Recommended Listening: Mia's theme from the .hack// PS2 game soundtrack. It's a bit strange….

Disclaimer: So now that I've thoroughly depressed you all, I'm going to now throw a Molotov cocktail into the inner workings of the space-time continuum. I'll try to give you some comic relief to balance things a bit. And by "some," I mean…. Well, this chapter is pretty much more fun and games than the others. It's still very necessary, though, and I guess you could say it represents an inner journey in Cloud's self.

Oh, by the way…I just saw the Star Trek movie!! It was AMAZING! And…if I said it didn't give me any fodder for my alternate-reality-screwing-up…I'd be lying, hehe!

Down the rabbit hole again…wait. This wasn't the rabbit hole. Did it change? Since when was it upside-down? Since when was the White Rabbit black and the Mad Hatter sane and the March Hare April and Knights knaves and Queens pawns and Card Soldiers talking flowers? Why was the Griffon a Mock Turtle and the Mock Turtle a Doormouse and the Doormouse a Caterpillar and the Caterpillar a clam? And Alice…what was Alice now? Was she even herself? Was this even Wonderland?

More importantly…how did she get home?

Chapter XV : Theme and Variation

- Theme -

He was lying in a field of flowers.

The Lifestream…? But…that means I'm…NO!!

He sat bolt upright, looking around wildly. He looked down at himself…no wound…and yet, this place felt more real than it usually did when Aeris contacted him…. "No…." He grabbed hold of the wild locks of blonde hair on the side of his head, horrified. Sephiroth…!!!

"Cloud!"

He wheeled around at the sound of his name to see Aeris standing there, looking surprised at his arrival. He looked up at her…and then beat his fist into the ground, cringing against his tears. Normally, he would be all too happy to see her…but that was before, when he hadn't wanted his miserable life. Now that he could look at her straight on…he didn't want to. It's not fair…!!

"Cloud…what are you doing here?" she asked honestly, her melodious voice filling the silent air. She skipped over to him, kneeling down to him, conking her head to one side. Her chestnut braid slipped over her shoulders to dangle in front of his eyes.

"…I'm dead."

"Dead?" Aeris blinked. "Well…yes, but…you're here."

"And Sephiroth is alive, and Genesis is going to kill everyone!" he cried, throwing his head up to the perfect sky. "…I failed them…again!"

Aeris looked confused for a moment…and then her face lit up with recognition. "Oh! I see…I was mistaken…" she lamented. She put a hand to his forehead. "Hm…but you didn't fail. This is your first time. And you're still conscious…so…it's not really failure, yet…though it does seem hopeless." She shook her head. "It's so strange…such an extraordinary power. But here, you can only exist within me…."

"Wh…what?" Cloud looked back to her. "What are you talking about…?"

"The power to jump realities. You must have left your body behind in order to evade death…."

Cloud shook his head a little, blinking. "Wha…eh…evade death?" he stuttered. "Uh…but I'm here…in the Lifestream."

"This isn't the Lifestream, silly!" Aeris laughed.

Cloud looked around. No…it was just an endless field of flowers. Just like the ones in the church. Just like he remembered it. "…Are you sure? Wait…then how are you here? Are you Aerith? Or Aeris?"

"I think you called me Aeris," she confirmed.

"…You think…?"

"Well…I don't really know you."

"Huh?!" Now this was going over Cloud's head. What was going on? Was he dead, or wasn't he? Was this Aeris, or wasn't it?!

"Don't you understand?" Aeris asked. "This isn't your reality."

Cloud blinked. "Wh…what?!" He looked around. "You mean…I…somehow jumped realities…so I'm alive now?"

"Oh, no," Aeris shook her head, brushing him off to correct him. "You're still dead."

Cloud reeled, scrambling backwards and getting up. "W-w-wait a second…then how am I here…?! Wait…no…don't answer that…just…." He tried to catch his breath and calm himself down. "…Y…you seem to know what's going on…."

"Pretty much. I'm omniscient, after all."

"Oh, really?" Cloud normally would take that as a joke…but at this point, he was ready to believe anything. "That's great. Can you tell me what just happened to me, then? Last thing I remember is being stabbed by Genesis…dying…."

"Hm…." Aeris thought about it. "Well…you did die…but at the last second, before your soul was taken into the Lifestream, you jumped realities. Since you're also dead in this reality, you're essentially a ghost, living within the Lifestream of this reality."

"But…you said I wasn't in the Lifestream."

"No I didn't," Aeris denied innocently. "I said this wasn't the Lifestream."

"Then…how can I be living in it…?"

"Because it's right here." Aeris put a hand to her heart. "You exist within me…the last of the Cetra."

Cloud blinked…and then nodded slowly. He could believe that. "But then…how do I get back? Genesis is still in my world…the others can't fight him alone. Heck, I can't fight him, either…but I've got to do something!"

Aeris looked at him with a little sadness in her eyes. "Well…I guess you can't always be a different person."

"…Huh?" Cloud took a step back. What did she mean by that…? What was with that look…?

She looked back up and smiled. "Why don't you go reality-hopping and figure out how to help? There must be some world somewhere with an answer."

"Huh…? Reality-hopping? But…I don't know how…."

"Sure you do! It's your power," Aeris reminded him. "All you have to do is wish for it. Close your eyes!"

Cloud nodded…and closed his eyes. Wish for it? Well…I…I guess I wish…to go to another reality. Maybe a reality where I've found happiness…and a reality where I can find Aeris…so even if I'm dead, I'll be able to speak to someone….

- Variation I –

He felt gravity shift. He was lying down somewhere. Smooth lips pressed to his.

Sephiroth…. Cloud let a soft moan escape and kissed back in relief, keeping his eyes closed. He felt a comfortable bed underneath him. This…was nice. This was very nice. He smelled fresh flowers….

A hand slipped up over his bare chest, and a body shifted towards him. It was…lighter than he expected it to be. And the hand…was….

…Female?!

Cloud opened his eyes to stare up into Aeris's face.

He yelped, causing Aeris to blink and jump back in surprise. And she was…. Holy shit! She's…she's naked! Holy shit, I'mnaked!! Did we—no way! No fucking way!! He scrambled away and fell off the opposite side of the bed, his legs flailing up into the air. He pulled one of the under-sheets off and onto his waist in a panic. His pants…where were his pants?!

"Cloud…?" Aeris asked with concern. "What's wrong…?"

"Wha…!" Cloud breathed, exasperated, "What's wrong…?! You don't see anything wrong with this?!" He got up, trying not to look…well, anywhere, really…. His pants…. "C-could you…put something on?" he begged, trying to keep his eyes anywhere but on her…but it was likely that wasn't an issue at this point….

"Um…sure…." She stood up and Cloud turned around, seeing as how she apparently wasn't worried about showing her body to him. His face flushed. Even though he was very much attracted to Sephiroth and in love with only him, that didn't mean he wasn't….

