Enigma

Enigma

Author: Cloudyfire

Rated: R gore, violence

Last Time


It was Zack.

Cloud inhaled sharply and narrowed his eyes at his friends condition. Zack had been stabbed and was now slowly losing blood, watching the liquid seep out around the prone body of his friend. Looking around frantically the blonde tried to locate his sword and get a grip on reality.

But everything came crashing down when he spotted Sephiroth walking casually down the metal steps.

The first thing Cloud wanted to do was jump up and shout for the man’s help. He was so relived he could at least count of the General for help.

That was until the blond fully comprehended what the man was holding. In his left hand, dripping fluids, was a severed head. In the right hand his most prized possession, his sword , all the while smiling like a lunatic.


The Fall and Rise

Cloud was so scared he stood right where he was and watched Sephiroth. No not Sephiroth, for surely it was a trick. The General was always composed and calm, not this maddened creature in front of him.

Watching in slow motion as the man began to descend down the stairs, he gripped the sword even tighter in his grasp as he looked quickly at Zack’s still prone form. Blood slowly leaking out of his friends body like a bad facet.

Before he even knew what was happening he found his surroundings blurring before his eyes, having to actually process the fact that he was moving, not the objects around him. He watched as he leapt in the air and bounded the stairs, the sword ready and willing to render.

The mad man in front looked back and continued on his sword arm not yet raising nor defending. It all happened so fast, that the next thing Cloud knew was sailing in the air and watching the ceiling in mild fascination.

Somewhat surprised when he landed with a crushing force, snapping his back and arms from the fall. Pain exploded in his mind as he felt every never ending screaming from the agony.

Crying out yet not really comprehending his own voice Cloud shut his eyes. Twisting and withering on the last few steps, reel felt moister near his closed eye lids and warm liquid on hi back, trickling down the rest of his body.

Hearing footsteps Cloud blinked back the pain and watched in bewilderment as Sephiroth slowly passed by before moving into the next room.

Harsh breathing could only be heard after that as Cloud tried to reorient himself. He didn’t know what was going on nor did he know what to do, his idol had just gone nuts and apparently torched his home village and hurt his friends.

Grinding his teeth from the pain Cloud looked over to his right to see Tifa and Zack a little a ways. Not moving but seeing their chests moving sluggishly up and down.

Groaning with the effort he pushed up his body ignoring the stinging agony that sapped his strength and clutched the small reckless into his hand underneath his sweat soaked shirt. Grabbing Zack’s sword, the nearest one he staggered up right, his head reeling and his stomach rebelling.

Cloud marched with silent purpose towards the exit the monster had taken.

Thinking about all the rage and hurt he had experienced in his life.

Cloud saw up ahead that Sephiroth was now walking on the catwalk along with the severed head. That same cool calm fashion of his even though he had just attacked his own comrades.

Screaming in outrage and terror Cloud charged and just as Sephiroth turned Zack’s long sword slid right into the mad man’s stomach.

Sephiroth grunted and gasped yanking the sword out of Clouds frozen hands.

Like it was no big deal, making it seem like the tall long blade was just paper.

He then turned a little to the right faster then the blond had anticipated and rammed his massamuru right through Cloud’s gut.

The tip of the fearsome blade coming out of his back. Cloud staggered beyond pain, all he could think about was hate and anger of what this man did, all he could think about was his friends mangled body on the wooden floor.

All Cloud could see was red as he gripped the sword that was now sticking out of his body and started to lift it up surprising Sephiroth and himself before twisting. Throwing the General off balance. Sephiroth let go of the sword a little to late and before he knew it his body was plummeting down into the mako itself. He could feel the wind rushing up to meet his back all the while watching Cloud’s sweat muddy streaked face and wide electrical blue eyes watch him from a fore.

As Cloud watched his once idol drop to the Mako below he suddenly felt light headed, groaning he felt his body fall and hit the metal surface.

Not even perceiving a thing as he heard some of his bones grind and feel cool wet liquid rush up to meet his back and head. As the darkness encased his mind he pictured Zack’s back towards him, one hand raised as the man glanced at the side, a small smile on his pink lips.

He could see Aerith bending down, tending the lush forest green plants and flourishing flowers. Humming a tune all to herself as she waited for their return.

Naruto’s sunny smile and sparking crystal blue eyes popped up next. His lean body artfully curved as the blond beckoned towards him wanting him to follow.

‘What was going on,’ he thought distantly.

Just as he was about to step forward to meet his friends, the earth around him shock and trembled. Swaying Cloud tried to steady his feet as he felt the rushing cool air meet his body and the mist swirl around him. At first he could not make anything out but little by little the mist cleared to show the edge of a cliff.

