An Equestrian Lifestream Corrupted and Manipulated

After loading Sephiroth aboard Shera 2, Cid called out the final preparations for liftoff over a loud speaker. The takeoff went better than expected and soon the rocket was exiting the planet’s atmosphere. Shera, Cid’s wife, made sure to come along to make sure the rocket didn’t experience any malfunctions on the trip. Once the rocket was safely outside the planet’s atmosphere, the ship was set on autopilot with a course set for the sun.

With the exception of Cloud and Vincent, each member of the crew took turns watching over Sephiroth in the cargo hold keeping an eye out for any disturbance. The crew began whispering among themselves on how strange it was that Sephiroth slept completely dormant making no visible movements. Some reported a sense of dread in being near the container and refused to take their assigned watch. This made the turns that much longer and eerie in the dead silence of the hull.

After the first day in space, the nightmares began. First some experienced these nightmares then it spread to the rest of the crew. Most refused to sleep rather than see what their dreams would behold. It started out simple with the person watching over Sephiroth. For a mere second, they would look away and back at the container meeting a cold stare from within it. The green eyes’ illuminant stare would stay fixated on this unfortunate person never blinking and never looking away. It wouldn’t be so bad if the dreams didn’t seem like they were extending themselves over time. Worse yet, when the person woke up they felt as though they were being watched.

The nightmares came to Cloud with an extra twist. When met with Sephiroth’s stare, he was met with a smile too. Unheard words were also spoken to which Cloud could only make out a few words such as when his name was formed on Sephiroth’s lips. After witnessing one of the crew members whimpering in a corner, Cid decided he’d seen enough and confronted the container with verbal assaults with only silence as an answer. Tifa, Nanaki (Red XIII), Vincent, and Barret approached the container looking for any clue as to stopping Sephiroth’s influence.

Cloud soon became angry between seeing crew members scared of their endless nightmares and the look of Sephiroth’s smug face. Following his friends into the cargo hold he also demanded an answer from the dormant being. “What do you want Sephiroth!? We’re fast approaching your final destination. You better accept that quietly!”

For the first time Sephiroth opened his eyes causing the group to jump except Cloud. “Or what, Cloud?” Sephiroth said this in his calm monotone voice without moving his lips.

“I will not sit idly by while you torment my friends.”

Sephiroth smiled. “I’m going to do more than that. It is only a matter of time before I find the right one.”

Barret spoke up, “Find what? What the !@#$ are you talking ‘bout?”

“It would be a shame to spoil the surprise. Especially considering I haven’t yet given Cloud my wonderful present. I already know what he cherishes most,” Sephiroth’s grin only widened. “In fact, I believe this present should be shared with his wonderful friends.”

Cid stepped in, “Whatever stinking piece of $@!@ you’re selling, I don’t want it!”

“It is non-negotiable.”

Vincent made his way swiftly to the front of the group to speak directly with Sephiroth. “Now that you’re awake, I demand an answer of my own. Do you have anything to do with Lucrecia Crescent’s disappearance?” The rest of the group was shocked when they heard this and turned to face Vincent looking back and forth to the two speakers.

Sephiroth’s smile promptly disappeared. “Who?”

“A woman presiding in a place called the Crystal Cave who had recently disappeared. Did you have something to do with it!?”

“Woman in a Crystal Cave,” Sephiroth seemed to be pondering the thought, “ah, yes, the one who insisted she was my mother. I absorbed her to take in my real mother, Jenova. She must have been insane to believe such a notion that I would be her child. She even gave into my will willingly.” Sephiroth chuckled a little.
Vincent, having none of this, erupted in a fit of rage, “She was your !@#$#@! mother you imbecile! You killed your own mother!”

Sephiroth remained unswayed, “Nonsense. Even if she were my mother, it matters not and is of no significance to my rightful ascension.” Vincent turned around in anger intending to leave the room resisting the urge to attack Lucrecia’s son. Before he could leave the room, he heard Sephiroth ask, “I’m sensing something stirring up inside your soul. Did you love her?”

“It matters not, right?” replied Vincent making his leave.

Cloud spoke up, “You’ve made a foolish mistake, Sephiroth. One that you will never truly understand.”

“You’re one to speak, Cloud, letting your own mother die at my hands.”

“How many times do I need to strike you down before I’m done being reminded of that night?”

“How about facing me in an honorable duel where I’m not in the middle of something like a real SOLDIER?” Sephiroth calmly mocked. “Keep in mind, Cloud, that Jenova’s cells have metamorphosis properties. Your fight with Kadaj was simply that – a fight with Kadaj infused with Jenova’s cells. The only two times you really fought me were in the reactor and the Northern Crater. The first time I was caught off guard. The second time, in the crater, I was a little preoccupied in holding back Holy. This must be the reason you never made the cut for the top ranks.”

Cloud refused to give into this as Sephiroth’s words were always spoken with a serpent’s tongue. “You’re a coward and a fool, Sephiroth. You prey on those below you only to be controlled against their will. You are blinded by a thirst for power that you’re even willing to sacrifice your own mother to achieve it.”

“Soon, Cloud, you will realize that everyone is a puppet awaiting one with the willpower to control them and pull the strings. I still have my wonderful present to give to you and your friends. In the end, you’ll be begging me for mercy.” With this said Sephiroth closed his eyes and went back into a dormant state.

The group left the room after a moment of silence one by one. Nanaki stayed behind to keep watch. For a while the nightmares stopped and their approach to the sun was coming closer. Cloud was lying down in his bed thinking about what Sephiroth had said. He also wanted to talk to Vincent about Lucrecia but didn’t know what to say. He soon grew tired and felt his eyelids inevitably close.

A nightmare appeared in his dreams more vivid than the ones before it. In it, one of the crew members opened Sephiroth’s container and promptly collapsed. Sephiroth stumbled out of the container and made his way to the cockpit. Along the way, Cloud saw the rest of the crew in the same unconscious state. He tried to wake up but felt trapped in this dream. He watched Sephiroth approach the ship’s controls turning off the autopilot with an intention to set a new course. Watching Sephiroth like this Cloud noticed the same familiar smile. Then, he realized this wasn’t a dream.