Speaking of…other lovers…. "Wh…what about Zack?"

Aeris came around to Cloud's side of the bed, wearing a nightgown now, her hair all down over her shoulders. Gods, she was beautiful. "…What about him, Cloud?"

"W-well…you're…you're together, aren't you? You don't think he'd be…upset about this? At all?"

A depressing look came over Aeris's face. "Cloud…we've talked about this. I know…it's hard, but…I'm with you now." She took his hand gently, her tone and her mannerisms as comforting as ever…but….

Cloud blanched. "Y-you are?" Was it just him, or did his voice just crack?

"W-well…yes," Aeris answered, nodding. "…You're my husband. For better or worse, 'til death do us part. And…Zack is gone."

Cloud stared at her open-mouthed. "…What?" He wasn't sure which part was more shocking.

"Oh, Cloud…." Her eyes filled with sympathy and she came closer, wrapping her arms around his bare body before he could protest. "I'm sorry…I know it's hard…I know how close you were. But…is it so wrong that we could come together to find happiness? I'm sure he's happy for us…he loved both of us so much…and we loved him, too. It's okay…."

"W-wait…wait…" Cloud interrupted her, something just occurring to him. "…The two Vincents…where are they?"

She frowned, confused. "…Two Vincents?"

"Right…it's got to be. I'm not in my own world. If you don't know about them, then…I must be in another reality."

Aeris's frown grew a little more upset, like his words had hurt her. "Cloud…!"

"N-no…really…look…I…I'm not…the guy you married. I'm…someone different. I don't mean I changed, I mean…literally! My soul comes from another world! Please…Aeris…you've got to believe me…!"

Aeris stepped back. At first, she'd looked even more upset, but now…it looked like she might actually have a chance of believing what he was saying. "…What did you call me?"

"Aeris…." He blinked. "Wait…is your name Aerith? Or Aeris?"

She shook her head. "It's…Aeryl."

"Aeryl!" Cloud's eyes widened. "Wow…so now you have three different names. You have a different one in every reality I go to, it seems like…."

"…Your soul…does feel different," Aeryl admitted slowly. "I can sense…almost like there are two souls…." Her face was turning more towards surprise and wonder now than being upset. Oh, good…she's starting to really take my story…I guess it's hard to believe, but if anyone could understand, it'd be her….

"Well…see...in my reality…I'm actually dead, so…I guess I don't have my own body anymore…."

"Oh!" Aeryl gasped. "Then…do you think…that's it! That's got to be! When you came here, you came into my husband's body because you don't have your own…and that's why there are two souls! There's yours…and then there's his…. Oh!!" She covered her mouth. "I'm…I'm so sorry! You must feel so…awkward…uh…hold on! I'll get you something to put on…!"

"Th-thank you…" Cloud sighed in utter relief. He wondered a little, though, if Aeryl was used to ghosts possessing her friends' bodies. She was taking this rather well, considering it was such a tall tale…perhaps she was just that good at sensing people's spirits….

Aeryl handed him some pants and he turned around quickly while he put them on. Well, that was a relief. Now…. "Why did I wake up in your husband's body again? Just because I don't have my own body?"

"Well…sure. This body is the closest thing to your own, right? In this world, I mean. So it's only natural that your soul would come here." She sat down. "…What happened to yours?"

"Uh…." He could open up a can of worms by telling her the whole story, or…. "…It's complicated, but…I got killed by Genesis…who somehow managed to absorb the Lifestream and become all-powerful. Now all my friends are stuck back in my world…and…I have to find a way to help them before he destroys everything." He turned to her. "You don't happen to know how to stop someone who's pretty much become a god with the powers of the Lifestream at his fingertips, do you?"

Aeryl looked apologetic. "I…have no idea. I'm sorry. But…I'm sure there's something out there somewhere…if you keep looking."

"Yeah…in other worlds." He sighed. But where should he look?

"Maybe…you should try to look in other places," Aeryl suggested. "Not just places that are very close to your own reality. They may have a different take on how things worked out…different stories, different timelines…. Maybe one of them defeated a similar enemy."

"Broaden my search, huh?" Cloud sighed. "Maybe that's the best way." He looked back to her. "Thank you…and…I'm sorry. For…all this trouble."

"It's alright," she assured him with a smile. "You'd be surprised how often strange things happen around here. You're not the weirdest thing that's ever happened to me." So he was right…no wonder she'd accepted it so readily.

"Uh…right. I guess I'll give you back your husband, then.

She nodded. "Alright. Goodbye, then, Cloud! And good luck!"

- Variation II -

Cloud opened his eyes. Well…this was certainly different.

He was in a town that looked like it was a few centuries behind the times…and wearing clothes that looked pretty similarly outdated. Hell, there were even knights in full suits of armor walking around! Incredible…especially one in particular, who walked down the street towards a castle up on the hill…his silver hair trailing out behind him….

"S-Sephiroth!!"

Cloud tried to catch up with him, but the crowd was thick and Sephiroth was towing quite a guard behind him. A few people waved and sent salutations Cloud's way…others "oo"-ed and "ah"-ed at the passing of the great general to the queen. Wait…queen? What queen?

And then…he passed beyond the castle gates, out of Cloud's view.

He groaned. "Aw, man…." And looked down on himself. He was carrying a one-handed saber…definitely not a real weapon, just a self-defense, street fight kind of thing…it'd be like Vincent or Barrett carrying a tiny pistol. He also didn't feel so well-endowed in the strength department…like he'd been suddenly de-leveled. And he couldn't find anything on his person that might get him access to the castle grounds…there was an expensive-looking pendant tucked under his shirt, but he had no idea what the crest on it meant. It might mean he was part of the resistance to the monarchy, for all he knew.

So…he was going to have to sneak in to get a talk with his love. If…Sephiroth was still the same person as he was in Cloud's world.

He wandered around the castle walls for a little while until he saw a cherry tree that hung over the wall slightly. "That'll do…." He jumped up into it, but found that physics actually affected him in this body…it wasn't mako-enhanced, or anything…and he had a hard time pulling himself up higher into the branches, too. He cursed as he found his chest heaving from just that much work. His hands were unnaturally soft, too. What…had this version of him never done a day's work in his life?

He crawled over as far as he could, but the branches didn't quite reach far enough for him to grab onto the wall. Normally, he could just jump and probably clear the wall from the ground in a single leap, but this body was a piece of crap. Really, it was.

"H-hey! Sephiroth! Genesis and her majesty wanted to—" Zack's unmistakable voice flooded up over the wall. "O-oh…you already found them. Nevermind…."

Genesis? He was there? Cloud decided to screw the "climb over the wall" plan and just climbed higher into the tree. And there they were, sure enough…Genesis in a ridiculously flashy war costume, Sephiroth and Zack in the same make of armor, and Aeris sitting among them in a beautiful garden wearing a long, pink, silk dress and a golden headdress….

