Author's Note: Oh my god! It's been an utter nightmare to get back into the swing of things and it doesn't help that I've been kept busy as well as stressed over everything (homework, financial business, etc…). Either way, we're well over half way to the end, so try to be patient with me. I know I'm quite difficult to work with, so I apologize (again) for the inconvenience.

Disclaimer: I don't own FF7, just anything outside of the game I own…Now if only this was all real…hmmm…

Part 12

"…I know now…I remember…everything…Failure for me is not an option…"

-Selena Talos

Dark clouds filled over head and lightning flashed in the angry sky. The winds picked up as the blinding energy of the earth seared forth in a mighty wave. Yumiko and Faera just barely escaped the chaos, but watched in awe as Selena's rampage carried on.

She had been hurt…

Too many times to count…

Now it was time somebody paid the piper.

The earth began to crack and split as more energy seeped forth, surrounding its angry and injured ruler.

Selena closed her eyes and felt as if she were floating in water. She could feel her golden locks whip and whirl about her bare frame as she listened to the Lifestream's calls. As the Lifestream was of one mind and body, she was the heart of it all. She was the core of life that swam through every living being on that planet, great or small, but at the same time, she welcomed those same beings when it was their time to pass.

Along her path, she had been used, betrayed and nearly killed. However, like everything that has balance to it, she had been saved, loved and enshrouded with protection of her friends and family.

"…Cloud…I'm sorry for not being there when you needed me…but in the future…I shall be ready…and waiting…"

The storm began to come slowly to a halt, but the energy radiated from the young goddess as she stepped forth from the massive crater.

Eyes still closed, her bare feet moved over the bare earth with confidence, but her destination was unknown to Yumiko and Faera.

"What…What just happened?" Faera inquired softly and Yumiko shook her head.

"It seems we got our Selena back." She smiled as they continued to watch her quietly. Grass sprouted and flowers formed shortly after Selena finally stepped out of the steep crater. That's when she opened her eyes at last.

Her eyes were brighter and more alive than either Faera or Yumiko had seen them as she gazed at them with a small smile. She shook her head and laughed at the surprised looks she was getting.

"What? You're looking at me like you haven't seen me in ages!"

Yumiko released Faera and ran up to hug Selena.

"Look at you! Is this all a dream?!" Yumiko gasped and Selena shook her head.

"Nope! I'm really here!...Ummm, Yumiko…"

"Yeah?"

"Can I borrow your cloak or something? The draft I'm getting isn't too pleasant."

Meanwhile…

"How much further?" Cloud yelled over the coming thunder. Dark clouds had build over them and lightning flashed in a foreboding manner. Shibuki's run slowed to a trot and his ears lay flat.

"Something's wrong…Something has disturbed our goddess."

Cloud spurred Shibuki and yelled "Well, let's go! We have to protect her!"

Shibuki gazed up at him and snorted.

"Cloud, you must accept that there are truly powerful forces to be reckoned with. You cannot hope to fight a god."

"Does it matter? Look, if we don't help her, then-"

"I KNOW!!!!! Just sit tight and hold on." Shibuki rumbled and rushed forth.

Through the thick forest, he leapt and sailed over the forest floor until they reached a cliff. It was then they saw something that terrified the both of them: the energy of the Lifestream.

"Oh no…This can't be good…" Cloud muttered, but Shibuki stood stock still. His amber eyes searched the ground below for the source of the trouble, but he found nothing except for Yumiko clutching Faera.

He shifted impatiently before saying softly "The storm will subside in time. We just have to be patient…"

"…Patient?...But…"

"…Cloud…I'm sorry for not being there when you needed me…but in the future…I shall be ready…and waiting…" said an enchanting voice. Cloud froze and glanced about, but found no one. A warm breeze stirred the trees and soon, the chaos that troubled the forest subsided. The Lifestream energy faded and all they could see was a rather exposed Selena standing in the center of the steaming crater.

"Whoa…" Cloud breathed as he watched her slowly stride out of the crater. Soon, the crater was filled with plant life as Selena finally climbed out. Cloud tilted his head and his eyes were wide.

Shibuki chuckled and shook his head.

"It seems she's finally come back to us…Wait…Cloud cover your eyes! She's indecent!"

Shibuki's long tail swished forward and covered Cloud's eyes immediately.

"Ack! Why didn't you say so before?! Owowowow!!!!! Get your hairy tail out of my eyes!!!!" Cloud hissed as he struggled to move Shibuki's powerful appendage from his eyes, but to no avail.

"I will once Yumiko finishes buckling her cloak." He snapped as he chanced a glance down at the sisters and finally, Selena was decent.

Shibuki sighed, gave a quick shake before growling to his slightly blinded passenger "Hold on."

