Valentine's Day: Chapter Ten, Destruction of the Past (Celes)
They ran out of the cave, shouting to each other as they went, making sure they were all there. Once they were outside the cave, rocks cascaded down over the opening, sealing it for eternity. A quick tally confirmed what they'd all feared... Someone hadn't gotten out.
"Who's missing?"
Sindar stood behind Celes, who stood by Locke. The one person they needed most was trapped inside the cave...
"Oh my God. SEPH!"
Inside the cave, Sephiroth hammered on the walls, shouting and begging the others to find him. His air was running out... Too quickly to be natural. His Masamune was humming eerily, so he drew it. It led him to a spot on the wall that wasn't the same color as the rest of the wall. He sheathed the Masamune and drew on all the power he had inside, then balled one hand into a fist. He pulled his arm back, eyes fixed on that discoloration on the wall. Then he threw his fist forward, hurling all his weight into the blow. On impact, the wall shattered like a pane of glass hit by a stone. He fell forward, half-buried in the rubble of the cave wall. He lifted himself up and found a secondary cavern. His Masamune hummed again, so he drew it. He was led by the multi-hued glow of the Rainbow Materia, pulled into the cavern where a huge marble altar stood. He stared at it in shock and awe. The Materia spoke again.
"This is what I was hoping for... The Altar of the Heavens!"
"You mean... It's been here the whole time?"
"Yes. Place your Masamune on the Altar. Nothing bad will happen."
He bit his lip, then did as instructed. The cave entrance was still sealed, barring entry. Once the Masamune was placed on the Altar of the Heavens, the entire cave was filled with a blinding white light. Seph brought his arm up to shield his eyes from the light. Once it died down, he lowered his arm. And in so doing, he confronted an image from his past.
"Good God in Heaven... RIFKIN?"
Rifkin had been Sephiroth's first sidekick. His cocky swagger and "give em hell" grin had been his trademarks on any excursion. Anyone who'd seen him had immediately assumed he was in charge. Always they'd be proven wrong when Seph identified himself. Only once had that mistake resulted in a fatality. Rifkin had been playing with his dagger when someone approached him about his "assistant". Seph had been haggling with a person in the market over the price of bread when he'd heard shouting. He'd instantly thought "Rifkin!" and ran toward the shouting. Someone saw him running and shouted for the people to make way. A clear path had led Seph to a horrifying sight: Rifkin had a sword buried in his gut, blood bubbling from both sides of the wound and the corner of his mouth. Seph recognized the hilt and dropped to his knees.
"No... Geralt, why?"
Geralt lay dead on the ground, Rifkin's dagger jutting from his chest. Geralt and Rifkin had been best friends until Seph chose Rifkin over Geralt. Geralt had never forgiven Seph for overlooking him, or Rifkin for accepting. Now the best friends lay dead, slain by each other's weapons. Seph jerked out of his reverie and looked at Rifkin in sorrow.
"I'm sorry."
"For what? It was my own fault."
"No it wasn't. I should have taken you with me to buy the supplies. If I had, you'd be alive today."
"I would have died anyway. Geralt told me he had mercenaries looking for me if I survived. He made sure I didn't. But he didn't survive either."
"But Rifkin... How in all that's holy did you wind up in the Altar of the Heavens?"
"My father. Seph, my father was the Light Wizard..."
"Was?"
"He died shortly after he put me here to wait for you."
"But I thought the Light Wizard was eternal!"
"He is if he has something to live for. Rifkin's father had nothing. Both his sons were lost to him."
"Both his sons? I thought you were the only son!"
"So did I. I found out about the other son shortly before I died. I never had the chance to tell you his name..."
"If you tell me it's Locke, I'm going to beat you."
"No. But you're on the right track."
"Then who?"
Rifkin leaned forward and whispered his name in Seph's ear. Seph jerked as though he'd been slapped.
"But... Rifkin, he's still alive! He's waiting for me back near Midgar City!"
"He is?"
"Yes!"
Rifkin frowned, then began to glow. Not only did Seph and Rifkin get out of the cave with Seph's Masamune, but they were taken directly to Seph's weapon. Celes, Locke and Sindar were there too, blinking and rubbing their eyes. When Sindar saw Rifkin, he sucked in his breath.
"As I live and breathe... Rifkin, is that you?"
"Yes, sir, it's me. Seph found the Altar of the Heavens."
Seph looked around, then saw who he was looking for. Rifkin followed his gaze and quirked his lips in a smile.
"He hasn't changed a bit."
"Nope."
Rifkin moved silently over to the man Seph had shown him, only to come back shaking his head.
"What is it?"
"That's not him. Sure, he's a brother. He's just not mine."
"Rifkin, look at me. Who do I look like?"
Rifkin gave Celes a thorough visual examination, then his eyes went very wide. One hand raised, fingers trembling. Seph saw it and cursed long and loud.
"VINCENT! GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!"
Vincent came over at a dead run, Meris right beside him. They skidded to a stop beside Celes, panting slightly. Rifkin put his hand on Vincent's shoulder, the other on Celes'. The three of them were enveloped in a white glow that threatened to blind everyone. When it died down, Rifkin and Vincent looked exactly alike, and Celes was eerily reminiscent of them. Which meant...
"Celes, Vincent and Rifkin are the Light Wizards!"
Meris turned her gaze on Seph, who had an unabashed grin on his face.
"He knew! Seph KNEW!"
"I had my suspicions. But it wasn't until I saw Rifkin again that I knew for sure."
"You mean..."
"Yes. Vincent and Rifkin were disguised, not Celes."
Celes looked down at the ground, unsure of what to say. She was one of three... And her brothers were the Light Wizards. Tradition had it that only the sons could inherit the powers. She hung back as the others moved on, chatting animatedly amongst themselves. When Seph found out she wasn't there, he went back to her. He put a hand on her shoulder, using his other one to tip her chin upward so she was looking at him.
"Celes, what's wrong?"
"I'm no Light Wizard. Only the sons inherit the power."
"What about your Magic Arrows? Aren't they a form of light?"
"No, they're not. They just look like they are."
"Celes, how many times do I have to tell you, you're unique? You have your own power."
She laughed, but it was a harsh, discordant sound. It made Seph cringe. Then he looked at her, using his eyes to communicate the depth of his feelings for her. What she saw made her gasp softly. His eyes were full of... Sephiroth had fallen in love! It flared outward, enveloping her in a rosy glow. When the glow died down, Celes stood tall and proud, Celestial Bow held in one hand. In the other... In the other she held Heaven's Harp. The others saw it and Meris gasped.
