Chapter 1

The Fall of the Father

17 years ago

After their final battle with Sephiroth the members of Avalanche flew back to Midgar on the Highwind. After they cleared the mountains of the northern continent dread filled their hearts. They all saw it plain as day, the colossal red meteor hovering over Midgar, slowly but surely descending upon the city.

"We failed. Meteor shall fall upon the planet and destroy us all." Said Vincent "My one chance to finally begin to be forgiven for all my sins and I fail."

"No! Marlene" screamed Barret.

Cloud took Tifa into his arms and whispered in her ear. "I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you." Tifa embraced him and began to cry.

Nanaki just stood there, looking southwest towards Cosmos Canyon.

"Wait. Look there" yelled Yuffie, pointing off in the direction of Gongaga.

A thick green stream flowed up from the ground and shot towards meteor. The group looked around in amazement as hundreds of other streams did the same.

"It's Mako" exclaimed Yuffie.

"No, it's something much greater. It's the lifestream." said Cloud.

"Yo, guys what the hell is going on out there? What's all this green shit" Cid asked over the intercom. "Oh well, we have arrived at Midgar. I'm gonna hold our position. I don't know about you guys but I ain't getting any closer to that damn rock"

The streams all hit the meteors at once. Then all the reactors; including 8 and 5 which Cloud, Barret and Tifa destroyed 7 months prior; started to glow a bright green. Then with a loud rumble all 8 stream were replaced by 8 lifestreams. After a few seconds of complete calm and silence another rumbling sound started. Then all 8 streams shot to the base of ShinRa headquarters. When all 8 streams combined a giant stream shot straight up through the center of meteor.

A bright green flash was emitted from Meteor. Then a loud explosion knocked the Highwind out of the sky and leveled the top plates of Midgar. Pure life energy rained down on to Midgar, changing the top plate from a barren wasteland to a flourishing forest. It did the same to the desert area around Midgar.

With the ShinRa headquarters destroyed along with all the Mako reactors around the world, the dictatorship that controlled the world for so long was finally gone, Along with many high-ranking officials of ShinRa.

"Cloud! Cloud! Cloud please wake up! Say something" screamed Tifa. Then she started to cry on Cloud's chest. All the others circled around them and just stood there. Their "invincible" leader just lay there lifelessly. Then Cloud's right arm rose and it started to gently comb Tifa's hair with his fingers.

"Hey, I can't leave yet, I still have a promise to keep. Or have you forgotten" Cloud asked. Tifa and Cloud both started to laugh and remember the promise they made as children.

After that Tifa stood up. Then she started to help Cloud up but as she did he screamed out in pain. He had landed on a large piece of metal from the Highwind.

"Doesn't anyone have any MP or potions left" asked Tifa, in tears.

"I used all my MP in the last battle." replied Barret.

"All my potions were on the Highwind" said Yuffie.

"Look, there is Kalm. We can heal him there" said Nanaki. Barret picked Cloud up gently and they started to run to Kalm. As they were running a small black box fell from Cloud's pocket. Tifa stopped and picked it up then opened it. When she saw it her eyes opened up wide, a large diamond engagement ring.

"Well, now is a good as time any." said Cloud. He slid off of Barret's shoulder. Then he limped over to Tifa and fell to one knee. He took the hand that held the ring box. He looked up and stared into her beautiful eyes, which had already started to well up with tears. "Tifa will you marry me" he asked.

"Yes." She replied and started to cry. As she answered though, he smiled but then collapsed. Barret quickly picked Cloud up and started to run again. The others quickly followed. When they entered Kalm, they quickly bought an elixir and used it on Cloud. He began to wake up as soon as it hit his lips. The large hole in his back also started to heal up. After he was fully healed the team went back to the remains of the Highwind to check if they could find anything salvageable.

3 Weeks Later

The last thing he remembered was attempting to defend against Cloud's amazing array of attacks that came from his omnislash. Everything after that was a blur.

He found himself laying on a beach, being cooled by the constant pounding of the waves trying to drag him into the sea. He stood up and looked around at his soundings. It was a small island, maybe a half-mile long and nearly a quarter mile in width. He decided to have a look around so he transformed into the one winged angel for. He flew into the rising sun and didn't stop until he came upon the Mideel forest. He returned to his normal state and walked into the city. He walked into the inn and reserved a room. Then he walked over to the local bar. After about 3 drinks a beautiful lady walked up. She took a seat at the spot next to him. She ordered a beer and then turned to him.

"I haven't seen you here before. Are you new here" She asked.

"Yes, I just flew in." He replied with a smile.

"You have a plane" She asked with excitement.

"In a matter of speaking, yes." He said with a small chuckle.

"Oh dear I haven't introduced my self yet. My name is Ashley." She said.

"I'm Sephiroth." He said simply. Her eyes widened in fear as he finished.

"T...Th…The Sephiroth" She said shakily.

"The one and only." He said with a smile behind his glass. She started to get up and leave but Sephiroth placed his hand on her shoulder. "Please, be seated. You have no reason to fear me, for you are not my enemy." He said calmly and politely. She returned to her seat.

"Bartender, I'm going to need another beer." She said.

"Will do." said the bartender.

After about an hour Ashley and Sephiroth had learned a lot about each other. Ashley learned that Sephiroth was truly a good person. He was just misled and sent into a rage in Nibelheim. After he released Jenova and Cloud threw him into the life stream, Jenova took over his body. That's why he did all those horrible things.

Sephiroth learned of the destruction and restoration of Mideel. How they cleared another part of the forest and rebuilt the town. They used as much of the wood from the old town as they could plus the wood from the cleared area. It took them about five weeks to rebuild it.

At the end of the night they returned to the room that Sephiroth had reserved. They pleasured each other all night. In the morning Sephiroth found himself fully clothed and his hands covered in blood. He looked over to the place were Ashley slept and found a bloody mess. He quickly got out of bed. When he put his feet down he realized that his boots were covered in mud. He also saw a trail of blood that led to the outside. He followed it and saw that it led down into the forest. He followed it a little further and it led him to the life stream.

He realized what he must have done. He must have killed Ashley and dragged her body down here and tossed it into the life stream. He had done it again. He had killed someone that he loved. Just as he had done with Aeris. He decided that he would never do it again. He took Masamune and ran himself through the heart. His lifeless body rolled down into the life stream. Just as that happened Ashley and her husband Tom ran out through the trees cheering in triumph over Sephiroth. They had planned it as soon as Ashley saw him come into town. And now he was dead. As they returned to the village they were greeted with a party.

Nearly three weeks later Ashley started waking up with morning sickness. That's when she found out she was pregnant.