*I don't own Final Fantasy VII or any of their characters, though Katlyn is mine. I also don't own "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Celtic Woman
"Man, it's so cold, it feels like I'm going through reverse puberty, yo!" complained the Turk's newest recruit, a loud-mouthed redhead named Reno.
The rest of the party, even the scientist that they were supposed to be guarding, groaned at his outburst. Genesis felt slightly jealous that it was Reno's partner Rude who slapped him upside the head rather than himself. As the other red-head rubbed his head and complained, Genesis reminisced on the event that had ended with Lazard (regretfully) ordering him on this despicable escort mission to the Northern Crater as punishment. How was he to know that the office he had accidentally incinerated with a fireball meant for that disrespectful cadet was the new Vice-President's office? Smirking as he remembered the Shinra brat's reaction to the destroyed office, he looked over at the two infantrymen who were obviously torn between being awed by his presence (as they should be) and bored at the lack of action.
Suddenly, his attention was peaked when Reno demanded, "So, why are we here, anyway, yo?"
Sighing, the scientist (whose name they had all immediately forgot) asked, "Weren't any of you informed in your briefings?"
As everyone except Genesis (who knew better than to admit that he wasn't in the know) shook their heads no, the scientist muttered, "Imbeciles… I can't wait until I get promoted to Professor Hojo's team." Speaking louder, he continued, "We're here because a week ago one of our transmitters picked up a strange signal, and I was chosen to investigate why. The rest of you are here to protect me while I perform my tests."
"What kind of a signal?" asked Rude, saying his first words on the entire trip.
The scientist shrugged as he replied, "We're not sure."
"Hm, sounds fun," Genesis remarked sarcastically. "How long will these 'tests' of yours run?"
"They'll run until they're done," answered the scientist, giving the First Class the stink-eye.
Unfortunately for him, however, Genesis only snorted with amusement as he reached for his beloved book. He certainly wasn't going to tell the scientist that he had unknowingly made a rhyme worthy of a children's book.
"Whoa!" cried out Reno as he peaked over the edge of the thin pathway the group was currently on. "There's something down there, yo!"
As the group looked over to see what he was looking at, Genesis' eyes widened slightly with shock. That was no ordinary monster inside of that crystal.
"It's a WEAPON," breathed the scientist.
"WEAPON? You mean those things that are said to be the guardians of Gaia?" asked one of the infantryman, whom Genesis had deduced from various conversations was called Rod.
The scientist nodded as he started to ramble, "I knew that Professor Hojo and Professor Gast discovered the WEAPONs when they first visited the Northern Crater, but to think that I would be able to lay my own eyes on one of them!" Quickly checking his instruments, he nodded as they revealed what he had expected, "All five of them are here."
Gulping, the other infantryman, a nervous fellow by the name of Nicky, quickly asked, "Do you think that they'll attack us?"
"I highly doubt it," remarked the scientist. "According to my instruments, they're deep in hibernation. We're safe for the moment."
"What about this one?" asked Rude, his voice strangely distant. The group looked up in shock to see that Rude had gone ahead of them (most likely to scout) and was staring down with a strange look on his face. Curious to see what he was talking about, they all walked over to join him.
What they saw was, in a word, shocking.
There was what appeared to be a human female curled up in a fetal position inside of a mako crystal. Thanks to the green tint of the crystal, it was difficult to see specific features and her coloration, but it was apparent that she had long, straight hair which conveniently hid details on her body structure (but didn't hide the fact that she was clothed). Her eyes were closed, and for all intents and purposes she appeared to be merely sleeping. The strangest thing about this, though, was how close to the path she was. If they had wanted to, they could reach out and grab on to the crystal surrounding her.
"So, what's the verdict on this chick, yo?" asked Reno, leaning closer to the crystal.
Scoffing, the scientist quickly checked his instruments and answered, "There's no sign of life from her, so we'll leave her alone." Quickly moving his instruments around once more, he continued, "And I can't seem to find where the strange signal is coming from, and we've been all over this Crater. Let's just head back."
As they turned to leave, however, suddenly they felt a pulse as the area around them suddenly glowed briefly.
"What was that?" Genesis blurted out as the scientist's instruments started to beep insistently.
Checking, the scientist answered, "Whatever it was, that is definitely the source of the strange signal!" As most of his instruments calmed down, one continued to beep in a way that oddly reminded Genesis of a beating heart. Frowning, the scientist took a glance at it… and stared with apparent shock.