The very same cliff that had been haunting his dreams as of late. Hearing the familiar gunshots Cloud turned and ran in that direction, only to stop short when he saw Zack’s back.

“Zack.” Cloud yelled out, wanting to know what the other man was doing here.

Zack turned his upper body and smiled at Cloud his violet eyes lighting up his narrow ruffed face.

“Hey Spike what are you doing here.” He said casually like he was just commenting on the weather.

“Where is here, and why are you standing I just saw you fall with blood everywhere.” Cloud nearly shouted now more then a little confused.

“Oh don’t worry nothing can kill me.” Was the reply.

But before Cloud could even wrap that last question around he watched in surprise as Zack vanished, swallowed up by the mist. Breathing gruffly Cloud looked through the mist as his feet carried him on, trying to find Zack again.

“Cloud.”

Hearing his name Cloud turned around even as the gunshots started up again in the distance. Standing before him was Naruto but there was one thing different about the blond besides being naked.

His hair was longer and spikier, his eyes narrower just as blue as ever but with a hint of red near the pupils.

And he was taller nearly a foot taller, with strong lean muscles well proportioned gliding along the tan skin. And even as he fought with his mind Cloud could only look lower at the exposed regions on Naruto, taking everything in, noting that every inch of the man’s body was a golden tan.

“Cloud.”

He heard him say again but Cloud could not take his eyes away from Naruto’s figure, it had drastically changed. Even his voice was just a little deeper, still light but deeper.

Then something caught his eye, on Naruto’s stomach a great black spiral was swirling around. Moving in one direction then moving in another, like it had a mind of it’s own. Snapping out of it Cloud looked back up to his face and watched as those lips moved but no words were forthcoming everything being silenced except for those gunshots.

“Be prepared Guardian.”

A deep threatening growl interrupted Cloud’s thought process. Jumping a little his head moved back and forth, trying to locate this new voice.

“Be prepared.”

The thing said again as mist began to seep up, covering their feet, then their knees and thighs.

“Wait.”

Cloud shouted as he watched Naruto disappear. Naruto only smiled at him and opened up his arms for the blond to run into them. And Cloud would have, but he could not move, his whole body had started to feel numb and unresponsive.

“Wait”

He said one last time as everything around them got swept up into the blinding mists light, blanketing even the sounds of gunfire.

It was always like this in the beginning.

Nothing but darkness surrounding him in this void of nothingness.

But then there came the screams and loud noises, some he recognized while others were just gibberish in an unknown language. The air all around him, compressed and deadened, like a grave that had been dug up.


Oppressive and heavy.


Any minute now he would feel the light wind blow in his face and the desert up ahead.

Smell the blood and gunpowder. Exhaling deeply he opened his eyes, feeling his whole body lock up with anticipation. But when he finally focused he had seen none of these things. Nor had he seen the fog that would always appear. No he saw none of this but a large green lush forest. All around him was nothing but forest. Breathing a little steadier he looked around in wonderment, his hair moving side to side hiding intense blue eyes.

Nonplussed at this knew turn of events he took a step forward not really knowing where to go. He could smell the damp green earth, the air filled with damp foliage like that of a rain shower. Taking another step he walked on, feeling like something had kept pulling him in this direction. Urging him to move forward and not look back. But he had stopped shortly after the vines and tree branches had parted. For he could not go on or less he would certainly fall to his doom.

Right in front of him past the cliff he was on, he could see more forest but this time it felt different as he looked down upon the vale. All along the edges surrounding the vast valley where high rocky mountains.

They were on all sides, seemingly protecting what lie ahead in the forest. Looking up into the sky he squinted trying to see why he was even brought here. There was nothing here except the glaring sun beating down upon him and this valley forest that was protected on all sides.

Feeling the insistent tug around his waist once more he took another step forward before all his surroundings had started to melt away.

All the colors meshing together to create the primordial soup.

Feeling his body slip through the darkened hole he allowed it as he closed his eyes shut. He knew this sensation too, his body feeling light as a feather traveling along where the wind took him. Before too long he started to hear voices again. Some loud and some laughing. It felt like they were all around him, like he had been taken to a large district. Feeling the sensation of floating leave his body, he tentative opened his eyes.

Tall buildings and stalls lined up and down the dirt covered streets.

The buildings having the color yellow and cream mostly with strange writings on all of them. Most of the taller buildings having flat roofs with guard rails on them. With a sort of detachment he looked on as people walked back and fourth on this strange road. Some wearing bazaar headbands while others were wearing all black. Frowning he reached his hand out to perhaps ask what was going on but his hand would pass right through the person he was to stop. Leaving him rooted to this strange dirt road and the ghosts of the past.


TBC