"He knew... Father knew!"
"Knew what, Vincent?"
"He knew Celes was the first female to inherit the power!"
"You mean..."
"Yes! CELES is this generation's Light Wizard! Not either of us!"
"But how?"
"It's quite simple, really... I let her know how I felt about her."
They looked at Seph and Meris laughed. She'd seen the glow, even if nobody else had. She took Vincent's hand and he smiled. He could see the glow too... That same glow surrounded them, and Rifkin laughed softly.
"What's so funny, Rifkin?"
"Vincent, did you ever tell Meris how you felt? Or did you just assume she knew?"
Vincent blinked, then looked at Meris. She looked up at him, the depths of her love shining in her eyes. The same rosy glow that had encapsulated Celes now engulfed Vincent. When it died down, in one hand, he held the Heaven's Wrath Masamune. And in the other... In the other, he held a shimmering silver flute.
"That's two... Rifkin?"
"I'll find her. Some day."
His cheerful attitude made Seph tip his head to one side. Before his death, he'd been sure nobody would want him. Something had happened to make him think positively. Locke saw the pensive look on Seph's face and grinned. Then he playfully socked him on the arm.
"Relax, buddy. He was so negative before because he thought he didn't have a family. And that he couldn't."
Seph turned to Locke, then the meaning of his words hit Seph like a fist in the gut. He slid one arm around Celes's waist. Vincent held Meris as they walked over to them. Seph slung his other arm around Vincent's neck and Meris held her free hand out toward Rifkin. Sindar stood with his hand on Seph's shoulder, smiling a bit.
"Rifkin... We're your family."
Rifkin turned to face them, then a smile spread across his face. He took a step toward them and got caught up in that rosy glow. When it died down, he held the Hell's Fury Masamune in his right hand. And in his left, he held the Pipes of Pan.
"Together again... The Wizards of Light are here!"
The Dark Sorcerer detected a surge in the light energy Midgar put out and smirked. Whoever they were, they were no match for him! He sent his minions to destroy the light users, Hellhounds of the highest caliber. Three blasts of light, and they were no more. The Dark Sorcerer suddenly realized he needed to measure the output of these new sources of light. When he saw just how strong they were, he had to blink. Their Light Indicators were off the chart! He had to summon his Master.
"Who summons Morgoth, Demon of the Flames?"
"Master, the Light Indicators are soaring off the top of the scale!"
"WHAT?"
"See for yourself."
Morgoth, Demon of the Flames, cast his baleful gaze into the nearby cauldron. The water bubbled and boiled, then revealed the trio standing amid a crowd of friends.
"This can't be! Dimak, did you not tell me the Light Wizard was dead?"
"He is, Master."
"Then these must be his children! There are THREE Light Wizards now!"
Dimak peered into the cauldron and blinked. He could easily identify the triad...
"Rifkin. Master of Mist and Ice."
"Vincent. Master of Fire and Heat."
"And Celes. Mistress of Light and Love."
"Rifkin, Vincent and Celes? The VALENTINES?"
"Yes, Dread Master."
"Summon the clone and his wench!"
"At once!"
The clone and Lucrecia appeared in front of Morgoth and Dimak, eyes narrowed against the light Celes was emitting. Morgoth bellowed, bringing two dark spheres into the area. Then he sent one to each of his servants. Within them, Morgoth's children grew and blossomed, feeding off their hatred and desire for power. Dimak also received a dark sphere, containing Morgoth's eldest child, a son of incredible power. But they would not gain humanoid form until they'd reached full growth. Then Morgoth sent them to the surface to destroy the Light Wizards. Meris felt them before she saw them.
"Morgoth sent his children to destroy you."
"Morgoth? The Demon of the Flames?"
"Yes."
Seph felt Chaos straining at the unseen bonds that prevented a full merger and closed his eyes. The chains fell away, leaving Chaos free to consume his host. The roar and crackle of flames could be heard as Chaos and Seph Bonded, black leathery wings flaring from his back. Panic had been ousted when Celes took her rightful place as a Light Wizard. She resided in Hell, waiting for her next assignment. But when Chaos Bonded with Seph, she was called back, taking her usual form of a well-endowed human female. Her red taloned hand stretched out, grasping his flesh and blood hand firmly. She was sucked into his body, completing the merger. Black mist rolled into the area, concealing Seph from view. When it cleared, Seph literally glowed with power.
"Who summons the Great Master Demon?"
Meris and Ragnarok conversed internally, then a set of blood-red wings blossomed, folding behind her. Red fog hovered around her knees, concealing her feet.
"I do. Great Master, Morgoth has sent his children to destroy the Light Wizards."
"Ragnarok, your wisdom betrays you. The Circle has fallen. All who held positions are no more."
"No..."
Meris wept for the Demons and Demonesses who had fallen. Retribution, Discord, Xanetia... Gone. Her sorrow surfaced in the form of blood-red tears.
"Why tears?"
"The human I Bonded with knew all who dwelled within the Circle. She cared for them deeply."
"Their loss will be keenly felt by all for years to come. But one remains."
Vincent stepped forward and knelt. Destruction manifested himself in front of the Great Master Demon. Then Vincent went back to his siblings and Celes felt an emptiness within.
"Destruction. You alone remain."
"Yes, Great Master."
"Why?"
"I wanted to stay with Vincent."
The Great Master Demon knew Destruction could no longer stay with Vincent... But there was a way. The catch was, the Great Master couldn't do it. But he knew who could.
"Gabriel."
The Archangel Gabriel came at the Great Master Demon's summons, shining softly in the light of Heaven. He saw the trio of Light Wizards and understood.
"What is your wish, Grudah?"
Grudah, so named by his angelic counterpart, lifted a taloned hand. The ball of fire on his palm told Gabriel all he needed to know.
"Ambresia truly is no more, then. Discord, Viroth, Remick, Brutus and Omni... Gone. Destruction, come forward."
Destruction found himself in front of Gabriel and quailed inwardly. But on the outside, he appeared calm. Erian appeared, Nemesis beside her. Shades of the fallen Master Demons appeared, no more than shadows. Gabriel put one hand on Destruction's shoulder and he was engulfed in a white light.
"What's going on?"
"He's giving Destruction his fondest wish! He's making him an Archangel!"
