Silence fell, eerie silence, and a stillness like death- the passing of something powerful, and definitely not benign. Sephiroth slashed and sliced, cutting down the suddenly motionless monsters at the door until he'd cleared the landing, Zack surging to his feet again to join. Other warriors followed, taking advantage of the shocked stillness that had befallen their enemy. They flowed out of the cavern, taking back the land they'd forfeited in their efforts to stay alive.

At last, those in front of the mob of angry humans turned and started to flee the slaughter, and soon, the whole monster army was in panicked retreat, shrieking and flailing, they disappeared down the paths of the canyon, up the cliffs, and into the skies.

Where there had been once the roar of battle, was now the shout of victory. Men waved their spears and bows and swords and knives and shouted at the tops of their lungs, their cries of joy echoing back at them from the cliffs, and through it all, the Candle had stayed lit.

Turning, Sephiroth clipped Masamune to his back and shoved through the crowd as they surged out of the caverns. He had to know. This couldn't truly be victory! What price had he paid in exchange for it?

Heart hammering in his throat, Sephiroth shoved and hauled himself along through the halls, teaming with life, heavy with the scent of fear and death. All the way to the back, he went.

"Sephiroth!" Cloud shouted, cheerfully, "They retreated! We chased them all the way through the caverns and they kept on running!" he was grinning from ear to ear, blue eyes bright with residual adrenaline and excitement over his victory.

Ignoring the blonde, Sephiroth shoved past him, only to have him trailing behind, urgently asking what was wrong. At last, he reached the door no one had dared get near.

And stopped.

Vincent lay sprawled on the floor, clothes torn and bloody, blood in a congealing pool around him.

Crouching, Sephiroth touched his father's neck, then reached down to the man's flesh hand as he noticed the thin silver chain wrapped around his fingers. Unfolding that cold stiff hand, Sephiroth lifted the silver cross necklace... the one he distinctly remembered Katy giving to Lucrecia.

Replacing the necklace, Sephiroth folded the fingers back around it, "Rest in peace, father," he told the dead man, "You deserve it."

Rising, Sephiroth went to the door and quickly found the latch that had sealed it shut... sealed Katy inside as the last line of defense on the Black Materia.

The door couldn't open any slower, he was sure, and Sephiroth savagely shoved it aside enough to slip through. Cloud was still behind him, shouting to get his attention, but Sephiroth didn't care.

Two pairs of feet were sticking out from behind the locked box the Black Materia rested in. One set bare with claws, the other black-booted. Neither were moving.

"Katy-" he breathed. After all this- finding her, losing her, finding her again, losing her again, getting her back... all this trouble... was it over? Was she dead?

Stumbling forward in the silence Cloud had fallen into, standing at the door that had finally opened fully, Sephiroth stopped where he could see them both.

Naomi was laying atop Katy, a pool of blood around them both, matting down Katy's newly trimmed hair. The Cetra was face up on the floor, one leg propped over the box, the other on the floor, Naomi's legs tangled between. There was blood covering them both, salty tear tracks in the blood on Katy's face, her eyes were closed, glasses knocked aside.

Hand trembling, Sephiroth reached down, taking hold of the stiffening body of Naomi and shoved it aside. Her hands held firm in Katy's chest for a moment, then broke free, leaving bloody holes that weren't as bad as he'd thought. Naomi was peppered with bullet holes, wide circles of burnt flesh around each entry point, and Katy's guns were in her hands, resting on her stomach. Sinking to his knees, he stretched out a hand to touch her face and started when her eyes opened.

"...report..." she whispered voicelessly.

Unable to lift his own voice much above a whisper, Sephiroth did so, "enemy troops retreated, don't know losses yet... I thought I'd lost you."

Her eyes were sad, but dry, "I paid the price for this one," she whispered, guns dropping to the floor as he straightened her and helped her to sit up. Sephiroth put his arms around her, holding her to his chest. "She killed them... my family... Michelle's family... Chris's family... she killed Jessie and Perrie and Morda, she killed Nibelheim and Midgar and Hawaii..." Katy shivered and fell silent.

That was fine. Sephiroth didn't want to hear any more anyway. He just bowed his head, put it against her bloody shoulder, and held her. "I love you," he told her, knowing that these were the words she needed to hear. "Fly or fall, Katy, I'll never leave you."

Still, she said nothing, just trembled in his arms.

"I could cry an ocean," Katy said finally, voice choked and she closed her eyes tightly on the twin streams that had begun to flow once more, "And yet, I don't think there will ever be an end to the tears."

