. Although he hoped the others would somehow make it out alive, he would never know as Masamune was hefted over his neck and Sephiroth growled. "I'll make them suffer." He practically foamed at the mouth. "Once you're dead, I'll go after them. That flower girl you love, your mother, the townspeople, everyone you ever cherished will die!"

Cloud sobbed harder, wishing he could beg for their lives to be spared, but he didn't have the energy. He was broken and battered and would die in despair, so he shut his eyes tightly as the blade pierced flesh.

"No... Impossible!"

Cloud's eyes opened, but he did not understand the lack of Masamune in his throat or the horror on Sephiroth's face. Not until he noticed the buster sword sticking out Sephiroth's chest and twisting inside him as it was yanked out. The man dropped to his knees, Masamune clattering on the floor as Sephiroth did the same. Behind him stood Cissnei, pale and haggard as she lowered the buster sword. Her suit front was torn, yet beneath the black and white cloth was a gray, bulky material...a bulletproof vest?

Green sparkled over Cloud twice and he gasped, feeling returning to his limbs and pain dulling.

"You okay?" She asked between ragged breaths, leaning on the buster sword. Whatever injury she sustained clearly still plagued her, and using the last of her MP on him probably didn't help.

Cloud pushed himself up, nearly losing his balance as he stood because his insides didn't feel quite right and nausea churned his stomach fluids. He was going to throw up when suddenly Sephiroth shifted, hand arching on the floor as he rose to a crouch. Cissnei couldn't react fast enough and neither could Cloud, but there was a click and he blinked when Vincent suddenly appeared before them, gun trained on the side of Sephiroth's head.

If the ex-Turk intended to speak, he was outpaced by the muttered. "Do it."

Cloud blinked, not recognizing the quiet, drained voice until he noticed Cissnei staring slack-jawed at the crouching First.

"Kill me." Sephiroth lifted his face and his green irises were no longer vibrant or filled with cruel intentions.

Sephiroth just looked tired as he begged. "Kill me before he takes over again." His eyes locked on Cloud's as he whispered. "I don't want to be the villain."

Cloud's tears renewed. "Sephiroth..."

The gunshot rang out.

Sephiroth's eyes fell half-lidded as his body slumped forward, face turning aside while he dropped onto his front.

Cloud simply stared uncomprehendingly. He never seen General Sephiroth fall before, never seen him sick or weak, or so...so perfectly human. Not the great hero of Wutai, not the face of SOLDIER elite, simply a human being, tragically mortal as the rest of them.

"Forgive me, Lucrecia."

Cloud looked up while Vincent lowered his gun, tone dark with sorrow. "When I heard your voice through the nightmares, urging me to awaken..." Cloud's eyes lit up at the mention of a Voice. "I believed this was my chance to atone." He sounded downright agonized as he lamented. "I was wrong. I've killed your son, all that may have remained of you. Forgive me, Lucrecia, though I do not deserve it."

With that said, the ex-Turk stalked out the room, not sparing them a glance before disappearing into the darkness, destination unknown.

Cloud, feeling something needed to be said, turned right as Cissnei began to fall. He caught her, easing her down and laying her out beside Sephiroth as the buster sword crashed to the floor. His fingers found Cissnei's throat and her steady pulse reassured him she was merely unconscious. If only he knew how to use materia, he would cast cure on the Turk. Then again, Cloud's head was spinning and he tasted something metallic coating his tongue so maybe he should rest too... No...no, not yet.

Cloud reached out, grunting as he turned Sephiroth onto his back, then reverently ran his hand down the First's face to shut his unseeing eyes. Cloud rested his misty gaze on the man he idolized for years before exhaling harshly, wiping the tears away. "Goodnight, Sephiroth."

Now...now he could rest-

"Cloud?"

He gasped, whipping around.

Zack was struggling to formulate words when a dull pang ached his chest.

"What?" He gasped, hand coming to cover the tender area.

"Oh, great, you're starting to wake up." Older Zack grinned like Zack's sudden soreness was a welcomed change. "Guess this is goodbye."

"Goodbye?" Zack's chest heaved as the pain intensified before he frowned in thought. "You're about to fade, aren't you?"

Original Zack shrugged, tossing up his hands. "It's more like sleeping, since I'll always be in the back of your head for as long as you live." He flashed his teeth. "So don't go dying anytime soon."

Zack hissed, yet ignored the fire scalding his throat and weakness in his joints as he asked, "That's it? You-you're dying again and that's your last words?"

"I repeat, it's sleeping, not dying, but you're right." Older Zack crossed his arms and rubbed his chin, thinking. "My original last words were pretty epic. It's too bad Cloud took the 'living legacy' thing so hard. I mean he's never been a happy camper, but I didn't expect him to become so angsty." He shuddered in distaste.