Noticing this, Rude asked, "What is it?"
Saying nothing in response, the scientist turned slowly back towards the female inside of the crystal. Quickly, he glanced back and forth between his instrument and her, obviously trying to confirm something.
"I can't believe it…" he finally breathed. "It's her."
"What do you mean, 'It's her'?" demanded Genesis.
Spinning towards the SOLDIER, the scientist elaborated, "She's the source of the strange signal! Somehow, during that pulse she started to show enough signs of life that my instruments were able to pick them up!"
Everyone's jaws dropped by various degrees as they brought their gaze back to the crystal housing the woman.
"What the heck is she?" asked Rod.
Before anyone could answer, another pulse was felt by everyone. This time, Genesis was able to track the glow, and indeed it went straight to the imprisoned woman. Suddenly, a loud crack resounded through the area.
"You seem to be lost in thought," remarked a familiar voice.
Katlyn turned to see Minerva walking towards her. As the golden Goddess sat down next to her (she had long stopped being surprised by such casual behaviors during her stay at the Goddess' home training for her future role), she replied, "Well, I can't help but feel a little nervous about Sephiroth's reaction to me. I mean, the last time we saw each other, I was escorting Gail to the bathroom and I had just found out who he was."
Minerva nodded in understanding. "I can see why you'd be nervous. Honestly, I don't think you have anything to worry about." Turning serious, she continued, "However, I wanted to let you know that the intended recipients have picked up their package."
Katlyn's eyes widened. "So, it's going to be soon?"
"Yes."
Looking up at the mako-green sky, Katlyn absorbed the implications of this- her time at the Goddess' home was coming to an end. Breathing deeply, she turned back towards Minerva as she asked, "Have I ever thanked you for all that you've done for me?"
Smiling, Minerva answered, "Not aloud, no."
"Well… thank you, Minerva, for giving me the chance to fulfill a humble fangirl's dream," she said formally, bowing her torso as far as it would go due to her sitting position. Straightening as Minerva chuckled, she added, "However, I would like to make one more request of you before I leave."
"What is this request?" Listening as Katlyn explained to her what she wanted to do, Minerva could see the sense in it. After all, she had seen how much Sephiroth had been bothered by the sudden lack of contact between himself and her new Champion, even if he didn't see it himself. "Very well," she announced, "however know that I can only give you a limited amount of time to do what you wish to do."
Katlyn smiled brilliantly as she commented, "I don't think that'll be a problem with what I have in mind."
Genesis spent the first part of the helicopter ride back to Midgar splitting glances between LOVELESS and the newest passenger of the cargo hold. Seconds after they all had heard the crack, he had noticed that the woman's crystal was starting to lean forward. Impulsively, he had rushed forward and grabbed the crystal, pulling it to the safety of the path. After cross-referencing with his instruments, the scientist had concluded that slowly but surely her signs of life were growing stronger. The decision was made- they would take the crystallized woman back to Midgar where she would be surrendered to the Science Department.
Finally giving up on LOVELESS for the moment, he carefully placed back in his coat as he once again brought his gaze towards the woman. There was something… almost familiar about her. He couldn't quite place why he felt this way, and yet he couldn't deny the feeling.
Who are you, he wondered, and why do I feel like we've met before?
Suddenly, what had happened six weeks ago at the Ball played through his mind. He could suddenly see the mysterious Katlyn bowing in greeting, and hear her voice expressing her pleasure at meeting him. Eyes widening with a sudden realization, he quickly studied the woman's face. Sure enough, there were similarities between the two, although he couldn't be one hundred percent sure that the two were really the same woman.
"What can this mean?" he murmured softly so that no one else could hear him. Quickly fishing in his coat for his PHS, he quickly sent off an e-mail to his two friends. He smiled as he received confirmation that the e-mails had arrived at their intended destinations. Things were about to get interesting very soon…
"When you walk through the storm, hold your head up high," sang the voice he had been starting to doubt he'd hear again. As Sephiroth suddenly comprehended the beautiful music that was accompanying her voice, the song continued, "And don't be afraid of the dark."
Opening his eyes, he glanced around at his current surroundings. It seemed he currently was in a field of flowers, with rolling hills in the distance. However, looking closer at the flowers he noticed that their colors were more vibrant than any he had ever seen during the course of his military career.
