Thank-you, Highwaywoman, for coming back.

Chapter Twelve

In Maena's dream, she saw a face. Mako eyes and silver hair. The face turned towards her and smiled, the eyebrows raising. "Maena." The deep voice chilled her to the bone.

And she woke up.

"Vincent…" she murmured, sitting up in bed. "I have to tell Vincent." She got up and wrapped herself in the white coat Shera had given her, then headed out the door towards the room where Vincent slept. She stopped at the door, hesitant to knock and wake him up. But she had to. So she did.

"Who's there!?" Vincent called, his voice sounding very grumpy.

Maena winced. "It's me, Maena," she called, trying to sound cheery. "I just had a dream. And I think I connected with him-- the masked man!"

The door burst open, and there was Vincent, fully clothed in black and red to match his hair and eyes. He crossed his arms and looked down at Maena. "Tell me about it."

"Well, I--I dreamed I saw a face… and as soon as I saw it, I knew who is was. He had startling green Mako eyes and long silver hair…" Her voice trailed off. "What, Vincent? Your face just went pale." She reached up to touch Vincent's face, but he flinched and turned away from her.

"I think I know who it is," he said, his voice a low growl. "Sephiroth. It has to be."

Maena gently took hold of his arm and turned him around. "No, Vincent, you're wrong. Not Sephiroth." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "His brother."

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"His brother?" Cid Highwind scratched his head.

Shera frowned. "I didn't know he had a brother."

"Neither did I," Maena said quietly, frowning and shaking her head. "I only knew of Sephiroth from stories. And I thought he was unique, an only child… if you could call him a child. But… I'm sure this is his brother. I felt it."

Nanaki spoke up, his voice even and calm. "So after we get rid of the robot, we hunt down the brother of the man we hunted down before."

"And kick his butt!" Yuffie yelled cheerfully.

"That would seem to be the idea," Vincent said quietly.

Maena looked up at the sky. The sun was hidden behind heaps of gray clouds. It looked as if rain was on the way. Rain… Maena narrowed her eyes. If she could channel the power of the rain, she could send it straight through the robot's armor and use the water to short the robot's circuits…

Vincent looked at her and said nothing. He just smiled wryly. He knew she was brainstorming an idea.

Maena nodded.

"What!?" Yuffie exclaimed. "What is going on with you guys?"

"I think Maena has an idea," Vincent replied.

"An idea? About what?" Cid asked.

Maena stood, straightening the skirt of her green dress. It was the one she had worn when she first met Vincent. "About the robot." She turned to Shera. "Shera, have you found out where the robot's main circuits are?"

Shera blinked, surprised. "Well… yes. They're in its neck. Why?"

"Because I'm gonna blow them."

Everyone was quiet.

"How?" Nanaki asked.

"Rain," said Maena. "If I can find a way to send the rain through that thing's armor, I can short out the circuits."

"If it rains." Vincent looked up at the sky.

"I think I can handle that, too."

Vincent raised an eyebrow dubiously.

"You think you can call down rain?" Cid asked.

"I can try. I called up water from the ocean. Surely I can call it down from the sky."

"Well hurry up and do it, then. I'm ready to go into attack mode and take out some bad dudes!" Yuffie yelled.

"All--all right." Maena felt suddenly nervous. What if she couldn't do this?

Vincent came to stand beside her and put his long, slender hand on her shoulder.

That was all it took, his silent reassurance.

Maena closed her eyes and reached up her arms to the sky. She tilted her head back and whispered, "rain." She felt the materia inside her rise up in her blood. It tingled and even tickled a bit, but she held fast.

And suddenly, it rained.

"Whooopeeee!" Yuffie cried, leaping around in the rain.

"You did it!" Shera exclaimed.

"Well, I'll be &$#&&#," said Cid.

Nanaki just shook his head, smiling.

To everyone's surprise, Vincent grabbed Maena up in his arms and swung her around in the rain. He hadn't felt this way since… Lucrecia. Vincent stopped spinning and set Maena on her feet. And he smiled at her.

Maena laughed. "Vincent… you're smiling. Hugely." She whispered.

"I'm back," he said, also whispering. He leaned forward until his forehead was touching hers. "Thanks to you…"

Oh, Mako, he's gonna kiss me, Maena thought.

By the gods, I'm gonna kiss her, thought Vincent.

"When are you gonna shut down that #$ robot so I can start up my ship?" Cid shouted.

Maena groaned. "Now, I guess." She gave Vincent an apologetic smile and walked out of his arms towards the big blue robot. "Where exactly did you say the main circuits were, Shera?" she asked.

"In the neck of the thing. Right under it's metal chin." Shera pointed.

"Okay, I see it." Maena stood in the rain, her arms raised towards the robot, her fingers all pointing at the spot Shera had indicated.

Vincent watched her closely, noting the way her wet clothes clung to her slender, hourglass form, the way her wet hair looked more red than gold, the way her emerald eyes shone with passion. Gods, I love her.

Then, the rain seemed to stop. But it hadn't really stopped. Instead, it had all shifted course and was flowing towards the robot!

Vincent smiled and put his hands on his hips. You've done it again, my love.

And suddenly, there was a shower of sparks, then a loud clanging and a groaning. The robot started to tilt towards the deck!

"No!" Maena cried forcefully, making a shoving motion.

The robot stopped leaning forward and leaned backward instead-- towards the sea!

And suddenly, it dropped over the edge, hitting the water with a huge splash. The water rose up to the bottom of the airship, then collapsed back down on itself. It was amazing.

"WOW!" Yuffie cried. "That was awesome!"

"Yes it was," said Shera. "Wasn't it Cid? Cid?" Her husband had already run off to get the airship going.

With a lurch, and a collective cry of victory, the Highwind was off.

"Where to, wizard?" Shera asked, smiling at Maena.

"East, towards Midgar and Kalm," Maena panted, smiling.

"Aye, aye." Shera saluted her. "I'll go tell Cid."

Vincent was suddenly, silently at Maena's side. "Lady of the rain, you have saved us all from death, once again," he said, taking her hand.

"Well, not exactly." Maena blushed.

Vincent just shrugged.

"What will we do when we catch up to them, Vincent?" Maena asked, her voice shaky with worry.

"Fight them. Stop them."

"How? I may be becoming a powerful wizard, but this--this brother of Sephiroth already IS one. And his powers are surely growing. And his plan is surely evil."

Vincent shrugged again, nonchalant. "If our doom must take the form of this man, then so be it. We will fight his evil and triumph, or we will fight his evil and fall. Either way, we will have accomplished something great--fighting evil."

"But I don't want to fall," Maena said, her eyes sad. "I want to survive. I want us all to survive, so I can live a long and happy life with--" She stopped, looking down at her feet.

Vincent reached to tilt her chin up. "With me?"

Maena nodded, her eyes shiny with tears. "Yes, with you."

Vincent pulled her to his shoulder. "I would have the same, fair lady. I would have the same."

Kiss me, please, Maena thought.

But it was too much for Vincent. He released her gently and backed off, shaking his head. "I--I can't. Not yet…" And he walked away.

Maena stood staring after him, a tear running its course down her pale cheek. It was as if he had read her mind. And it made her very sad.