Zack wondered if dying had done irrepressible damage to Other Zack's brain before demanding. "Can you be serious for one second?"

Other Zack cocked his head. "Why? You want some advice or something?" He grinned gamely. "You should make out with Aerith more, she's a great kisser!"

Zack gawked at his other self, pain forgotten in the face of such nonchalance.

"Oh!" Original Zack's eyes lit up. "And have a baby! My Aerith's always wanted a baby boy, so aim for that!" He pumped his arm while Zack bent over, grasping his middle as pain and shock overcame him. The whiteness was shrinking around them, Zack wasn't sure how he knew since everything was white, but he swore the walls were closing in and the air was thinner.

Original Zack suddenly stood over him, latching onto Zack's forearms and helping the younger stand. He was grinning, despite it all, Original Zack was going to fade away with a smile on his face and for some reason that made Zack want to cry.

Original Zack squeezed his arms, smile softer yet no less bright. "I know you don't understand, but I'm really okay with this. It might not be what we want, but there's nothing you can do."

Zack wanted to protest, yet there was lava in his lungs, an ocean on his chest and a knife twisting under his ribs.

Still, his original self seemed to understand. "Fine," his lips hitched up higher, eyes kind. "If you really want to do something for me, promise me this."

Zack forced himself to straighten and Original Zack let him go, stepping back so they were eye-to-eye. "Embrace your dreams." Zack gasped, recognizing the phrase. "And, whatever happens," Original Zack's image started to fade as green wisps spiraled around his feet.

He beamed. "Protect the ones you love."

Zack screamed soundlessly as Original Zack faded in a whirlwind of glittering green and the white world shattered.

Zack was facing Cloud, sky blue eyes brimming with exhaustion and deep-seated pain. Cloud quickly got up and rushed over unsteadily, tipping left and right until he reached Zack and fell onto his hands and knees.

"You okay?" Zack asked in a weak, strained voice, sweat beads on his brow as he struggled to speak.

Cloud purposely didn't look at the gaping wound in Zack's chest or notice he was kneeling in Zack's blood as he huffed. "Isn't that my line?"

Zack grinned faintly and Cloud chuckled when something wet and slimy erupted from his chest and he gagged on the metallic taste while the edges of the room darkened as he coughed up blood. Cloud wondered when the air became so thin while his coughs tampered off and his sight stabilized.

"Cloud," Zack stared hard at the younger boy and Cloud regarded him curiously, vision swimming. "I have a favor...to ask of you." His eyes narrowed as he urged. "Run away."

Cloud gaped, Zack's serious face coming into sudden stark focus, then glowered and shook his head. "No."

Zack's jaw clenched and he hissed, using a sudden burst of strength to latch onto the front of Cloud's uniform, yanking the boy down until his face hovered over Zack's shoulder. "You have to leave." He exhaled shakily, expression severe and eyes shining as he begged. "You have to live."

Cloud stayed in place, eyes wide, as Zack's hand fell and blood bubbled out the older boy's mouth, mako-infused eyes unfocusing.

Aghast, Cloud's face pinched and he shook his head while Zack's eyes drifted close. "I'm sorry, Zack," he whispered to the unconscious First, tears falling. "But I can't abandon you either."

Zack breathed uneasily in his sleep, and Cloud thought a nap sounded like a wonderful idea. Yeah...just a...quick nap...

Shifting to the right, Cloud collapsed on his side beside Zack, his blood splashing onto his face and dyeing his bangs. He started nodding off when a lightbulb flickered through his foggy brain and he reached into his pocket, missing the opening twice before he caught hold of his PHS.

He promised to call...try to call...every day...

His vision flipped from dark to light repeatedly as he stared at the phone screen. Fortunately the messenger app was already open with Aerith as the recipient. He didn't think twice before typing out I'msorry and mashing the send button with his eyes closed.

'

Sorry...wanted to bring Zack back to you...

...but I think...

'

We're going to be late.

'

'

'

'

'

'

The mako reactor door creaked opened.

The thundering clatter of military boots stormed in.

Within minutes a white-coated scientist stalked into the main room, pausing in the doorway to survey the area and its injured populace like one observing an interesting painting. It took said scientist a full minute to notice Sephiroth's body at his feet.

Hojo cackled, smirking as he adjusted his glasses and leaned forward. "Sephiroth," his cackles grew louder. "You've surely done it now." He bared his sharklike teeth.

Thanks for reading the grand finale to Part 1 of Rainfall! We're now about a third of the way through this story, so please review and let me know what you think of it so far!