The Fifth Act, Chapter 11

[sinnatious]

Title: The Fifth Act

Rating: T for violence.

Summary: FFVII Time-travel. Gen. Cloud has an accident with a Time Materia.

Author's Note: So, I should have mentioned last chapter that Aeris won the poll against Aerith 7 to 6, so we're sticking with Aeris

Comments

[swyrel]

'Uneasily, Cloud checked. Hojo had spent a lot of time on him - spontaneous sprouting of wings remained an uncomfortable possibility.'

I lol'd so hard here, but then I felt so bad for laughing. It's sad that Cloud would even think there was a possibility, and it's even more sad that there could be a possibility because of that bastard Hojo.

OMG I love your Zack and Cloud together. Especially when Zack is just rushing in, and Cloud is the one who has to go behind him to make sure he doesn't get himself killed, but you can tell that Cloud is loving it up for that brief time that they got to fight together again. And Cloud, you should know you're an idiot for telling Zack to just forget about you.

And thank you for not making Aeris into the all-knowing person that I see in all the stories like this. It's refreshing to have the young Aeris who doesn't already know who Cloud is and why he's there. It makes everyone more real to have Cloud completely cut off from the future.

[firedraygon97]

Seconded on the Aeris thing! Considering it wasn't Aeris and some crazy Ancients who decided on sending Cloud back, it makes sense that the past Aeris and the planet have no idea what's up. Also, it makes things all the more angsty for Cloud, haha. Poor guy, there's no one to spill his sorrows to. XP Still, it's interesting to see how he'll adapt without that little safety net.

[swyrel]

That does make a lot of sense. Poor Cloud doesn't need anymore angst though. T_T

[demon_vampirate]

Seconded-- no, thirded at this point-- SO HARD.

[sinnatious]

*flails over the icon* I do it every time I see it.

As cliche as the story may be in every other aspect, I am determined to avoid that particular trap of, as you so eloquently put it, 'mother know-it-all who sent Cloud back in time so that he can repent'. XD Pleased to have your approval in this matter!

Zack is taller! There was a height chart floating around somewhere... even Second Class Zack is taller than adult Cloud I think (though not by a lot). *___*

That's quite a turnaround from your previous indifference to Genesis. >:D Personally, I'm in shock though pleased that Genesis/Cloud shippers are emerging from a non-romance fic. This may be an appropriate time to say: Mwa ha ha ha.

Thank you for commenting! *__*

[demon_vampirate]

AGREED.

Also, just throwing this out there, but Zack is 6'3", Cloud's 5'8". For a grown man (only a year Zack's junior), Cloud is a freaking midget.

[caterfree10]

Oh gosh, Cloud's conversation with Aerith here. ;; I know that there are a lot of hints towards how she really doesn't know the extent of her powers, but I really love the call backs (forwards? idk) towards the conversations from Cloud's original timeline. Tugs at my heartstrings so very much.

I love the sudden realization of just how much of a role reversal Cloud has in his relationship with Zack in this timeline. The conversation from the day before probably lulled Cloud into a false sense of things being different yet the same, but then reality comes crashing down.

Also, giggling forever at Cloud checking for a wing. x3

[anonymous]

Aw, come on, Cloud! Of course that you changed something:

By all accounts, the Wutai War had been just as vicious as the previous.

Not true! They might have had the same or more casualties, but their surrender conditions were much better this time around, and their pride likely hasn't been as heart-breakingly stomped on as in canon.

But then, it is in-character for Cloud to be so hard on himself.

He always ruined everything.

8(

“You’re not alone,” she stated.

Except he was alone.

This inter-play is so... the contrast and... oh...

Also, not everyone uses italics to such great effect as you do!

Zack's memories never wore off, not completely - he had just learned how to push his own personality to the foreground.

Not everyone in Avalanche liked the change, but they learnt to deal.I wonder about this. I mean, it's besides the scope of this story, but now I wonder. I can't remember if this was addressed in the game or not; it's been a while since I played that part

[sinnatious]

Thanks for taking the time to leave such a lengthy comment.

As for the Midgar cliffs line, my intention was to compare to the sort of self-sacrificing mindset. Zack, leaving Cloud all alone in order to protect him. Cloud, rejecting Zack's overtures of friendship for the same reason. A small cruelty for a greater and more noble kindness. But you can interpret how you like.

[anonymous]

No problem! Commenting for your fics is fun, when I can find what to say. Most of the time I'm just sitting back, all being on awe and stuff. XD

That's more or less what I got out of it, but I wasn't sure. Thanks!