Left with nothing more to say, Sephiroth simply sat with her in the pool of Naomi's blood, holding his beloved, and somehow, he felt like a bastard for being happy that Katy was safe amidst all the sorrow and loss of the day.


It was a pretty field, and a good strong breeze.

"Mom wanted this," Katy told herself as she opened the jar she held in her arms. "I love you," she told the ashes inside, a drop or two of salty water falling in to mix with her family.

Curt had been kind about it, but had honestly been unable to tell who had been what with what was left in Katy's house, having been led there by Cloud and Tifa. He'd said that they'd put up a hell of a fight, the house was wrecked, bullet holes in the walls, windows shattered. Zack had been needed in the cleanup of Cosmo Canyon, and Aerith working as healer of the survivors wounds and hearts and giving the last rites to the dead. Sephiroth was leading the efforts on rebuilding and monster-cleanup patrols. They hardly had time together anymore except in their dreams, which they pointedly refrained from speaking of their daily chores during. They were usually too tired to do anything other than cling to each other even then.

Blinking, Katy lifted her eyes, looking across the grassy field, summer flowers in full bloom on this hot day. She wore a copy of the sundress Sephiroth had made for her in their dreams, her short hair quickly growing the red dye out, returning to the dark ashy brown that had been her original color.

"So many dead... I guess I learned my lesson," she added. "Never wish for anything without being willing to pay the price. Can't gain without losing... But was this worth the price?"

Closing her mouth, Katy pressed her pink lips together firmly and swallowed. "I'll damn well make it worth the price," she stated, "For you. It's what you would have wanted, right Mom? Dad? Sam, Matt... I'll never forget you."

Two more diamond drops cascaded into the ashes, and Katy gasped a breath, turned and slung the ashes to the wind, watching as the breeze carried them away across the field. Then she stood there, silent as the wind pulled at her hair and dress and cooled the tears on her face.

Slowly, she put that urn down and took up the next one.

Opening it, Katy stared at the ashes within. "I loved you too, you know. I'll always remember you as my best friend, no matter what stupid fights we had, you were always the greatest and the one I could turn to when I needed to cry. I tried my best for you, maybe it wasn't enough, but I tried. Thank you, my soul sister... My one true best friend. You always were my mirror... You always were what I wanted to be... Michelle, thank you for giving me life."

Tears were mixed with these ashes of the past as well, and Katy took a breath and slung them to the breeze. "I'll make it worth the price," she vowed.


He didn't ask if she was okay. He didn't need to. Sephiroth already knew the answer. At least she wasn't crying this time as he entered their room, automatically divesting himself of his armor, coat, gloves, and pretty much anything he could take off without being indecent- should someone need him suddenly. What could he do when there was nothing short of Resurrection that would return that cheerful smile to Katy's face? Was he beating a dead Chocobo, hanging around in this relationship? He didn't know, and didn't know whether to stay or go, despite his promise to stick with her, fly or fall. She was falling, or had hit bottom. He couldn't tell.

Today, she was wearing some regular loose cloth pants and shirt in the Cosmonian style of zigzag boarders in bright colors. She hadn't put on her uniform since the battle, and Sephiroth wondered if that meant that she'd quit. Falling to a seat on his side of the bed, Sephiroth leaned down to take off his boots, lifting his head as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Hey," Katy murmured softly against his neck.

"Hey," he replied, the usual questions of 'how's your day been' having been banned from their bedroom a while ago. That left little in the way of conversation topics.

Closing her eyes, Katy breathed in his scent, "Lets go on a vacation," she told him. "I want to go see Japan, and Italy, and Spain. We can skip the French cause they're mean. We'll sell portals to the Planet for cash, and roam Earth till we've gotta come back for Aerith and Zack's wedding."

"That's a year away," Sephiroth pointed out.

Katy smiled slightly, and he missed seeing it, as she peered over his shoulder at her left hand. His ring glittered on her finger, brilliantly sparkling as ever, "Yeah, so? Earth's a big place. Come on. You owe me a daytime beach trip. I wanna see you in a Speedo... or maybe a thong. "

Locking his lips over what he would have said to that idea, Sephiroth stared down at the floor, dropping his right boot to the side, his left one still on and pinching his foot. "...alright, there's nothing here that Zack can't do...nothing here he doesn't already want to do. He's gone crazy with the whole putting people's lives back together thing," Sephiroth sighed, "He said he likes it more than the other side of the coin."