"My lady," Sephiroth said, kneeling down before her, taking her hand and kissing a ring on her finger. Now that was something you didn't see every day…and something about it was…beautiful.

"Your majesty," Zack addressed her, taking her hand also, but kissing it more tenderly as he bowed…. So, he was in love with her in this strange reality, too. That was reassuring, somehow….

Wait…Aeris?! Aeris is the queen?!

"General Sephiroth," Genesis said with a light laugh…with dark undertones. "I had a small matter I wanted to discuss with you."

"Oh…?" Sephiroth looked unamused…even irritated. Apparently, Genesis was a troublemaker here, too, even if he wasn't bad enough to be an enemy in her majesty's court.

"We have a reason to go to war! Isn't it wonderful?"

"Wonderful?!" Zack spat. "You've got a lousy sense of humor! Cut it out, already!"

"What happened?" Sephiroth asked, keeping his cool, and cutting off Zack before he lost his.

"Avalancia has been stealing our national treasures! I saw one of their court wearing the Cetra Crest…unmistakeably. The sacred pendant handed down in our royal family for generations."

"One of their court?" Aeris asked with a slight gasp. She looked immediately to Sephiroth, who wore an equally confused and disturbed expression. Genesis was looking straight at Sephiroth…suspiciously. Cloud had a feeling there was more meaning to this conversation than he was getting.

"Now…Sephiroth…do you have any idea how they might possibly have gotten their hands on such a trinket? I know her majesty used to wear it all the time. She didn't happen to entrust it to you, did she?" Genesis asked scathingly.

"Genesis, that accusation is—" Aeris started to protest, but Sephiroth held up a hand.

"She did entrust it to me," he confirmed, not allowing Aeris to take the fall for him, or even protect him. "But if it fell into the hands of the Avalancian monarchy, it was not stolen from us."

"So you mean you gave away that treasure to our enemies?" Genesis accused once more.

"Not to an enemy. To one specified and trusted by the royal court of this kingdom. I will speak to that person on its loss." Even though he spoke coolly, Sephiroth was bothered by Genesis's words…Cloud could tell, even from that distance. There was something else going on….

"That person wouldn't happen to be Prince Cloud Strife Avalancios, would it?" Genesis hissed at Sephiroth, growing more aggressive now.

At that, Sephiroth took a step back, his stoic expression breaking into shock. "…Who…did you say?"

And…so did Cloud's. I'm…a prince? He looked down at himself. He didn't feel like a prince. These clothes weren't nearly as ridiculous as the ones Aeris's royal court was wearing….

"That's right! Prince Cloud, Jenova's son. Apparently, she does have an heir. She's very good at keeping him a secret," Genesis sneered. "And apparently…so are you, traitor!"

Wait…I'm Jenova's son?! Since when?!

"A spy!" someone called behind Cloud. He looked over to see a guard pointing at him from outside the wall, watching him eavesdrop on the royals. "You there! You're under arrest!!"

"Shit…!"

He leapt down out of the tree and made a run for it. If he really was an enemy prince in this reality, it wasn't a good idea to be caught by the guard…not at all!

But…wait…this wasn't his problem. Obviously, Genesis, Sephiroth, and himself were all…somewhat sane. None of them had ever absorbed the Lifestream. Did they even have a Lifestream here? So in other words, this reality was…entirely useless for his purposes.

Sorry, other me…I have to hurry up and find what I really need. I hope you escape! Good luck!

- Variation III -

Alright…so that trip had been entirely useless. He couldn't just broaden his search and stumble upon entirely dissimilar realities…he had to refine it, while still not ruling out any one type of reality…realities that were nothing like his own, yes, but realities where the world was in a similar situation. Realities where they had some idea as to how to defeat that kind of enemy, or realities that had already done it. He focused his energy on that, being careful not to rule any reality out that was a possibility, yet still narrowing it to his search for Genesis's weakness, and opened his eyes again.

He was dressed in a white suit, sitting at a desk in an office. An office that looked…strangely familiar. There was a knock at the door. Cloud hesitated for a moment before clearing his throat and calling, "Come in!" hoping desperately that he was supposed to be sitting there.

The door opened and in came…wait…did he know this guy…? He was dressed in a black suit…clean, shaved, with long black hair tied back at the nape of his neck and a pretty face with sharp features and dark, reddish eyes. A Turk, he looked like. The only thing that seemed really out of place about him was the brass claw hand that peeked out of—

Holy SHIT! Cloud realized, nearly choking on his own saliva. That's Vincent!

"Mr. President…we have word from the…." Vincent frowned at him, noticing the look on his face. "Ah…President Strife?"

The look on Cloud's face shifted considerably, his jaw dropping as he looked down at himself, realizing—the white suit!—he had switched places with Rufus ShinRa! And…that did it. He burst out laughing.

Vincent looked down on him distastefully. "…Sir…? Is there…a problem?"

"N-no! No problem! No problem at all! W-well…actually…I did want to know something. Maybe you might know this." Cloud tried to stop laughing at Vincent's new look…and at his own irresponsibly granted power…and focus on the task at hand. "Say that…hypothetically…someone very powerful like Sephiroth or Genesis tried to absorb the Lifestream and destroy the world. How would we stop them, then?"

Vincent stared at him awkwardly. "Ah…I'm…not certain, sir." Oh, and Cloud found the fact that Vincent called him "sir" absolutely hilarious. Vincent had to clear his throat to make his president stop giggling. "May I ask why you would want to know such a thing? And why you would ever think of it?"

"Oh…well…it's important to plan ahead. And…I heard from our…uh…intelligence…that such a…development…might be something we'll have to protect against in the future." Cloud was trying to be careful to sound "president-like," but it wasn't really his thing. Who the hell elected him to lead the company?

"I…wasn't informed." Vincent cleared his throat again. "But…we have intruders in the building, sir. We're almost certain it's that AVALANCHE group. Please stop laughing, sir. This is very serious," Vincent urged him, now starting to become slightly annoyed. "They've broken through our security."

"Oh, well…let's go meet them," Cloud said once he'd recovered himself again.

"…Meet them, sir?" Vincent looked as though he'd just swallowed something disgusting. "Why?"

"I want to talk to them. Bring the other T-Turks, too," he ordered, stifling another laugh. If his suspicions were true….

…And, they were. The other Turks were members of AVALANCHE. That probably meant that the members of AVALANCHE were the Turks. This was awesome! If only he had a….

"Hey…Vincent…do you have a camera?" The Turk handed one over, as per his president's orders, however grudgingly. Cloud smirked a little. "I hope I can bring this with me…probably not, but I want to take them anyway."