"Wait, what?!"

Before Cloud could register what was happening, his watering eyes bleared even more as the wind whipped past his face. Shibuki ran and leapt down the Cliffside, careful not to make too sharp of a move. Cloud's fists dug into the fiery golden mane and he leaned as close as he could to keep the whistling wind from his already blinded eyes.

Finally, a small sudden shock came and Cloud knew they had landed. Luckily for him, Shibuki decided to walk towards the group.

While Cloud rubbed his eyes, a soft voice called out to them. A voice that was both familiar, but at the same time, slightly different. Almost completely confident.

"Shibuki! Cloud! You're alright!" Selena called out and ran over to greet them. Her arms happily embraced Shibuki's muscular neck and he chuckled.

"It's good to see you've finally returned…However…I fear I have some rather distressing news Selena."

"Artemia…" she growled dangerously and Shibuki nodded.

"Exactly…And this time, she's calling you out."

"It figures…The damn coward…I bet she got to Tifa, didn't she? It would explain why she wasn't killed after Faera's kidnapping."

Again Shibuki nodded, but looked sadly to the sky.

"Though that is very true, I fear things have taken a turn for the worst. Artemia has taken the children as insurance you will come for them and Tifa is currently turning the others against you as we speak."

With his tail, Shibuki pried Cloud from his back and transformed into his normal form. He reached in between his chain mail and tunic to produce the message. Selena solemnly took it and broke open the seal. Her eyes flickered over the writing.

While a smile graced her soft lips, her eyes glowed with fury.

"…That bitch…This is a new all time low for her…Well, it looks like the final battle's right around the corner." She mused darkly as the paper within her hands burst into flames. Yumiko and Faera came to her side then.

"Meaning what exactly?" Yumiko asked and the fair goddess turned to her sister.

"It means the last battle will be held in Midgar…"

"But…You can't do that. Innocent people will get hurt, Selena." Cloud argued, no longer blinded, but his eyes narrowed slightly at the turn of events. Selena sighed and looked to the sky.

"I don't know what to tell you, love, but if this is Artemia's will, we're not in a good position to object. Lives are at stake, both the children's and the people of this planet." She explained and clamped a hand on his shoulder. "Look, I can try to take the battle outside of Midgar, but can't make any promises. Knowing Artemia, she'll probably pin your friends against me as well as have her own minions thrown into the mix. It's gonna get really ugly…That is also why I want you to stay out of this battle."

"What?! I don't think so!" Cloud fumed, his hands clenching into fists, but Selena shook her head.

"Cloud…I remember everything…Everything that I wanted to forget, but Artemia took the opportunity to assist me in forgetting. During those 4 years of my amnesic condition, I often wondered why I couldn't remember, but now I know. I couldn't remember because part of me was afraid. Afraid to re-open old wounds that ran so deep, that even the greatest ocean could have been filled to the brim, but never contain my pain…"

"But-" Cloud began, but she placed a gentle hand upon his cheek and smiled.

"…I thought I had lost you 4 years ago back in the Mako reactor of Nibelheim. The day I thought you had died, part of me longed to die with you and I would have if it weren't for my responsibilities at hand. So in the end, I opted for forgetting my life here amongst mortals. However, now that I know you are alive, I'd like to keep you that way."

She leaned forward and gently, brushed her lips against his own. A small tear spilled down her cheek as she did so. After a moment, she finally pulled away and gazed into his eyes.

"…I love you, regardless as to whether you feel the same or not. And it is because I love you that you will be staying here with Shibuki and Faera until this conflict is resolved.

"What?! Wait-Huh?"

Cloud was about to move forward, but was held back by something. He glanced down and found that he was shackled to the ground.

"I'm really sorry about all of this, Cloud. I hope you can forgive me in the end." She concluded as she slowly backed away, then turned to Shibuki. "Shibuki…When we came here, did you bring my armor and garments?"

"Of course. Originally they were in the bar, but luckily before Artemia had summoned me, I managed to sneak them past her and hid them. Go to the cliff with a massive sword sticking up and they should be buried 10 paces to the right of it."

"Good enough…Yumiko, I want you to go to Detalia and tell father what's happened. As for Artemia…She is mine."

Yumiko gave a solemn nod and suddenly, bat like wings sprouted from her back. Without another word, she took to the sky like a sparrow.

Selena turned to Cloud, Shibuki and Faera to give them a wave.

"Wish me luck!" she chirped with a grin before she became consumed in the planet's life. When it had faded, she was gone.

Author Note #2: Another chapter up and running. I'm happy, you guys are probably semi-happy (I know I'm slow and I'm sorry again, so try not to stone me) and everything's okay…Well…Sorta…Good enough! Chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug, chug-a-luggity lug!