When the light died down, Destruction was no longer a Demon. In the Demon's place stood a mighty Archangel, armed with twin sickles, Retribution and Xanetia's weapons of choice. His eyes, once pitch black, were now an electric green. Long black hair descended past his shoulders, held in place by a simple filet. His wings held silver, gold and titanium feathers.
"Choose a name."
"I am Jarreth, Archangel of Destruction!"
"So be it! Now take your place, Jarreth!"
Jarreth strode over to Vincent and seemed to fade away. But he'd really taken his place inside him. Vincent's eyes widened as his power was fueled by Jarreth's presence. Morgoth's children rose up and assumed their rightful forms, that of hideously deformed Demons. The clone, Lucrecia and Dimak fell to the ground, dead. Now Morgoth's children held the information their mortal hosts had unwittingly provided. Sephiroth, commanded by Grudah, drew his Masamune, glittering with a rainbow sheen. Locke saw it and grinned exultantly. Until a taloned hand shot through his back and emerged from the center of his chest, holding his heart. Celes saw it and screamed.
"LOCKE!"
Rifkin snarled and sent lances of ice toward the Demon who'd killed Locke. Locke fell to the ground, blood pouring from the gaping holes and staining the earth. When struck by the shards of ice, the Demon recoiled, screaming inhumanly. Celes stood with one hand in front of her mouth, transfixed with horror. Vincent started shooting balls of fire, making the others dance backward to avoid being struck by their own element. Seph charged forward and moved Celes out of the way.
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I am Celes, Wizard of Light and Mistress of the Magical Arrow. I was unaware of Rifkin until Sephiroth brought us together again. His father, Sindar the Great, is a legend, as is Sephiroth himself. Like father, like son. But what I'm seeing now is horrific. I can't watch, yet I'm unable to turn away. If Sephiroth hadn't moved me out of the way, I would have been gutted like a fish. One of those Demons has a scythe. That Scythe looks familiar...
"Oh, no! That's the Scythe of Judgment!"
"Ambresia's weapon?"
"Yes!"
I can feel something shifting inside me, growing until it overwhelms me. I know what it is... It's anger. These Demons have annoyed me to the point where I've lost my temper. It takes a lot to get me mad, but when you do... Look out. Sephiroth can see the look in my eyes and curses before moving out of the way.
"Look out! Celes is pissed off!"
They all move out of the way, giving me a clear shot. One after the other, I fire off arrows from the Celestial Bow, a dozen in all. They strike their targets with unerring accuracy, making them scream as the Light within the Arrows eats away at their damned flesh. With a whispered command, the Bow shifts to the Celestial Longsword, glowing brightly.
"Wizards of Light! Identify yourselves!"
"Rifkin! Master of Ice and Mist! Holder of the Hell's Fury Masamune!"
"Vincent! Master of Fire and Heat! Holder of the Heaven's Wrath Masamune!"
"Celes! Mistress of Light and Love! Holder of the Celestial Longsword!"
I can tell something isn't right... So I lift the Harp and play a few notes, seeking the truth of what we see before us. The tableau solidifies as it stands now. Three horribly deformed Demons. Locke's dead body, Sephiroth, Gabriel, Erian, Nemesis. Meris. Rifkin. Vincent. Me. I suddenly realize who's missing...
"Sephiroth! Where's your father?"
I can hear a groan from the bushes behind me. I turn, slowly, hoping I don't see what I think I'll see. But I do... Sindar's back has been slashed to ribbons! Standing behind him is Vincent's clone, laughing demonically with blood dripping from his metal talons. I can see Vincent and Sephiroth getting angry... Their anger fuels the beings within and I can see them changing before my eyes!
"MERIS! GET DOWN!"
She sees me hit the dirt and does the same. Rifkin hides himself behind a tree and Gabriel, Erian and Nemesis simply disappear. Vincent lets Jarreth take over and becomes the Archangel of Destruction. Sephiroth lets out a roar, head thrown back and hands fisted at shoulder height. Grudah overwhelms him and Sephiroth becomes the Great Master Demon.
"Who are you?"
I rise to my feet, holding the Celestial Longsword at the ready. Rifkin emerges from behind the tree, Hell's Fury Masamune held in attack position. Vincent is standing behind Jarreth, Heaven's Wrath Masamune held over his head.
"We are the Trio of Light."
Morgoth's children scream, an unearthly sound that sets my nerves on edge. I swirl the Longsword over my head and jam it into the earth. The resultant flash of light takes one of them out.
"We are those who would save Midgar."
Rifkin swirls the Hell's Fury Masamune over his head and slams the point into the ground. A flash of red light lances out and makes another one dissolve. All that remains is a red smear on the earth.
"We are your WORST FUCKING NIGHTMARE!"
Vincent swirls the Heaven's Wrath Masamune over his head three times, then jams the blade into the ground. It opens a fissure below the final remaining demon, catapulting it down into an underground vault where it will remain imprisoned for all time. The ground seals up, cutting off its screams. Jarreth remains alert, and Grudah brings Seph's body up to his own physical standards. I can't help a gasp as I back away.
"Celes? What... Oh, my GOD!"
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The look on Meris' face mirrored Celes'. Seph was now a hulking Demon with wings and claws! Rifkin and Vincent were in shock. They couldn't believe it! Jarreth was the only one who wasn't surprised. He walked over to the injured Sindar and knelt. The cuts were infected and oozing a reddish-orange pus. He held a hand over the wounds and frowned.
"What is it, Jarreth?"
"These cuts... They're infected!"
"What color is the pus?"
"Reddish-orange."
Celes knew. Deep down, she knew what had happened. Yanking the Celestial Longsword out of the ground with enough force to bring up a huge clump of dirt, she snarled and charged the clone, ramming the blade into his blackened heart. The clone fell, a look of shock on his face. The minute his lifeless body hit the ground, the infection disappeared. But the cuts remained. Jarreth made the cuts disappear in the blink of an eye. Then they all turned to Celes for an explanation.
"I can't explain how it happened. All I know is that he got hold of a spell to cause living tissue to decay and slough off in a reddish-orange pus. And since the only way to cancel the spell is to kill the caster..."
"The clone had to die."
"Exactly."
Before they could say anything else, Morgoth appeared in a gout of Hellfire. Only Seph could withstand the heat of the blast, so he shielded the others. Morgoth looked him over and sneered, then waved a hand that sent him crashing backward into the trees.
"Seph!"