Hmming softly against his neck, Katy nibbled lightly, moving up to his ear, "I'm more interested in putting our lives back together first. Zack can afford to think about other people because he's not struggling to remember who he is."

Sephiroth turned his head, pulling his ear from between her teeth, "Did you forget again?"

"Different kind of forgetting," Katy replied, "More like a passing on. I'm not the same person I was a year ago, I think I've finally grown up. I don't feel fifteen anymore." She nuzzled his cheek and found his earlobe again.

Closing his eyes, Sephiroth let his shoulders relax and sighed, "Yes, you're not the same person." He was undecided about whether that was a good or bad thing. He hadn't really seen much of the New Katy. "I need a break. I'm tired of killing."

"Hey," Katy added, "How about we set a date too?" she suggested, "and pick out a spot to have our house where the kids can play in the back yard with the cats and the Chocobos? You promised me thirty million of the suckers."

He blinked, "Which suckers? Kids, cats, or Chocobos?"

The giggle she gave was heartening to hear, "Of each," she replied, "I've got a lot of people to name our offspring after, and gotta breed mounts for new SCYTHE members, and I really like cats."

Sephiroth rolled his eyes and sighed, "Oh... fine. If I promised," he answered.


Sephiroth itched at the neck of his formal SCYTHE regalia again, and scowled at his reflection, he could see Zack behind him, arms folded, smirking, "Oh come on, I survived it," the dark haired man pointed out. It hadn't taken Katy long to design the 'spiffy' version of their uniforms, with silver braiding on the coats and loops of braids to show their ranks in SCYTHE and cool military styled hats to make them look all the more formal. Sephiroth sighed and felt trussed up in all the braiding HE had to wear. Though the outfit was a year and a half old, this was the first Sephiroth had pulled it out to wear.

Over the last year, their romp across Earth had spread to the Planet when Katy wanted to find out how everyone was getting along. What she had found was more than a little disturbing and sad.

Earth had been ravaged by monsters both natural and unnatural. The weather had gone to hell, the weather patterns of both worlds mixing and creating unnatural storms that had raged across the lands, sprouting hurricanes and tornadoes where there had never been such before. There had been earthquakes that had destroyed much of the landscape, the Cascadia Fault had ruptured for the first time in five hundred years, nearly drowning Japan and California had moved a whole mile north of it's previous position. The New Madrid Fault had been touched off as well, sinking a section of earth just a short distance from the Mississippi River, which promptly filled with water. The bottom half of Louisiana was now part of the Gulf of Mexico.

The portals they'd opened to Midgar and Costa Del, and Cosmo had given Earth companies a new market to expand into- new cities to commercialize, and grasping businessmen weren't about to give up opportunities like that, no matter how bad a shape the world was in. Katy figured giving a boost to both economies would be a good start to putting the worlds back on their feet.

The first things that had come through had been Coke and McDonalds, followed by the power companies and other fast food chains and stores and god new what else. Midgar had set up a new government, under Thomas Reeve, who gleefully accepted the commercialism so long as they paid taxes to him, which he used to rebuild the city. Electricity was a hell of a lot cheaper and less detrimental to the Planet now too, which kept the Mako-hater freaks from throwing a fit. Most of them were gamers anyway, so living in Midgar under Reeve without the reactors was cool with them.

Where the people on the Planet were used to the monsters and could protect themselves, where as on Earth, there were armies of Redneck NRA members roaming the charted wildernesses with riffles in one hand and a beer in the other, shooting anything that 'Looked Funny'. The militaries of the world had been called out to take up arms against the rampaging monsters while the rest of the population huddled in fear in their homes. At least the squabbling among countries was at an all time low worldwide.

On the Planet, there was similar destruction, but a lot less population to be effected and most of the repercussions were political. Wutai had reverted to its old ways rather quickly, and Sephiroth had been dragged there to speak to Godo. It hadn't been a fun trip for Seph, but he'd lived through it and vowed never to return- which would likely be too soon for Godo's tastes. Katy had gotten just about enough of Yuffie by the time they'd left too.

Shaking his head, Zack came forward and turned Sephiroth around, straightening his black silk shirt with silver buttons down the front, then brushed lint off the black tasseled shoulder pads and straightened the hanging threads. "You're fretting, don't worry about it, everything will go smoothly, and if it doesn't, you can haul Masamune out and gut whoever's responsible." He flashed a grin, as he was safely on the other side of the Broom and expecting his first in another three months or so.

