Disclaimer: (Forgot to put this in 8-14 ::blush::) The characters from FF7 do not belong to me, but are entitled to their original creators.
Author's note: Reviews? ::chibi eyes:: please?
Chapter 15
The shacrum returned to Lacey's hand. Her face was wet with tears of sorrow and revenge, but she did not notice. Again the shacrum flew from her hand and struck the lock on Vincent and Natalie's cell. The lock smashed and they were free.
Natalie smiled and thought, our leader is back, we will win.
Lacey blocked out the rest of the scene, soldiers raced at her from all directions but she ignored them. She ran a straight path toward the fallen general. She bent over and lifted Sephiroth's head. He opened his eyes and smiled.
"I didn't think you still loved me after all that I did, but apparently you are wiser than I. I'm sorry but we must part yet again."
Sephiroth winced in pain with every word. Lacey's tears dropped down upon him like raindrops, fat thick raindrops. Sephiroth stretched his hand out to Lacey and she held it against her cheek. He smiled yet again, his mako eyes aglow.
"Lacey, I will be with you always....." he coughed and laid still. His hand dropped and Lacey put both his arms on his chest and closed his eyes.
Just as she was about to get up a hand clutched her shoulder and a sword placed to her neck. "Now your mine."
Lacey turned to see Rufus smiling down on her, and Hojo with a syringe in hand. Hmm, she thought, trickery will get me out of this one.
*****
Natalie and Vincent were swamped with soldiers when Aeris appeared with the troops. Aeris just smiled as she went around healing the wounded troops.
Natalie went to look for Lacey, but she was gone. While the troops took care of Shin-Ra's soldiers she and Vincent went after Hojo and Lucrecia - a favor was past due.
******
Rufus gently allowed Lacey to get up making sure not to slit her throat. Lacey turned as much as he allowed her to and smiled.
"Hmph, I am finally rid of that general. Rufus that was a truly stunning performance. Sorry about your hand, but I wanted to kill him myself." Lacey said.
Impressed and stupefied Rufus brought down his sword and stared and Dr. Hojo. Dr. Hojo shrugged and took Lucrecia by the hand and ran to the roof where the helicopter awaited. Rufus was impressed by Hojo's treatment, it apparently had worked. He still kept out his sword, but eased off a little. "So Sheyala, shall we leave?" Lacey nodded and made a mental laugh. The idiot was falling for it.
She followed him to the roof where Hojo, Lucrecia, and the others stood. Only Lacey noticed Vincent and Natalie in the corner hidden among the rubble.
Vincent carefully aimed and caught Hojo in the back of the knee as he climbed into the chopper, leaving Lucrecia behind. Rufus got on next and held his hand out for Lacey, but she grabbed his hand and pulled. She expected him to fall out, but he had already buckled himself in. So instead of fighting Rufus on the roof she was being hung over the ground, which was rapidly getting further away.
Rufus smiled, "Didn't trick me, Sheyala"
Lacey shook her head and said, "It's Saber Wolf you dolt, you don't have my permission to call me that."
She whistled and the Wolves appeared below. Running behind them was Natalie, Vincent, Lucrecia, and Natalie's cats. Lacey sliced at Rufus with her Shacrum hoping to slice his belt, but instead she got his leg. He accidentally let go of Saber Wolf and she fell. Anya caught her on her back, and kept running.
Lacey was very upset Rufus got away, but at least he would not forget her. That last slice she gave him would make him limp on his right leg for the rest of his life. When she realized she missed the belt and hit his leg she dug the blade so deep it cut the bone and muscle. Lacey turned and wiped her shacrum clean of the evil blood. She grinned at the thought of revenge. She would get him one day.....
"And you will leave Hojo to me." Vincent piped in with a grin. Lucrecia sat with Vincent on a lion, and Vincent had removed the colorful needles from Lucrecia's pockets.
I'll play later, he thought. Natalie just smiled.
All had been avenged for their pain. All except Lacey whom looked off to the stars, her crystal lighting the way, their army behind them. They had won this battle, but Lacey lost something dear to her-again. Natalie looked at her questioningly. Why wasn't she sad Sephiroth was dead? Was there side effects from Hojo's treatment? Did Lacey even care? They rode off in silence into the night heading for the home they knew would be warm and welcoming.
Perhaps that would take away the pure horror left by the darkness and memories of the night.