Celes ran over to him and cradled his taloned hand in both of hers. Grudah sensed the weaknesses in this body and removed them. Seph stood, smiling tenderly at her before charging Morgoth and hitting him with a shoulder to the midsection. To see two Demons brawling was rare indeed. The shades of the vanquished Circle watched in silence, unable to speak without direct contact with the one they wanted to talk to. Meris, Vincent, Celes, Sindar and Rifkin stood nearby, simply watching the carnage. Locke's body was vaporized with one blast of fire from Morgoth's claw. Seph retaliated with a gust of wind that broke his tail off. Claws gouged flesh and tore holes in wings. Celes turned to look over at the trees and saw Seph lying on the ground. She suddenly realized what had happened...
"That's not Seph! That's really Grudah!"
As with all Demons, Grudah gained strength when someone said his name. He was able to lift Morgoth off the ground and slam him back down. Celes saw Seph's fallen Masamune and ran over to it, grabbing the hilt in both hands. The minute she touched it, she was engulfed in the power of the Rainbow Materia. She knelt beside her beloved and laid the Masamune blade across his chest.
"Come back to us, Seph... Grudah can't do it alone."
Seph groaned and opened his eyes. He saw Celes hovering over him and sat up. He caught the Masamune hilt in his left hand and frowned down at it.
"I know what this is... But why do I have it?"
"Seph, don't you remember? That's your Masamune. You're the Materia Hunter!"
Those words proved to be the key to unlocking Seph's power... He ran to the cave and jammed the Masamune into the slot on his weapon. The Rainbow Materia was extracted and stored with the rest. His fingers flew over the keys, activating all systems and programs. He felt a bit lost without Chaos... But he had no choice. Chaos and Panic had merged to form Grudah. Then he felt a familiar presence...
**Chaos?**
*Yes. Seph, Grudah was defeated. You're Midgar's last chance for survival. Morgoth is advancing on the others.*
**Celes!**
*You have to hurry.*
His fingers literally turned into a blur of motion as he programmed the Materia Cannon to fire a mega blast at Morgoth. But what he hadn't counted on was the Materias within finding a way to shunt themselves into him after the blast. The Cannon raised from the cave, breaking out into the open.
"What's that?"
"That's..."
"It can't be."
"It is!"
"It's Seph's Materia Cannon!"
The Cannon swiveled around, the hilt of Seph's Masamune blade catching the last rays of the setting sun. It locked on target and fired. The blast struck Morgoth dead-on, burning a huge hole through his chest. Fragments of the blast hit the shades, engulfing them in multi-colored light. When everything died down, the Circle of Seven stood whole once more.
"Well, I'll be..."
"The Circle!"
The Materia Cannon chose that moment to explode, raining white-hot fragments down on them all. The Demons were unfazed, as was Jarreth. The humans ran around to avoid the shrapnel. But in the cave, the majority of the fragments cascaded down onto the man standing below the Cannon. The Masamune fell straight down, hilt still pointed toward the sky. Sindar saw it and shouted.
"SEPH!"
The cave collapsed right then, burying him in rubble.
"NO!"
But even under tons of rocks and debris, Sephiroth lived. The Materias had shunted themselves into his body after the blast, and now they rose up and blew the rubble upward in a gravelly fountain. Inside the cave, Seph stood, wavering and bleeding from multiple injuries. His Masamune had sliced his back wide open after it fell... He staggered out into the night, unable to do more than gasp for breath.
"There he is!"
Rifkin saw the blood on the Masamune blade and cursed. He bolted over to his best friend and helped him walk the rest of the way. Seph collapsed onto the ground stomach-first. His back was a mass of blood and bone...
"What the..."
"His own Masamune struck him down. At the height of victory, he suffered the greatest loss of all."
"Not if I can help it."
That weak, yet insufferably smug, voice made them all smile. Seph pushed himself up onto one elbow and grunted as he brought the Masamune around in front of him. There was a familiar black glimmer on the blade...
"The Black Materia!"
A snap and a hiss, and Seph stood whole once more. Celes could see into his soul... And what she saw made her gasp.
"What is it?"
"I know where the Materias went..."
"Where are they?"
"They're inside Seph!"
Sephiroth, the world-renowned Materia Hunter, took Celes' hands in his and smiled tenderly at her. She returned his smile, then turned to Vincent and Meris.
"So what are you going to do with the rest of your lives?"
"Get married, start a family."
"And if need be, put out a few brushfires."
"Rifkin, what about you?"
"I'll find a place to rest my head, and if I find a woman, I'll treat her like a Queen."
"Good man. What about you and Seph, Celes?"
"Whatever he wants to do, I guess."
"What do you want to do?"
"If I had Locke here, I'd train him to be the best tracker in Midgar."
They all fell silent, mourning Locke's death. Sindar put one hand on his forehead and sighed.
"Dad?"
"Son, what did I tell you about forgetting things?"
Vincent caught Sindar's meaning and chuckled. Meris looked up at him and saw his eyes. Jarreth grinned and threw a ball of fire to the ground where Locke's body once rested. It rested there again, but there was a huge difference this time. Rifkin caught on.
"Seph! You have the Materias inside you, right?"
"Right."
"So you can wish him back like you did your father!"
Seph's eyes widened, then they closed and his head fell forward. His chin rested on his chest as he communed with the Materias. A blinding flash resonated from him, then died down. Locke sat up with a groan.
"What the hell was that?"
"Nothing serious... Just Seph saving Midgar and wishing your ugly ass back into existence."
"Vincent!"
"What? It's true!"
They laughed and swarmed around Locke, helping him to his feet. Seph took Celes' hands in his again and smiled down at her. Then he vocalized what he'd only shown in his eyes until now.
"Celes Valentine, I love you with all my heart."
"I love you with all my heart, Sephiroth, son of Sindar."
"I don't have a ring, or very much by way of money, but..."
"The answer is yes."
He blinked, then dipped his head and kissed her. Rifkin whooped for joy and they all laughed. They headed back toward Midgar City to celebrate. Already people were coming out toward them. They'd heard the Materia Cannon go off... Their cheers were deafening as the heroes identified themselves. Vincent's name brought about the biggest cheers of all. They walked into the city, bombarded with flowers and gold coins. Rifkin picked up every fifth coin thrown at them, causing general laughter. Before, he would have taken them all. As they celebrated long into the night, they were secure in the knowledge that they'd saved Midgar. The citizens of Midgar City proclaimed them heroes for defeating the evil that lurked beneath the surface.
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Had they? Had they really? Some would say they had, but others weren't so sure. You never know... Not really.