Tifa looked particularly excellent in her suit…apparently, they didn't make suits small enough for the rest of her body with compensation for her chest size. She had to wear it open. Aeris…did not suit a suit at all. She looked much better in a little pink dress, no matter how tiny that little black tie was. Barrett looked particularly awkward, his muscles and gun arm bursting out, while Nanaki…oh, Nanaki replaced Rufus's dog! What was that mutt's name again?

"Are you done now, sir?" Vincent growled just as Cloud snapped one last shot of him. "We have more pressing matters to attend to."

"Er…yeah. I-I'm done. Let's go."

He went down a few floors with his fellow ShinRa members—well, he supposed now it was Strife Corporation, wasn't it?—to meet the members of the rebel group. And once again…he proved himself correct.

Rufus Shinra stepped forward, flanked by Tseng, Elena, Reno, and Rude. He wore a SOLDIER uniform…carried a big sword…sported a pair of quite bright mako-blue eyes….

"Cloud Strife! We've come to take you down, and your corporation with you!" he declared.

"For the good of the Planet!" Tseng chimed in, brandishing his own weapon.

"Yeah, for the good o' the Planet, yo—hey…why are you laughing?! Cut out the evil cacklin', yo! You think you're gonna get away with this?!" Cloud kept laughing. Reno just grew more angry. "Hey! You think you can take us on?! You don't know nothin', yo! If you was from where I was from…you'd be dead!"

Vincent took Cloud's arm. "Mr. President…may I speak with you a moment?" He dragged Cloud aside whilst the Turks and AVALANCHE threw insults at each other. "With all due respect, sir…are you on drugs? Laughing gas? Acid?" he hissed. "Do I need to relieve you?"

"N-no…that's not it…I'm fine…trust me…please, Vincent…I just need to ask them something, and then you can beat the crap out of them if you want…."

Vincent still wasn't happy, but allowed Cloud to return. He took a few deep breaths. "Rufus…members of AVALANCHE…I need to ask you a question. Let's say that someone very powerful like Sephiroth or Genesis tried to absorb the Lifestream and destroy the world. Th-this is all hypothetical…just saying. What could we do to stop them? If you had all the resources on the Planet and all the technology and everything you needed?"

Rufus blinked and looked to the others. "Uh…what exactly does absorbing the Lifestream do to someone?"

"Well…it makes them able to put their body back together even if they're beheaded and levels them up sevenfold, essentially," Cloud explained.

Horror crossed over the faces of the members of AVALANCHE. "H-how would someone do something like that?" Elena asked in a panic.

"Uh…well, by drawing a METEOR to the Planet and putting a wound in it…and then taking the Lifestream into his body when it gathered at that place to heal the Planet up," Cloud rattled off from his memory. The others stared at him. "Well? Any ideas?"

"Who the hell would be crazy enough to do that, yo?"

"Sephiroth…." Rufus muttered grimly. He shook his head. "I don't know. I guess at that point, she'd be unstoppable. We'd have to prevent it from happening somehow…that'd be the only way…."

Which was imposible…unless you could go back in time. Genesis had already obtained that kind of power.

But…there was something about what they said just then…. "She?" Cloud asked. "As in…Jenova?"

"Jenova?" Rufus asked. "Who is Jenova? What's she got to do with anything?"

"Sir…" Vincent growled. Apparently, AVALANCHE hadn't stumbled on Jenova's secret yet….

"Wait…you guys don't know who Jenova is? Then who is 'she'…?" Cloud wondered aloud…before his confusion was cut short. Sephiroth walked in the room.

A lithe figure…the same leather trenchcoat…the same shoulderpads…the same Masamune…but…something was…decidedly different about him….

Breasts…?! Sephiroth is a chick?!

A few of the ShinRa soldiers guarding the room that had been focused on AVALANCHE turned their attention to her. She simply walked up, that insane look in her eyes, her head rolling slightly. Rufus blinked and jumped forward. "Sephiroth!"

Sephiroth rolled her head over. "Who…are you?" Definitely a woman's voice. A beautiful voice, but….

"Sephiroth! It's me! Rufus ShinRa! Don't you remember me?!"

Cloud's mouth was still open wide as his eyes as he lifted the camera, stunned, and snapped a picture. Please give me the power to take this camera with me. He turned to Vincent. "Alright…look. We leave AVALANCHE to deal with him. Er…her! But we need to evacuate the building before everyone is slaughtered."

"…Sir, I'll provide for your safety, but I assure you, our forces are fully capable of—"

"No. They're not. Trust me. I've seen the future." Cloud sighed. "Of course, in a few moments, I won't remember any of this and I won't think this is funny, either. Just count it as an encounter with destiny and the Lifestream. Get me out of here, Vincent."

Vincent blinked a few times, confused, still not quite getting what was going on. "…Yes, sir…" he managed to reply, just before Cloud lost all sense of and presence in that world.

- Interlude -

Cloud opened his eyes again before he was quite ready to pass into the next reality and found himself in a strange…void. There was very little color, and yet it was abounding with color…no life, and yet all life, all existence there at the same time. There was no actual definition of the space…like he was floating in a cloud of…well, everything.

"Am I…between realities?"

The sound didn't echo, as he expected it to in the empty expanse. He looked around some more. What a strange place…. Well…I guess I can think about my options a little while I'm here.

In the first reality, Aeris's flower world, he'd learned to use his powers. In the second, he'd learned to focus. In the third, he learned that the only way to stop someone like Genesis might be to prevent him from getting his power in the first place. But that was impossible now. It had already happened.

He looked down into his hands and saw he hadn't been able to take the camera with him. Damn. So that wasn't part of his powers…taking things with him across realities. Or…maybe he couldn't bring it with him just because he didn't have a physical form of his own…after all, he'd been able to take his clothes and his sword before. He would probably need a body anyway if he was going to fight Genesis.

Maybe he could just drag Genesis into another reality and strand him there? That would be something…but then that reality would be trashed, too. What about a reality without any life? But, then…Genesis could travel between realities as he liked, as well. It'd be all too easy for him to escape…not like Vincent S. and Sephiroth, who were pretty much stuck in whatever world they happened to be in or stumble onto.

Whatever he did, he needed a new body first. But he was dead. The only thing would be…maybe finding a version of himself in another world who was willing to share one. But who would that be? Where would he find someone like that?

"Where are you…?" a voice called out of the void. "I…I can't see you…."

Cloud blinked. It wasn't a voice he recognized…was it? But it seemed so familiar…like he'd heard it so many times before. He stood up. "…I'm over here!" he called into the emptiness. "Follow my voice!"

It didn't answer at first. "…You're not Sephiroth," it whispered dejectedly…but Cloud heard it loud and clear.

"…No…I'm not," he admitted. "But I'm trying to find him. I'm trying to save him."

A figure started to form on the far side of the void. Someone stepped out…and for a second, Cloud wondered if he was seeing things…it was himself! But then, that was pretty normal when you were hopping across alternate universes, wasn't it?