The door opened, and Cloud poked his head in, wearing his formal uniform as well, he was one of the groom's men, after all. Zack was, of course, best man where Sephiroth had played the part in the last wedding, and they were all taking bets on when Cloud would get around to asking Tifa- of course, that pool was secret to the two lovebirds involved.

"Hey," Cloud called, "It's time." Pausing, he looked Sephiroth over, then whistled, "Wow," is all he could say.

Sephiroth fiddled with some of the braiding, "I think it's too much," he muttered.

Zack elbowed him in the stomach, laughing, "You'd wear your pajamas if she'd let you," he accused, "and probably still complain that you were overdressed! It's your wedding! You're supposed to feel like an idiot all day and be nervy as a long tailed cat in a rocking chair factory! It'll get better come evening," he winked suggestively.

Pretending he had no idea what the man was talking about, Sephiroth gave Zack a blank stare, then turned towards Cloud, adjusted his hat, straightened his shoulders and marched out of the dressing room. It was going to be an inside wedding, since outside was a howling blizzard, which was a bit odd for this time of year, but considering the changes the Planet and Earth had gone through recently, it wasn't that surprising that the weather was still fucked up. However, because it was an inside wedding, they'd had to find the largest room in the confines of Cosmo Canyon's cliffs and decorate it.

Aerith had been the most help with that, and the large cavern was lit with strings of Earth Christmas lights, and potted poinsettias, evergreen branches, and various other silvery flowers, red, green, and silver being the colors of the wedding.

Sephiroth hesitated at the door, peering in at the chatting crowd. Was this really every inhabitant of Cosmo Canyon? He gulped and ducked back, "Why did they ALL have to come?" he whispered to Zack.

Laughing, the dark haired young man shrugged, "They all came to my wedding, why shouldn't they come to yours?" Patting Seph's shoulder, he smiled reassuringly. "Once she shows up, you won't be aware of anything else," he promised.

The music started, and Sephiroth watched as Zack turned away and stepped into the center of the door. From down the hall, Aerith and Tifa hurried, their silver and crimson skirts rustling as they went to take their places. Behind them, Lloyd lurked, serving as one of the ushers for the wedding in conjunction with Curt and Wren. All three were happy with the duty, as they didn't want to face off against Zack or Cloud over walking their girls down the aisle. Lloyd gave a thumbs up at Seph as he caught the general looking, and Sephiroth's lips twitched downwards. He felt like throwing up. Curt and Wren were inside already, standing on either side of the large double doors to the hall where the Cosmonians usually had their town meetings.

Tifa joined arms with Cloud and together, they stepped forward, Cloud glittering in his formal SCYTHE attire, Tifa wearing a spaghetti strapped floor length dress of deep red over-laid with sheer silver fabric that faded to red at the bottom, the waistline was located directly under her breasts. Aerith's dress matched Tifa's, her pregnancy barely showing beneath the folds of the dress. Katy had gotten these dresses on Earth, and since they'd had plenty of money, she'd gone ahead and bought them and her wedding dress- which Sephiroth had not seen, but he had seen the bill for. He was astonished that anything could actually cost that much.

Zack linked arms with Aerith, stealing a kiss from her before they started off down the aisle after Tifa and Cloud got halfway. Sephiroth fidgeted at the door, waiting for the Best Man and Maid of Honor to get to the halfway point before he stepped out. Swallowing, he straightened his shoulders, put on his best military 'fuck this' attitude, and marched himself down to the altar where Brugenhagen awaited.

The piano off to the side, played by a Cosmonian native woman, finished her song as Sephiroth arrived at his spot, and started the opening chords of the song Katy had wanted to walk in on.

As one, those gathered, rose to their feet and turned to look expectantly towards the door. Sephiroth decided he wasn't going to barf, he was going to suffocate on his own heart.

At last, she stepped out.

Her dress was crimson and white, draping off her shoulders in split open sleeves that looked like they'd been dragged in blood. The bodice fit her torso in smooth satin lines down to the floor where the skirts spread seamlessly in a bell. Lloyd arranged her short train behind her, and Katy stepped forward, the most radiant smile Seph had ever seen gracing her lips.