They ran out of the cave, shouting to each other as they went, making sure they were all there. Once they were outside the cave, rocks cascaded down over the opening, sealing it for eternity. A quick tally confirmed what they'd all feared... Someone hadn't gotten out.
"Who's missing?"
Sindar stood behind Celes, who stood by Locke. The one person they needed most was trapped inside the cave...
"Oh my God. SEPH!"
Inside the cave, Sephiroth hammered on the walls, shouting and begging the others to find him. His air was running out... Too quickly to be natural. His Masamune was humming eerily, so he drew it. It led him to a spot on the wall that wasn't the same color as the rest of the wall. He sheathed the Masamune and drew on all the power he had inside, then balled one hand into a fist. He pulled his arm back, eyes fixed on that discoloration on the wall. Then he threw his fist forward, hurling all his weight into the blow. On impact, the wall shattered like a pane of glass hit by a stone. He fell forward, half-buried in the rubble of the cave wall. He lifted himself up and found a secondary cavern. His Masamune hummed again, so he drew it. He was led by the multi-hued glow of the Rainbow Materia, pulled into the cavern where a huge marble altar stood. He stared at it in shock and awe. The Materia spoke again.
"This is what I was hoping for... The Altar of the Heavens!"
"You mean... It's been here the whole time?"
"Yes. Place your Masamune on the Altar. Nothing bad will happen."
He bit his lip, then did as instructed. The cave entrance was still sealed, barring entry. Once the Masamune was placed on the Altar of the Heavens, the entire cave was filled with a blinding white light. Seph brought his arm up to shield his eyes from the light. Once it died down, he lowered his arm. And in so doing, he confronted an image from his past.
"Good God in Heaven... RIFKIN?"
Rifkin had been Sephiroth's first sidekick. His cocky swagger and "give em hell" grin had been his trademarks on any excursion. Anyone who'd seen him had immediately assumed he was in charge. Always they'd be proven wrong when Seph identified himself. Only once had that mistake resulted in a fatality. Rifkin had been playing with his dagger when someone approached him about his "assistant". Seph had been haggling with a person in the market over the price of bread when he'd heard shouting. He'd instantly thought "Rifkin!" and ran toward the shouting. Someone saw him running and shouted for the people to make way. A clear path had led Seph to a horrifying sight: Rifkin had a sword buried in his gut, blood bubbling from both sides of the wound and the corner of his mouth. Seph recognized the hilt and dropped to his knees.
"No... Geralt, why?"
Geralt lay dead on the ground, Rifkin's dagger jutting from his chest. Geralt and Rifkin had been best friends until Seph chose Rifkin over Geralt. Geralt had never forgiven Seph for overlooking him, or Rifkin for accepting. Now the best friends lay dead, slain by each other's weapons. Seph jerked out of his reverie and looked at Rifkin in sorrow.
"I'm sorry."
"For what? It was my own fault."
"No it wasn't. I should have taken you with me to buy the supplies. If I had, you'd be alive today."
"I would have died anyway. Geralt told me he had mercenaries looking for me if I survived. He made sure I didn't. But he didn't survive either."
"But Rifkin... How in all that's holy did you wind up in the Altar of the Heavens?"
"My father. Seph, my father was the Light Wizard..."
"Was?"
"He died shortly after he put me here to wait for you."
"But I thought the Light Wizard was eternal!"
"He is if he has something to live for. Rifkin's father had nothing. Both his sons were lost to him."
"Both his sons? I thought you were the only son!"
"So did I. I found out about the other son shortly before I died. I never had the chance to tell you his name..."
"If you tell me it's Locke, I'm going to beat you."
"No. But you're on the right track."
"Then who?"
Rifkin leaned forward and whispered his name in Seph's ear. Seph jerked as though he'd been slapped.
"But... Rifkin, he's still alive! He's waiting for me back near Midgar City!"
"He is?"
"Yes!"
Rifkin frowned, then began to glow. Not only did Seph and Rifkin get out of the cave with Seph's Masamune, but they were taken directly to Seph's weapon. Celes, Locke and Sindar were there too, blinking and rubbing their eyes. When Sindar saw Rifkin, he sucked in his breath.
"As I live and breathe... Rifkin, is that you?"
"Yes, sir, it's me. Seph found the Altar of the Heavens."
Seph looked around, then saw who he was looking for. Rifkin followed his gaze and quirked his lips in a smile.
"He hasn't changed a bit."
"Nope."
Rifkin moved silently over to the man Seph had shown him, only to come back shaking his head.
"What is it?"
"That's not him. Sure, he's a brother. He's just not mine."
"Rifkin, look at me. Who do I look like?"
Rifkin gave Celes a thorough visual examination, then his eyes went very wide. One hand raised, fingers trembling. Seph saw it and cursed long and loud.
"VINCENT! GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!"
Vincent came over at a dead run, Meris right beside him. They skidded to a stop beside Celes, panting slightly. Rifkin put his hand on Vincent's shoulder, the other on Celes'. The three of them were enveloped in a white glow that threatened to blind everyone. When it died down, Rifkin and Vincent looked exactly alike, and Celes was eerily reminiscent of them. Which meant...
"Celes, Vincent and Rifkin are the Light Wizards!"
Meris turned her gaze on Seph, who had an unabashed grin on his face.
"He knew! Seph KNEW!"
"I had my suspicions. But it wasn't until I saw Rifkin again that I knew for sure."
"You mean..."
"Yes. Vincent and Rifkin were disguised, not Celes."
Celes looked down at the ground, unsure of what to say. She was one of three... And her brothers were the Light Wizards. Tradition had it that only the sons could inherit the powers. She hung back as the others moved on, chatting animatedly amongst themselves. When Seph found out she wasn't there, he went back to her. He put a hand on her shoulder, using his other one to tip her chin upward so she was looking at him.
"Celes, what's wrong?"
"I'm no Light Wizard. Only the sons inherit the power."
"What about your Magic Arrows? Aren't they a form of light?"
"No, they're not. They just look like they are."
"Celes, how many times do I have to tell you, you're unique? You have your own power."
She laughed, but it was a harsh, discordant sound. It made Seph cringe. Then he looked at her, using his eyes to communicate the depth of his feelings for her. What she saw made her gasp softly. His eyes were full of... Sephiroth had fallen in love! It flared outward, enveloping her in a rosy glow. When the glow died down, Celes stood tall and proud, Celestial Bow held in one hand. In the other... In the other she held Heaven's Harp. The others saw it and Meris gasped.