But, no…it wasn't just another version of himself…it was his psychotic self from Sephiroth's reality! Wing, crazy eyes, and all! What was he doing in a place like this?

"…I can't find him," Psycho-Cloud whimpered. "He's gone…."

"…He's not gone yet…" Hero-Cloud tried to say, but the other one cut him off.

"Your Sephiroth isn't gone!" he sobbed. "You still have a chance for happiness!" His body shuddered as tears streamed down his face. "How could you?!"

Hero-Cloud wasn't sure what to say…his name, maybe? "Cloud…." It felt odd to be saying his own name to comfort someone else…but this whole situation wasn't exactly canon. He actually felt sorry for his other self…despite the fact that he was a lunatic….

Psycho-Cloud's crying calmed to sniffling and shaking, but no words passed between them. The place in which they stood shifted and contorted, realities changing and swirling about them, but they stood suspended in no man's land, free of time and space. Literally nowhere. Finally, at some length, Psycho-Cloud spoke again…softly. "…I wanted to find you."

"Huh?" Hero-Cloud blinked a little. "You…wanted to?" He'd just given him the impression that he was jealous and angry about sane Sephiroth being alive and well….

"…I know…I can't be with Sephiroth." Psycho-Cloud drew in breath harshly, trying to take control of his breaking heart and his breaking body. He swallowed his tears and lifted his head up a little, eyes still drowning in sadness…but no longer in water. "…I know I'll never be with him. My Sephiroth is gone. He was never meant to live."

Hero-Cloud watched him, unsure of what to say once again. What would he want someone to say to him if their places were swapped? What could anyone say that would make him feel any better? He couldn't remember anything from anyone….

"…So…I don't care anymore. There's no meaning to life without him. It's as empty…as this place is. And full, too…because Sephiroth is still alive…but not my Sephiroth." He closed his eyes gently…painfully. "He's your Sephiroth…but you can't be with him, either…because you're dead now. Your life can't be empty…it doesn't even exist."

That realization struck sane Cloud suddenly. He…couldn't be with Sephiroth again? That was right…he was still dead, whatever way he looked at it. No matter what, he was still just a ghost wandering around, avoiding the Lifestream. Would he…would he never see Sephiroth again? His heart sunk in his chest, a sudden clench coming into his throat. He was just as bad off as his other self was…never to return to the one he loved….

"That's why…I want you…to take this body."

Hero-Cloud blinked and stared up at Psycho-Cloud. Had…the evil version of him just said that? What did he mean, "take his body"?

Psycho-Cloud opened his eyes and looked right into those of his other self. "Neither of us can be with him any other way," he explained sadly. "It'll be like dying for me…but I don't care. I don't want to die, but I don't want to live, either. This way…I can do both. I'll disappear…I'll stop the pain…but I'll still live. And I'll be with Sephiroth."

Hero-Cloud's mouth dropped open slightly. "Cloud…!" he gasped. How was this possible…this kind of compassion from someone who was always so…evil? Was this really what he wanted? To give up his life for an enemy's romance? Was such a moving action something that this version of himself could take…self-sacrificial, for the sake of another?

"I always thought finding Mother was so important…but I'm sure…there's another world somewhere where I kept my promise to her. What's important in this reality isn't any of that. Even if that bastard does what she wants…he still took Sephiroth away from me. I can't forgive him for that." Psycho-Cloud walked towards his other slowly. "…So you have to take this form…and find a way to stop him. Somehow. You have to. I can come here, but I can't go to other worlds like you can at will. Only you can do that.

"You're the only one who can avenge him…and find happiness for the both of us."

Hero-Cloud stared a little longer…and then nodded slowly, coming forward. "I…I understand," he answered, struck speechless by his actions. "…I'll find a way. I promise. I won't stop until I do."

A muscle near Psycho-Cloud's mouth twitched into something of a smile as they came together. "I know. Don't forget…I know you better than you know yourself."

"Is that even possible…?" Hero-Cloud asked.

Psycho-Cloud shook his head. "Not really. It's a paradox."

- Variation IV –

Cloud opened his eyes in a side-road in Edge. Alright…looked pretty normal. Maybe….

…Was he back in his own world?

He felt his body a little bit to make sure he was solid. Yeah…definitely in one piece…and he could feel something in his shoulder. Was that…had the wing come with the body?

Just to make sure he didn't look like as much of a psychopath as his other self did, Cloud ducked around to a parked car and looked into the rearview mirror. Yeah…his eyes were okay now…not quite as dark and sunken-in as his other self had been. That was good, at least…but now…. Should he go find his group and tell them that he was okay? Or should he try to dodge Genesis and take him by surprise?

Cloud saw a small boy run up in the mirror behind him, but he couldn't make him out clearly. He looked back.

A young silver-haired boy stood there. He looked oddly familiar…but Cloud couldn't quite place it. His hair was cut very short…but even his eyelashes were silver. It made him look very pretty…those bright green eyes….

Cloud froze up. …Wait a minute….

The boy stared back, just as stunned as Cloud was. He looked him over once, and then stared up into his face. "…Cloud?" he asked in a pure, pretty voice, unsullied by either war hardening or insanity. Cloud could hardly believe what he was seeing.

"…Sephiro—?!

"Sephir Angeal Valentine! Get back here now!"

Cloud blinked as the boy froze up and spun around to look back. Cloud would recognize Tifa's angry voice anywhere. He ducked quickly down the alleyway and watched. The boy, Sephir, turned back around looked around the alleyway for him, but hadn't seen him dive away.

She wheeled around the corner and saw him, running towards him and taking him roughly by the arm. "What are you thinking, running off like that?!" she scolded him. Cloud gaped…she looked like she'd aged about ten years or more. Worry lines had started to appear at her mouth and her brows. Of course, when he saw the age of the boy, that almost made sense.

"Aunt Tifa!" he complained. "I thought I saw Cloud!"

Tifa froze up, but then scoffed at him and started to drag him back. "Don't be ridiculous!"

"But I did! I saw him!" Sephir looked back, still trying to catch a glimpse of him.

"Cloud is dead!" Tifa yelled at him. There was pain all over her face and in her quivering voice.

"You don't know that!" Sephir snapped back, ripping his arm away from her.

"Don't be such a brat! He's dead, and you know it—!!"

"Why do you hate me, Aunt Tifa?!" he demanded of her. She stopped dead in her tracks. "What did I do?! What can I possibly do?! Nothing I do ever makes you happy!!"

Tifa cringed. She looked like she was about to cry. "If you want to make me happy…then bring him back!" she sobbed, and ran from him. Sephir stared after her, dejected and shocked at the impossible task…at the thought that she would blame it on him. Cloud's heart tore at the seams.

Was that…how she was feeling right now…? How Sephiroth was feeling…? Back in his reality?