"At the end of the storm is a golden sky," came Katlyn Lune's voice from what seemed to be beyond the tallest northernmost hill, "And the sweet silver song of the lark."
Feeling no need to rush, Sephiroth started to stroll towards where he suspected Katlyn would be.
"Walk on, through the wind/ Walk on, through the rain," she continued to sing, "Though your dreams be tossed and blown/ Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart/ And you'll never walk alone/ You'll never walk alone."
Hearing a violin start to play, he mulled over the lyrics he had heard so far. Even Genesis wouldn't be able to deny that it was a very beautiful message. Passing the first couple of hills, he could hear Katlyn start to repeat what she had sung so far. While ordinarily, he would think that it meant the artist had no originality… with this song, it fit. Finally arriving at the tallest hill, Sephiroth started to climb as the song grew more intense.
"Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart/ And you'll never walk alone," Katlyn sang as he finally crested the top of the hill. Sephiroth could see her sitting at the bottom, staring up into the sky with a soft smile on her face.
"You'll never walk, you'll never walk alone," she finished, turning towards him as he descended. Standing up fully to face him, the two of them took in each other's appearances. Sephiroth was mildly surprised that while her looks hadn't changed… her attitude from the little he had interacted with her at the Ball had. It seemed that the sadness that she once had was gone, replaced by acceptance.
Finally breaking the silence between them, Katlyn greeted, "Hello, Sephiroth."
"Hello, Ms. Lune," he greeted back as he inclined his head. "How have you been?"
"Pretty good, and please, call me Katlyn. How about yourself?" she replied.
"Well, Katlyn, I admit that I'm slightly confused as to why you're suddenly showing up now when for six weeks I haven't seen nor heard from you in both dreams and real life," he replied, his tone indicating that he wanted an answer.
Katlyn closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, she responded, "I don't have enough time here to answer your unspoken question, although I promise that I WILL answer it one day, along with what's going on. To be honest, I only came here to give you three pieces of important advice."
"Advice?" he queried.
Nodding, she repeated, "Advice." Holding up a finger, she elaborated, "One- not everything the Science Department of Shinra says is the truth, especially when it comes to your past. If they try to claim something about you or anybody else, always be skeptical." Walking closer towards him, she placed two fingers on his forehead as she continued, "Two- if you ever hear a voice up here, don't listen to it. Even if it sounds like a close friend, or even me, do not do as it says. No matter what, you MUST ignore it." As his eyebrows came together in confusion, Katlyn removed her hand, stepped back as she raised a third finger, and finished, "Finally, three- always have faith in your friends."
"Have faith… in my friends? What do you mean?"
As a corner of her mouth quirked upwards, she replied, "I mean that even if it seems like your friends have abandoned or betrayed you, you shouldn't automatically assume so. Chances are, they had a good reason behind their actions, and you should try to learn what that reason is."
"I see… and what about you?"
Cocking her head in confusion, Katlyn inquired, "What about me?"
"Should I consider you a friend?" he replied.
Straightening her head and smiling, she answered, "That is something you have to decide for yourself." Suddenly, she turned her head slightly, as if she was listening to someone standing behind her. Turning back, she added, "Just know that we'll see each other again, and sooner than you may think. Oh, and you should definitely check out that message."
"What message?" he demanded. Before she could answer, the world around him suddenly disappeared.
Sephiroth awoke and bolted straight up into a sitting position, wondering what had interrupted his dream conversation. The culprit was revealed to be the PHS on his dresser across the room, which was lit up in the way that it had just received something. Figuring it was the beep that woke him, he got out of bed and flipped it open. Sure enough, as Katlyn had said, there was an e-mail waiting for him. Opening it, he read:
S, A- It's a good thing that our monthly visit to Hell is tomorrow, because you won't believe what we just picked up from the crater… especially you, S.
-Genesis
As he closed his PHS, Sephiroth smirked with amusement. Connecting the dots between Katlyn's comments and Genesis' e-mail, he was DEFINITELY looking forward to his visit with Hojo for perhaps the only time in his entire life.
A/N: FINALLY I updated this! I mean, I had probably written about three versions of this chapter before I finally came up with this version... in other news, there is now a cover for this story! Go over to my dA page and look in my Favorites in the 'Katlyn- Dancing Against the Seven Destinies' folder to see it.