"He knew... Father knew!"
"Knew what, Vincent?"
"He knew Celes was the first female to inherit the power!"
"You mean..."
"Yes! CELES is this generation's Light Wizard! Not either of us!"
"But how?"
"It's quite simple, really... I let her know how I felt about her."
They looked at Seph and Meris laughed. She'd seen the glow, even if nobody else had. She took Vincent's hand and he smiled. He could see the glow too... That same glow surrounded them, and Rifkin laughed softly.
"What's so funny, Rifkin?"
"Vincent, did you ever tell Meris how you felt? Or did you just assume she knew?"
Vincent blinked, then looked at Meris. She looked up at him, the depths of her love shining in her eyes. The same rosy glow that had encapsulated Celes now engulfed Vincent. When it died down, in one hand, he held the Heaven's Wrath Masamune. And in the other... In the other, he held a shimmering silver flute.
"That's two... Rifkin?"
"I'll find her. Some day."
His cheerful attitude made Seph tip his head to one side. Before his death, he'd been sure nobody would want him. Something had happened to make him think positively. Locke saw the pensive look on Seph's face and grinned. Then he playfully socked him on the arm.
"Relax, buddy. He was so negative before because he thought he didn't have a family. And that he couldn't."
Seph turned to Locke, then the meaning of his words hit Seph like a fist in the gut. He slid one arm around Celes's waist. Vincent held Meris as they walked over to them. Seph slung his other arm around Vincent's neck and Meris held her free hand out toward Rifkin. Sindar stood with his hand on Seph's shoulder, smiling a bit.
"Rifkin... We're your family."
Rifkin turned to face them, then a smile spread across his face. He took a step toward them and got caught up in that rosy glow. When it died down, he held the Hell's Fury Masamune in his right hand. And in his left, he held the Pipes of Pan.
"Together again... The Wizards of Light are here!"
The Dark Sorcerer detected a surge in the light energy Midgar put out and smirked. Whoever they were, they were no match for him! He sent his minions to destroy the light users, Hellhounds of the highest caliber. Three blasts of light, and they were no more. The Dark Sorcerer suddenly realized he needed to measure the output of these new sources of light. When he saw just how strong they were, he had to blink. Their Light Indicators were off the chart! He had to summon his Master.
"Who summons Morgoth, Demon of the Flames?"
"Master, the Light Indicators are soaring off the top of the scale!"
"WHAT?"
"See for yourself."
Morgoth, Demon of the Flames, cast his baleful gaze into the nearby cauldron. The water bubbled and boiled, then revealed the trio standing amid a crowd of friends.
"This can't be! Dimak, did you not tell me the Light Wizard was dead?"
"He is, Master."
"Then these must be his children! There are THREE Light Wizards now!"
Dimak peered into the cauldron and blinked. He could easily identify the triad...
"Rifkin. Master of Mist and Ice."
"Vincent. Master of Fire and Heat."
"And Celes. Mistress of Light and Love."
"Rifkin, Vincent and Celes? The VALENTINES?"
"Yes, Dread Master."
"Summon the clone and his wench!"
"At once!"
The clone and Lucrecia appeared in front of Morgoth and Dimak, eyes narrowed against the light Celes was emitting. Morgoth bellowed, bringing two dark spheres into the area. Then he sent one to each of his servants. Within them, Morgoth's children grew and blossomed, feeding off their hatred and desire for power. Dimak also received a dark sphere, containing Morgoth's eldest child, a son of incredible power. But they would not gain humanoid form until they'd reached full growth. Then Morgoth sent them to the surface to destroy the Light Wizards. Meris felt them before she saw them.
"Morgoth sent his children to destroy you."
"Morgoth? The Demon of the Flames?"
"Yes."
Seph felt Chaos straining at the unseen bonds that prevented a full merger and closed his eyes. The chains fell away, leaving Chaos free to consume his host. The roar and crackle of flames could be heard as Chaos and Seph Bonded, black leathery wings flaring from his back. Panic had been ousted when Celes took her rightful place as a Light Wizard. She resided in Hell, waiting for her next assignment. But when Chaos Bonded with Seph, she was called back, taking her usual form of a well-endowed human female. Her red taloned hand stretched out, grasping his flesh and blood hand firmly. She was sucked into his body, completing the merger. Black mist rolled into the area, concealing Seph from view. When it cleared, Seph literally glowed with power.
"Who summons the Great Master Demon?"
Meris and Ragnarok conversed internally, then a set of blood-red wings blossomed, folding behind her. Red fog hovered around her knees, concealing her feet.
"I do. Great Master, Morgoth has sent his children to destroy the Light Wizards."
"Ragnarok, your wisdom betrays you. The Circle has fallen. All who held positions are no more."
"No..."
Meris wept for the Demons and Demonesses who had fallen. Retribution, Discord, Xanetia... Gone. Her sorrow surfaced in the form of blood-red tears.
"Why tears?"
"The human I Bonded with knew all who dwelled within the Circle. She cared for them deeply."
"Their loss will be keenly felt by all for years to come. But one remains."
Vincent stepped forward and knelt. Destruction manifested himself in front of the Great Master Demon. Then Vincent went back to his siblings and Celes felt an emptiness within.
"Destruction. You alone remain."
"Yes, Great Master."
"Why?"
"I wanted to stay with Vincent."
The Great Master Demon knew Destruction could no longer stay with Vincent... But there was a way. The catch was, the Great Master couldn't do it. But he knew who could.
"Gabriel."
The Archangel Gabriel came at the Great Master Demon's summons, shining softly in the light of Heaven. He saw the trio of Light Wizards and understood.
"What is your wish, Grudah?"
Grudah, so named by his angelic counterpart, lifted a taloned hand. The ball of fire on his palm told Gabriel all he needed to know.
"Ambresia truly is no more, then. Discord, Viroth, Remick, Brutus and Omni... Gone. Destruction, come forward."
Destruction found himself in front of Gabriel and quailed inwardly. But on the outside, he appeared calm. Erian appeared, Nemesis beside her. Shades of the fallen Master Demons appeared, no more than shadows. Gabriel put one hand on Destruction's shoulder and he was engulfed in a white light.
"What's going on?"
"He's giving Destruction his fondest wish! He's making him an Archangel!"