That settled it, then. When he got back, he would tell them right away. And he had to get back soon. He couldn't just leave them alone. He had to protect them…and be there for them.

That, and he had to make peace between Tifa and Sephiroth. He could understand Tifa's reasons, but he couldn't just leave that alone. He had to talk to her…he couldn't just run away from her like he had before. Come to think of it…that was the last time he'd talked to her…now he felt really bad.

But first thing's first…Genesis. How do you kill a being that can't be killed?

He asked that question of the void of realities…and it spat out a world for him.

- Variation V -

He arrived on a dark city street that looked about as technologically advanced as the world where Aeris had been queen. Well…maybe a little more than that. At least here it looked like they had gas lamps and a few automobiles, if not very many. The streets were still cobblestone and the clothes still outdated…though it looked no more old-fashioned in architecture than, say, Kalm did. Cloud really stuck out in his new body.

He looked up at the night sky and the full moon and heard a howling in the distance. He shuddered a little. Looked like a scene from a horror movie. A dark mansion stood up on the hill overlooking the town…maybe Genesis lived there.

"Cloud? What are you doing down here? And why aren't you wearing your ring or your scarf?" an unfamiliar voice asked from behind him. "You shouldn't be out on a full moon, besides…."

Cloud looked back. The man looked…a little like Zack, in his hairstyle…but other than that, he didn't really recognize the guy. He also looked like a nobleman of some sort. "I…beg your pardon?"

The man looked pleasantly puzzled and approached a little more. And then looked him up and down. "Ah…you're…much taller, aren't you? But you look just like him. Pardon me. I've mistaken you for someone else."

"Uh…no. I uh…I know Cloud," Cloud bluffed.

"Really, now? Are you related?"

"Uh…distantly…but he doesn't know about me, so don't mention it to him," Cloud said quickly.

"Ah…nice to meet you, then. I promise…I won't say a word. I am Lord Angeal of Midgar, by the by. I'm a friend of Cloud's master." He bowed rather than extending his hand. Cloud did so as well…awkwardly. And then realized that Angeal was also expecting a name.

"Uh…I'm…Rayne," Cloud threw out quickly. So…it came in handy again, after all. "Rayne Strife."

"Ah! I see." He smiled. Cloud did a double take. His teeth were…really sharp! "Come…join me for a drink in the tavern, will you? I was going up to see Lord Sephiroth…" he said, nodding to the mansion up on the hill, "…but I'm not brave enough to travel in a moon like this alone. My friend?"

"Uh…sure," Cloud agreed. "I mean…certainly, your lordship." He tried to sound like he fit into the times…and just ended up feeling stupid. Angeal laughed softly…almost like he knew…but he couldn't, could he?

Angeal took him into the tavern in town and took a corner to sit in. Cloud ordered a drink from the bartender, wondering how he was going to pay for it, but Angeal stepped in. "I'll have just water, thank you…and his drink is on me." Cloud blinked at him a little, feeling awkward, but…. "Don't worry about it. I don't actually drink. But trust me…I have more money than I'll ever wish to use. It's prudent of me, then, to show a little kindness to fellow man with the excess, isn't it?"

"Uh…you're…too kind," Cloud attempted awkwardly, sitting with him and taking a sip. He shuddered a little. Compared to Tifa's brew…this crap was awful.

Angeal almost smiled at that. "You see…that's why I don't drink anymore," he joked. "So…Rayne. What brings you to these parts? Have you come in search of your long lost blood? Or is there another purpose?"

"Uh…actually…." Cloud shifted a little. "I'm looking for a way…to stop someone insanely powerful who's going to basically destroy my home if I can't do something about it."

"Oh? So you've come seeking aid? What do you need? Weapons? Men?"

"No…nothing like that…I mean…I have all the resources, it's just…well…." He tried to think of a way to put it. "He…can't be killed."

Angeal frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well…you can stab him and he heals…behead him and he can pick his head back up and reattach it. I know it sounds strange, but…."

"No, no. It's not as strange as you might think," Angeal assured him.

Cloud blinked. "It's not?" Could this be it…? "You mean…you know how to kill someone like that??" he asked hopefully.

"Well…not like that. Even vampires have their weaknesses concerning mortal wounds," Angeal asserted.

"…Vampires…?" Cloud paled a little. "You've seen vampires?"

Angeal grinned with his…very…sharp…teeth again. "I told you, Rayne. I don't drink alcohol. I prefer a different wine."

Cloud choked and felt some of the bad ale come back up his throat. He gaped at that smile. This guy Angeal was a vampire?! "You notice it's not so wise for me to go wandering about on a full moon," Angeal explained a little more. "Wolves, you know. Ah…but anyway…back to your question…."

"Wait…is…is it okay for you to tell me that?" Cloud asked.

"Well…normally, no. But your young kin knows," he answered. "Besides…you aren't going to be here very long, are you?"

…So he did know. Or at least, he knew something. In a world that was weird enough to have vampires and werewolves and other mythical monsters running around in the same place as Sephiroth and himself, he was sure there were a lot of strange things people understood here that they wouldn't in his own world.

"So…what do I do?"

Angeal nodded to him. "Well, first…you're going about it the wrong way. It isn't reasonable to try and kill a man who cannot be killed. However…." He held up a finger. "If you're going to kill a man who is all-powerful…first, you must take away all of his power."

"Take away…his power?" Cloud thought about it. "But…how do I do that…?" It wasn't like he could just pull the other world's Lifestream out of Genesis's body….

"You can't just have good offense and defense. You have to use status to your advantage. That's how you play the game." Angeal shook his head. "But I don't have to lecture you on that, do I?"

"Well…no…I guess not," Cloud agreed. It hadn't occurred to him to think of the Lifestream power as a positive status that could be taken on and off…maybe even blocked. That was all well and good, of course, but…. "Hey…do you know anything about the Lifestream?"

"You mean the next life? I could stand to think about it more, considering I won't be part of it. Monsters aren't generally accepted, it seems. Don't tell me you're some kind of missionary."

Cloud hesitated. "Uh…no…I'm not. In fact…I should be going. Thank you, Angeal…for the info…a-and the drink." Cloud stood up. "You've been a great help."

"Glad to be of service." Angeal gave him a half-salute, half-wave. "Get on with your quest. Perhaps someday, though, you should come and pay Cloud a visit. Preferrably before he's bitten."

Cloud jumped a little and shuddered. "Uh…yes." He suddenly found himself wishing he really did have a scarf, like Angeal had mentioned. He hoped the young—was he young?—aristocrat didn't want him to…uh…return the "drink." "I'll…uh…try to come back soon."

He hurried out and ported away, firmly intending never to return to that world…unless, maybe, it was to rescue himself from the vampires. And he'd thought the feminine Sephiroth was strange.