Her hair, still short- Katy having decided she actually liked it better that way- was styled to fluff around her face beneath the diamond tiara she wore, a diamond necklace hanging at her throat- a gift from Sephiroth when they'd visited Spain. In her hands, she held flowers of red and white in a silver holder. Slowly, she paced up the aisle, her eyes glued on him, just as he couldn't look away from her. Zack had been right. Nothing else in the world mattered. So what if his clothes felt stiff and confining, so what if the world outside was buried under two feet of snow, Sephiroth Didn't Care.

Stepping forward, he reached out, and she freed a hand to take his, stepping up beside him, and Katy's song ended. She'd said it was one Beltoren had specially composed for her, and the Chocobos were ranged in the back, out of the way, but still able to see.

Katy laughed silently as she looked back, then whispered to Sephiroth, "We've got Ghosts!"

Covertly, he peeked back as well, spotting the three ethereal bodies standing next to Eris and Beltoren on the left side of the door. Lucrecia blew a kiss, then reached over and looped her arm with Vincent. The ex-Turk looked to have been groomed to within an inch of his life- even if that was a bit ironic. His hair was immaculately pinned back in a tail and he was wearing his old Turk suit and tie. On Lucrecia's other side, Hojo folded his arms, looking standoffish and threw a dirty look at Vincent who pretended to not see. The shorter scientist woman had other ideas, though, and reached over grabbing Hojo's elbow and pulled him closer to sneak an arm around his waist.

Grinning, Katy turned back to Brugenhagen as he cleared his throat, beginning his speech. "My friends, my family," he called, voice wavering, but still audible throughout the room. "We are gathered here today to witness the union between Kaitlyn and Sephiroth," he told them, "The leaders of our defenders, SCYTHE, and truly, it is an honor to be the one asked to wed these two..."


Katy sat in her chair, staring around the room in a daze. There was partying going on all over the Canyon, from the public rooms to the private rooms, refreshments and dancing could be found everywhere, but this newly wed needed a break and a moment to cool off. Sephiroth sat beside her, having given his hat to Lloyd at some point, but the rest of his ensemble remained, and Katy grinned at him. "Did I mention, you look really hot in that," she gestured at him with her chin, hands busy holding her glass of wine, which she'd slowly acquired a taste for.

Sephiroth leered at her, putting on his Ol' Stef expression and replied, "Ar, an I caints wait fer ya t' be takin it offa me." He winked.

Giggling behind her glass, Katy shouted, "You're drunk!"

"What?"

"You're DRUNK!"

Lounging back in his chair, Sephiroth grinned at her, "So are you," he retorted. "Wanna go to our room?" he suggested.

Katy shook her head, "You haven't thrown the bouquet and I haven't tossed the garter," she replied, "We gotta do that still."

"Gotta get Cloud and Tifa in the same room first," he pointed out, watching as she drank more of her wine, eyes bright with alcohol. She said nothing for a moment, just finished off her glass and swayed, arm aiming the wineglass for a table nearby. She didn't quite make it, and the glass tipped over onto its side, but at least it didn't hit the floor. She then turned and wrapped her arms around her husband's shoulders. "Did I tell you- you look hot in that dress," he retorted, "I wanna help you take it off."

Giggling against his shoulder, Katy lifted her face and turned her head to look at the rest of the room, stupid grin still on her lips. Something caught her attention, grin fading and sobriety attacking her from behind.

The man, wearing a light yellow shirt beneath a black cloak and black pants looked towards her, his shards of amethyst eyes meeting her gaze. For a moment, they stared at each other, then, the man smiled, tipping his head slightly to the side as his eyes closed, his chin-length dark purple hair cut even, bangs right at eyebrow level, framing a babyish face. Lifting a white-gloved hand, he made a slight toasting gesture with the glass of wine he held and sipped, then peeked one eye open at her once more. He was sitting cross legged above the edge of a table.

The crowd shifted and Katy blinked, the man was gone.

"Katy?" Sephiroth asked, worried at how stiff his bride had suddenly become.

Shifting, she pushed herself back to look at his face, "I think the kids and cats will have to wait, love. I just saw Xelloss," she stated.

Sephiroth blinked, looking as if someone had just doused him with cold water, "You mean..."

"The Mysterious Priest apparently likes the wine we're serving tonight," Katy concluded.

Squeezing his eyes shut, the general heaved a longwinded sigh, "I wonder if we'll ever get a break?" he muttered out loud.

Thinking on that briefly, Katy suddenly grinned, "I dunno, but things should be pretty Interesting!"

Opening his eyes, Sephiroth stared at her, "I don't like it when you use that tone of voice," he told her in all honesty. "It gives me the creeps."

the end