When the light died down, Destruction was no longer a Demon. In the Demon's place stood a mighty Archangel, armed with twin sickles, Retribution and Xanetia's weapons of choice. His eyes, once pitch black, were now an electric green. Long black hair descended past his shoulders, held in place by a simple filet. His wings held silver, gold and titanium feathers.
"Choose a name."
"I am Jarreth, Archangel of Destruction!"
"So be it! Now take your place, Jarreth!"
Jarreth strode over to Vincent and seemed to fade away. But he'd really taken his place inside him. Vincent's eyes widened as his power was fueled by Jarreth's presence. Morgoth's children rose up and assumed their rightful forms, that of hideously deformed Demons. The clone, Lucrecia and Dimak fell to the ground, dead. Now Morgoth's children held the information their mortal hosts had unwittingly provided. Sephiroth, commanded by Grudah, drew his Masamune, glittering with a rainbow sheen. Locke saw it and grinned exultantly. Until a taloned hand shot through his back and emerged from the center of his chest, holding his heart. Celes saw it and screamed.
"LOCKE!"
Rifkin snarled and sent lances of ice toward the Demon who'd killed Locke. Locke fell to the ground, blood pouring from the gaping holes and staining the earth. When struck by the shards of ice, the Demon recoiled, screaming inhumanly. Celes stood with one hand in front of her mouth, transfixed with horror. Vincent started shooting balls of fire, making the others dance backward to avoid being struck by their own element. Seph charged forward and moved Celes out of the way.
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I am Celes, Wizard of Light and Mistress of the Magical Arrow. I was unaware of Rifkin until Sephiroth brought us together again. His father, Sindar the Great, is a legend, as is Sephiroth himself. Like father, like son. But what I'm seeing now is horrific. I can't watch, yet I'm unable to turn away. If Sephiroth hadn't moved me out of the way, I would have been gutted like a fish. One of those Demons has a scythe. That Scythe looks familiar...
"Oh, no! That's the Scythe of Judgment!"
"Ambresia's weapon?"
"Yes!"
I can feel something shifting inside me, growing until it overwhelms me. I know what it is... It's anger. These Demons have annoyed me to the point where I've lost my temper. It takes a lot to get me mad, but when you do... Look out. Sephiroth can see the look in my eyes and curses before moving out of the way.
"Look out! Celes is pissed off!"
They all move out of the way, giving me a clear shot. One after the other, I fire off arrows from the Celestial Bow, a dozen in all. They strike their targets with unerring accuracy, making them scream as the Light within the Arrows eats away at their damned flesh. With a whispered command, the Bow shifts to the Celestial Longsword, glowing brightly.
"Wizards of Light! Identify yourselves!"
"Rifkin! Master of Ice and Mist! Holder of the Hell's Fury Masamune!"
"Vincent! Master of Fire and Heat! Holder of the Heaven's Wrath Masamune!"
"Celes! Mistress of Light and Love! Holder of the Celestial Longsword!"
I can tell something isn't right... So I lift the Harp and play a few notes, seeking the truth of what we see before us. The tableau solidifies as it stands now. Three horribly deformed Demons. Locke's dead body, Sephiroth, Gabriel, Erian, Nemesis. Meris. Rifkin. Vincent. Me. I suddenly realize who's missing...
"Sephiroth! Where's your father?"
I can hear a groan from the bushes behind me. I turn, slowly, hoping I don't see what I think I'll see. But I do... Sindar's back has been slashed to ribbons! Standing behind him is Vincent's clone, laughing demonically with blood dripping from his metal talons. I can see Vincent and Sephiroth getting angry... Their anger fuels the beings within and I can see them changing before my eyes!
"MERIS! GET DOWN!"
She sees me hit the dirt and does the same. Rifkin hides himself behind a tree and Gabriel, Erian and Nemesis simply disappear. Vincent lets Jarreth take over and becomes the Archangel of Destruction. Sephiroth lets out a roar, head thrown back and hands fisted at shoulder height. Grudah overwhelms him and Sephiroth becomes the Great Master Demon.
"Who are you?"
I rise to my feet, holding the Celestial Longsword at the ready. Rifkin emerges from behind the tree, Hell's Fury Masamune held in attack position. Vincent is standing behind Jarreth, Heaven's Wrath Masamune held over his head.
"We are the Trio of Light."
Morgoth's children scream, an unearthly sound that sets my nerves on edge. I swirl the Longsword over my head and jam it into the earth. The resultant flash of light takes one of them out.
"We are those who would save Midgar."
Rifkin swirls the Hell's Fury Masamune over his head and slams the point into the ground. A flash of red light lances out and makes another one dissolve. All that remains is a red smear on the earth.
"We are your WORST FUCKING NIGHTMARE!"
Vincent swirls the Heaven's Wrath Masamune over his head three times, then jams the blade into the ground. It opens a fissure below the final remaining demon, catapulting it down into an underground vault where it will remain imprisoned for all time. The ground seals up, cutting off its screams. Jarreth remains alert, and Grudah brings Seph's body up to his own physical standards. I can't help a gasp as I back away.
"Celes? What... Oh, my GOD!"
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The look on Meris' face mirrored Celes'. Seph was now a hulking Demon with wings and claws! Rifkin and Vincent were in shock. They couldn't believe it! Jarreth was the only one who wasn't surprised. He walked over to the injured Sindar and knelt. The cuts were infected and oozing a reddish-orange pus. He held a hand over the wounds and frowned.
"What is it, Jarreth?"
"These cuts... They're infected!"
"What color is the pus?"
"Reddish-orange."
Celes knew. Deep down, she knew what had happened. Yanking the Celestial Longsword out of the ground with enough force to bring up a huge clump of dirt, she snarled and charged the clone, ramming the blade into his blackened heart. The clone fell, a look of shock on his face. The minute his lifeless body hit the ground, the infection disappeared. But the cuts remained. Jarreth made the cuts disappear in the blink of an eye. Then they all turned to Celes for an explanation.
"I can't explain how it happened. All I know is that he got hold of a spell to cause living tissue to decay and slough off in a reddish-orange pus. And since the only way to cancel the spell is to kill the caster..."
"The clone had to die."
"Exactly."
Before they could say anything else, Morgoth appeared in a gout of Hellfire. Only Seph could withstand the heat of the blast, so he shielded the others. Morgoth looked him over and sneered, then waved a hand that sent him crashing backward into the trees.
"Seph!"