- Variation VI -

Bearing in mind the information he'd come across through his journeys across worlds, Cloud focused, sifting through different realities until he came across one that seemed very, very similar to his own…but there was something different. More knowledge…more….

Cloud was surprised to find that once he'd focused on a single world, he could…actually pick where he wanted to go. Not surprisingly, he sought out Sephiroth…but he could only do so up to a certain area. For some reason, the area beyond split off and became fuzzy. That was strange…Sephiroth's position was…well, it was almost like he was in many different places at once….

Cloud picked one and opened his eyes, having not been so sure what he was looking at to begin with. He was standing in some kind of facility…a reactor, maybe? Or a base? Something like that. He saw a security camera down the hall, but it wasn't pointed at him.

Footsteps echoed across the steel floor…hurried footsteps. They were lightly trod, but a large person. Cloud reached back to First Tsurugi slowly…except it wasn't First Tsurugi, it was Psycho-Cloud's sword, but it would do just as well…and readied himself for whoever it was….

He rounded the corner. Cloud paused a moment…and then lit up. "Sephiroth!!"

Sephiroth's eyes widened at him, his lips parting slightly in shock. Yeah, watching your dead love appear before your eyes was pretty shocking…until, of course, Cloud remembered that he looked just like his psychotic other self. But…wait…the two selves looked exactly alike. They even wore pretty much the same thing. (Of course, Cloud didn't know this, but his less sane half actually stopped in Edge to borrow the heroic version's clothes. His were a bit…sundered, to say the least.) And without the insane look in his eyes…yeah. They pretty much looked identical.

"…Cloud…?" Sephiroth breathed, unable to believe what he was seeing.

"Yeah! It's me! Ah…it's a long story…but…I'm here now. I promise I'll explain everything." Cloud smiled warmly. He wanted to run to Sephiroth and embrace him…but he wasn't sure what their situation was. Sephiroth was in a hurry for some reason…Cloud hoped he hadn't just dropped in on him in the middle of a battle.

Sephiroth continued to stare at him just as Zack rounded the corner and staggered to a quick, surprised halt. "Whoa! Hey, what is it, Seph—?" He stopped short as he got an eyeful of Cloud. He blinked a few times. "H-hey…weren't you just—?"

Zack pointed a thumb behind him and turned around just as a third member of the party came around. And Cloud felt his stomach cave in.

It was…himself. At the age of fifteen. In his cadet uniform.

Oh, shit…! I didn't go to another world…! Cloud thought quickly, panicking. I…I went back in time in my world!! But how?! He looked in between Sephiroth's stare, Zack's gape, and mini-Cloud's shat-himself and tried to calm down. His teenage self was probably firmly convinced that he was on acid and wouldn't remember this when he woke up. Hell, older Cloud was pretty sure he was on some kind of drug after the things he'd seen. Turk Vincent had thought so, too.

"Uh…." Cloud attempted to speak, seeing that they were expecting him to explain. "…Whoops?" Which…he couldn't.

Sephiroth took a step forward. "You're the one…" he said intently, but cryptically.

"H-huh?" Cloud shirked a little.

"H-hold on a second…that's the guy? The one you saw? From the future?!"

Mini-Cloud tried to speak, but his voice wouldn't come. He didn't quite know what to say to something like this. He took the back of Zack's shirt in his hand for support.

Sephiroth nodded to Zack, keeping his eyes on the older Cloud. "What do you want from me…?" he asked non-confrontationally…as though he simply wanted to know. "Are you going to come and kill me?"

Cloud blinked. He…knew about that? But how? "Ah…." Cloud was pretty sure that if he screwed up the past, he'd screw up the present, too. And he couldn't do that. But…well, no…that would defeat the purpose. If he changed the future too much, his Sephiroth might not come to his world…and then he'd lose his happiness anyway….

…But…he'd already screwed up the past anyway just by being here. So why the hell not?

"…Yes," he told Sephiroth honestly. "That is…if things continue as they are." He glanced away, lowering his eyes.

Sephiroth and Zack looked at each other. Mini-Cloud still looked lost. "What do you mean?" the general asked cautiously. "What needs to change?"

"Uh…well, I'd tell you everything…but…there's so much…." Well…there was one thing he could do. Cloud raised his head again and looked Sephiroth in the eyes. "Don't believe anything you read in ShinRa mansion," he warned. "It's all wrong." Should he stop there? Or did he dare to go on? "There are so many lies…you have to find the truth…." But, might that also lead him to Jenova?

"Where do I find the truth? What is it?" Sephiroth demanded of him, coming forward a little more.

Cloud cringed. He was definitely screwing up the timeline…. Where would Sephiroth find the truth…? Who alive would know the flat fact of his existence enough to—

"Vincent!" he gasped.

Sephiroth frowned. "Vincent? Vincent who?"

"Vincent Valentine! He can tell you the truth better than I can." That should do the trick. If Sephiroth could find Vincent, he'd be alright. But…what was going to happen to his future now…? Unless even Vincent couldn't stop it? Or they never found him?

Cloud heard more hurried footsteps down the hall and panicked. No one else could see him…if they did, then…! "One more thing! Sephiroth!"

Sephiroth turned to him. Cloud smiled.

"…You're not a monster. You're…human. Don't ever forget that."

And with those words…Cloud left them alone.

- Variation VII -

Back in Aeris's world of flowers. She seemed to know the depths of his power. He had something to ask her.

"Having fun?" Aeris asked in a more…caustic tone than was usually in character for her.

Cloud blinked, looking back. She didn't look happy. "…Uh…not really. Is something wrong?" She shrugged, but didn't say anything. Cloud reached up and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "…Um…there was something I wanted to ask you about."

"The time travel, right?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Er…yes…."

"What? You thought you could surf the sixth dimension and not break the fourth?" She picked one of her flowers, twirling it in her fingers.

Cloud had never seen her this…irritated. That is…this was Aeris. She was never angry. What was her problem? "…I'm…afraid I don't understand…all this dimension…time travel…stuff…."

"Of course you can move through time! But that doesn't mean you should, Cloud. Do you know how much you can mess things up that way?!" She turned to him directly, sending him a glare. Cloud shrank. Aeris was…frightening like this. Since when…?

"Well…I figured…but if I can, then I already have. I already went back in time in my world and screwed things up…."

"That wasn't your reality, Cloud. It was just very similar. All that happens when you go back in time and spur-of-the-moment alter the past is you create another reality that branches off of the one you're in. But your home world is different. You could really destroy things."

"Wh…why would my home world be different?" Cloud shifted uneasily. Aeris was talking about things he really didn't understand….

"I'm not telling you!" Aeris decided, turning away and crossing her arms, pouting.

Cloud frowned, trying to make sense of what she had said. Not his own world?

Oh…I went to another reality. When I was talking to my cadet self, that wasn't me. That was a different me. But I also traveled through time. So I didn't screw up my timeline…I just changed things in another reality, in the past. So it's all okay.

…But what happens if I do that in my own world? And why doesn't Aeris want me to know?

What had he been able to gather from the other realities? Take Genesis's power away. Well that was alright to say, but how? The only thing anyone else was able to think of was preventing it before it happened—

Which was imposible…unless you could go back in time.

Aeris whirled around. "I know what you're thinking! And don't you dare do it!" she hissed at him.

"H-huh?" Cloud looked to her. Assuming she did know what he was thinking.... "…Why not?"

"Because, Cloud! It's one thing to alter one timeline for one reality…but do you know how many realities Genesis has affected?! How many his rising to the state of a demi-god has affected? You wouldn't be able to just branch off another reality, because there are multiple realities tied to him! You would create a paradox that would cause our entire plane of existence to collapse!"

Cloud got about…none of that. "So…it would be…bad?"

Aeris groaned in impatience. "All realities everywhere would end. Permanently."

Cloud blinked. "That's…pretty bad."

"Yes, Cloud! It's bad!" She sighed. "Of course…it won't be the first time you've tried to destroy my dreams."

"Wh….what…?"

She turned away, looking out over her field. "Do you know how hard I had to work to make this place, Cloud?" she asked, her tone becoming more tender…and therefore, more characteristic.

"Uh…well, I imagine it must have taken a long time for you to plant all these…" Cloud observed, looking around.

"Oh…I didn't plant them by hand. I would never have gotten it done." She giggled a little. "I willed them to grow. But the important thing is…." She looked out, around her world. "Listen to that, Cloud…."

He listened. And…. "…I don't hear anything."

She smiled brightly, turning around to face him again. "Exactly! The whole world is quiet…and peaceful. No pain…no sadness. Only peace. The way it was meant to be…." She looked out over it. "It's the Promised Land, Cloud. The garden from which humans were expelled because of their sin. But they weren't really sent away," she explained. "They simply…tainted it with their greed and their malice…turned it into something black and terrible. It was here all along…but…it had disappeared. I brought it back to life, Cloud. You never understood that when you were still here…." She turned away once more. "But…I hope you understand now."

"When I was still…here?" Cloud looked around. "You mean…the entire Planet is…covered in this?"

"Mm-hm."

Oh. So this was another reality, too…another Aeris. Damn, there were a lot of them. And this wasn't the Lifestream…this was the Planet. But…there was nothing on it? Nothing but flowers…? Well that was all well and good, but….

"…But…where are the people?"

"What people?" Aeris asked innocently, turning to Cloud again.

Cloud took a step back. A knot was starting to form in his gut…something wasn't right. "I mean…people. Like you and me. Towns. Kids. Where are they?"

"Oh…them," she recognized…dismissively.

"Aeris…?" Cloud's tone became a little more panicked. He hoped his suspicions were wrong…but…. No. Aeris wouldn't. Maybe him, maybe Sephiroth, Genesis, hell, even Zack…but…Aeris…? It wasn't true…!

"People were the ones who destroyed the Promised Land. It was only meant for the Cetra. As the last of the Cetra…I knew I was the only one who could return it. So…."

She smiled. "…I got rid of everything else."

Horror gripped Cloud, and he stumbled backward…away from her. "Y-you mean…you killed everyone!?"

Aeris sighed. "You never did agree with me. I did offer you your life…but you wouldn't take it. I still don't understand why you chose death in the land of sorrow over life here in the Promised Land with me…."

"Why?!" Cloud couldn't believe what was coming out of her mouth. Aeris, destroyer of worlds?! How could that be?! "Because it's wrong! It's murder! Sure, people aren't perfect! They fight, they cause trouble, they hurt one another, but that doesn't mean you should kill them all!"

Aeris conked her head at him, unfazed by his distress. "But why else would humans die? If you deserved to live, you'd be immortal…like me."

Cloud's eyes widened. "Wh…what?!"

Aeris's body began to glow and she levitated from the ground. That glow…so similar to the glow that enveloped Genesis when he used his powers. When Aeris said I existed in the Lifestream…and she said I existed within her…did she mean that…she'd absorbed it into her body as well?!

"I'm sorry, Cloud…if you're still going to go back in time and prevent Genesis from becoming like me…." She raised a hand and a dreadful, bladed staff formed in it. "I'm going to have to kill you…again. But I'll give you a choice this time, too."

Cloud backed up. He could deal with fighting someone fearsome like Sephiroth…but Aeris…? He could never—!

"What do you choose, Cloud?" Aeris asked. "Even if you run away into other realities, I'll follow you. I have that power. Make your choice."

So there was a chance he would destroy every reality if he stopped Genesis. But there was also a good chance he would save his own.

"I trust you'll make the right choice," she cooed. "So what will it be?"

Cloud looked up at her. It was only a very slim chance. He might be able to take his friends to a different world, but Genesis would follow them just like Aeris would. There was no other way to stop him.

"…Goodbye, Aeris."

He disappeared.

Cloud opened his eyes and looked around. Midgar…three years ago. The world from which the ill, dying Rufus had sent them the videotape. Midgar was still standing. For now.

His eyes drifted up. A light like a star shone in the sky…but it was too big for that. METEOR.

If Genesis wasn't aware of him enough to come and kill him, Aeris certainly was…as strange as it was to think that way. She was probably hot on his tail by now.

If he could do this, he could save Sephiroth. Sephiroth, Tifa, Zack, his Aeris, both Vincents, Cid, Yuffie, Red XIII, Barrett, Marlene, Denzel…and everyone. He might also destroy them in the paradox.

Midgar was still standing. For now.

The METEOR was coming. The city would fall soon.

And Genesis would fall with it.

theme and variation 1) a musical work in which a simple theme or melody is introduced and then is expanded on in variations, forming sometimes more complex, sometimes entirely different musical explorations that have the same underlying current

: End Chapter XV :

Ending Notes: Yep, I went there. I pulled time travel.

Alright, I had a lot of fun with the random scenarios in this chapter. Like the Rufus-Cloud-switch reality…that was an idea that popped up when I saw the original design for Cloud. Back in the day, Nomura-sama first drew the main character for his new game without those gorgeous bangs and…well, he looked a lot like Rufus ShinRa. That made me giggle, so I decided to do a little something like this. It really helped the creative juices knowing that Vincent was once a Turk, too.

And uh…vampires are…well, they're kinda my thing (Vampire Knight FTW!). Expect a fanfic along those lines somewhere in the future, once this is finished. And distorting Sephiroth's body into funny shapes and sizes is also win.

EDIT: I was getting a loooooot of confused comments about this chapter, so I edited it. Now, it should be clear that Cloud hasn't been in his own reality at all this entire time. He's the only character from the other chapters (besides Psycho-Cloud) that returns here in this chapter. All the others are part of their own realities, not Cloud's.