Celes ran over to him and cradled his taloned hand in both of hers. Grudah sensed the weaknesses in this body and removed them. Seph stood, smiling tenderly at her before charging Morgoth and hitting him with a shoulder to the midsection. To see two Demons brawling was rare indeed. The shades of the vanquished Circle watched in silence, unable to speak without direct contact with the one they wanted to talk to. Meris, Vincent, Celes, Sindar and Rifkin stood nearby, simply watching the carnage. Locke's body was vaporized with one blast of fire from Morgoth's claw. Seph retaliated with a gust of wind that broke his tail off. Claws gouged flesh and tore holes in wings. Celes turned to look over at the trees and saw Seph lying on the ground. She suddenly realized what had happened...
"That's not Seph! That's really Grudah!"
As with all Demons, Grudah gained strength when someone said his name. He was able to lift Morgoth off the ground and slam him back down. Celes saw Seph's fallen Masamune and ran over to it, grabbing the hilt in both hands. The minute she touched it, she was engulfed in the power of the Rainbow Materia. She knelt beside her beloved and laid the Masamune blade across his chest.
"Come back to us, Seph... Grudah can't do it alone."
Seph groaned and opened his eyes. He saw Celes hovering over him and sat up. He caught the Masamune hilt in his left hand and frowned down at it.
"I know what this is... But why do I have it?"
"Seph, don't you remember? That's your Masamune. You're the Materia Hunter!"
Those words proved to be the key to unlocking Seph's power... He ran to the cave and jammed the Masamune into the slot on his weapon. The Rainbow Materia was extracted and stored with the rest. His fingers flew over the keys, activating all systems and programs. He felt a bit lost without Chaos... But he had no choice. Chaos and Panic had merged to form Grudah. Then he felt a familiar presence...
**Chaos?**
*Yes. Seph, Grudah was defeated. You're Midgar's last chance for survival. Morgoth is advancing on the others.*
**Celes!**
*You have to hurry.*
His fingers literally turned into a blur of motion as he programmed the Materia Cannon to fire a mega blast at Morgoth. But what he hadn't counted on was the Materias within finding a way to shunt themselves into him after the blast. The Cannon raised from the cave, breaking out into the open.
"What's that?"
"That's..."
"It can't be."
"It is!"
"It's Seph's Materia Cannon!"
The Cannon swiveled around, the hilt of Seph's Masamune blade catching the last rays of the setting sun. It locked on target and fired. The blast struck Morgoth dead-on, burning a huge hole through his chest. Fragments of the blast hit the shades, engulfing them in multi-colored light. When everything died down, the Circle of Seven stood whole once more.
"Well, I'll be..."
"The Circle!"
The Materia Cannon chose that moment to explode, raining white-hot fragments down on them all. The Demons were unfazed, as was Jarreth. The humans ran around to avoid the shrapnel. But in the cave, the majority of the fragments cascaded down onto the man standing below the Cannon. The Masamune fell straight down, hilt still pointed toward the sky. Sindar saw it and shouted.
"SEPH!"
The cave collapsed right then, burying him in rubble.
"NO!"
But even under tons of rocks and debris, Sephiroth lived. The Materias had shunted themselves into his body after the blast, and now they rose up and blew the rubble upward in a gravelly fountain. Inside the cave, Seph stood, wavering and bleeding from multiple injuries. His Masamune had sliced his back wide open after it fell... He staggered out into the night, unable to do more than gasp for breath.
"There he is!"
Rifkin saw the blood on the Masamune blade and cursed. He bolted over to his best friend and helped him walk the rest of the way. Seph collapsed onto the ground stomach-first. His back was a mass of blood and bone...
"What the..."
"His own Masamune struck him down. At the height of victory, he suffered the greatest loss of all."
"Not if I can help it."
That weak, yet insufferably smug, voice made them all smile. Seph pushed himself up onto one elbow and grunted as he brought the Masamune around in front of him. There was a familiar black glimmer on the blade...
"The Black Materia!"
A snap and a hiss, and Seph stood whole once more. Celes could see into his soul... And what she saw made her gasp.
"What is it?"
"I know where the Materias went..."
"Where are they?"
"They're inside Seph!"
Sephiroth, the world-renowned Materia Hunter, took Celes' hands in his and smiled tenderly at her. She returned his smile, then turned to Vincent and Meris.
"So what are you going to do with the rest of your lives?"
"Get married, start a family."
"And if need be, put out a few brushfires."
"Rifkin, what about you?"
"I'll find a place to rest my head, and if I find a woman, I'll treat her like a Queen."
"Good man. What about you and Seph, Celes?"
"Whatever he wants to do, I guess."
"What do you want to do?"
"If I had Locke here, I'd train him to be the best tracker in Midgar."
They all fell silent, mourning Locke's death. Sindar put one hand on his forehead and sighed.
"Dad?"
"Son, what did I tell you about forgetting things?"
Vincent caught Sindar's meaning and chuckled. Meris looked up at him and saw his eyes. Jarreth grinned and threw a ball of fire to the ground where Locke's body once rested. It rested there again, but there was a huge difference this time. Rifkin caught on.
"Seph! You have the Materias inside you, right?"
"Right."
"So you can wish him back like you did your father!"
Seph's eyes widened, then they closed and his head fell forward. His chin rested on his chest as he communed with the Materias. A blinding flash resonated from him, then died down. Locke sat up with a groan.
"What the hell was that?"
"Nothing serious... Just Seph saving Midgar and wishing your ugly ass back into existence."
"Vincent!"
"What? It's true!"
They laughed and swarmed around Locke, helping him to his feet. Seph took Celes' hands in his again and smiled down at her. Then he vocalized what he'd only shown in his eyes until now.
"Celes Valentine, I love you with all my heart."
"I love you with all my heart, Sephiroth, son of Sindar."
"I don't have a ring, or very much by way of money, but..."
"The answer is yes."
He blinked, then dipped his head and kissed her. Rifkin whooped for joy and they all laughed. They headed back toward Midgar City to celebrate. Already people were coming out toward them. They'd heard the Materia Cannon go off... Their cheers were deafening as the heroes identified themselves. Vincent's name brought about the biggest cheers of all. They walked into the city, bombarded with flowers and gold coins. Rifkin picked up every fifth coin thrown at them, causing general laughter. Before, he would have taken them all. As they celebrated long into the night, they were secure in the knowledge that they'd saved Midgar. The citizens of Midgar City proclaimed them heroes for defeating the evil that lurked beneath the surface.
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Had they? Had they really? Some would say they had, but others weren't so sure. You never know... Not really.