Author's Note: Ready, set, action! Now back to the main events!

Disclaimer: I don't own FF7, just anything outside of the game I own…Like this dust bunny! ^.^

Part 15

Cloak abandoned by a massive sword, the Lifestream Goddess stands on the cliff's edge garbed in her newly acquired armor. She adjusted her golden fingerless gauntlets, then her thin coronet. The wind picked up slightly and her aqua cape blew about her sleek frame.

"So…this is it…The battle many have waited for…I guess it was just a matter of time…" She said quietly to herself as she looked to the darkening heavens. "It is time…"

She leaned forward and finally, she plummeted calmly down the cliffside. The winds whipped and combed through her golden locks and cape until she hit the ground running.

She knew it was a dangerous tactic, storming into enemy grounds, but did it really matter? She'd have to fight anyway.

Speaking of fights…

She glanced to her left and could see a giant pack of wolves closing in on her flanks. Her eyes squinted and she could see a silver patch on one of the beast's back: Commander Silver Back, himself, was in the lead.

She flung out her arms and her large crescent swords erupted forth from the earth.

"Chew on this, you miserable sons of bitches!" she roared as she whipped around in a powerful fury and swung as the monstrous wolves closed in. There was a bright flash of light and half of the pack was destroyed as deep scars running for miles was all that was left to show for it. Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she pointed the black ribbon sword at them.

"Foolish dogs…You seem to have forgotten your places. I swear to you that if you continue to intervene, I shall be forced to remind you where you stand next to me…A goddess…"

The pack transformed into their human forms and some took minor steps back. On the other hand, Silver Back stayed put.

"Though you do point out such an obvious thing to us, let me take the time to point something out to you my lady…You seem to have forgotten your own place. You have a lot of nerve to even consider thinking of yourself as a goddess. You're a far cry from Artemia's league."

"Oh, is that so? Does being a heartless bitch make me less of a goddess than Artemia? Since when has she decided who is and who isn't a god?" she argued, watching from the corner of her eyes as Silver Back began to circle her. She heard him snort and laugh.

"That isn't the point, Selena. It's all about how you were conceived…About how your father betrayed her for another… If our Ladyship is unhappy, then she has every right to destroy your father's pride and joy."

"Pride and joy?"

Finally, he came out from behind her, a wicked sneer on his face.

"Surely you're not that naïve! Why do you think Yumiko was locked away in that cell? Her ugly birth shamed the Moon Goddess, but that shame grew further when Lord Skyler was born. Your father wouldn't even second glance his own son!...But you…When you entered the room, the man would always smile and chatter on as if no one else existed."

She glanced down at her feet momentarily, her grip on her swords tightening.

"…Is this some sort of guilt trip you're trying to put me through? To be honest, for almost my entire existence, it has been nothing but my regret of being born…However…How can anyone regret something no one can control? Life and Death happen for a reason and there's no use of regretting what's been dealt. I no longer regret my life…I embrace it openly now."

The wolfish commander crossed his arms and chuckled.

"I see…She no longer has a hold of your heart…Or so you claim…If that is true, prove it."

"Fine…If I beat you, your pack must stay out of my way until the conflict is resolved." She began, but Silver Back quickly chimed in "And if I win, I claim your pretty head."

"Fair enough…Let's go." She growled and took her stance with one blade in front and the other behind her.

His sneer shifted to a feral snarl and he rushed her, broad sword in hand. Selena greeted him with a smirk and her dance began.

He leapt in the air, slicing though the air with a dangerous demonic pulse that sent shock waves at her, but she leapt out of the way as each blow flew at her. On the fifth pulse, she leapt forward and cut through it, the shock wave was sent in two different directions. As she sailed at him, she whipped around in a shining whirlwind and sparks flew as they crossed swords in mid air. Soon, they began to plummet back down to the earth, but even so, metal colliding and grinding against metal echoed across the barren wasteland.

Just as his broad sword went to crash down on her, she blocked and belted him in the face with her other sword. Silver Back was sent sprawling and his helmet flew feet away from him.

Wild raven hair with a small strand of grey whipped about his face in the strong breeze as he slowly got to his feet. Upon his slightly scarred face, a small smirk edged upon his lips.

"Heh, not bad little goddess…but you still lack your former luster."

Selena watched with fearful, but determined eyes as he took his true form. It was neither wolf nor man like the pack he led, but a combination of both.

His human teeth gave way to sharp carnivore jowls. His raven hair spread over his body and he had to discard some of his armor to make room for his tensing muscles. He snarled, snapped and salivated like a rabid beast. When all had calmed, he lifted his eyes upon her and they were as crimson as the life his soul lusted for.

Silver Back righted himself and summoned his blade to his side with a flick of the wrist.

"I was going to easy on you…Now, the real fight begins." He growled in a beastly voice, but before her very eyes, he vanished into the uplifted sand. It was as if his voice had just been the wind.

That changed swiftly when she felt a dark presence behind her. She ducked just in time to see a flash and some of her hair falling into clipped strands.

"…You son of a bitch…You cut my hair…" she snarled darkly and pounded her thick heeled boot into his stomach. He lurched forward and was pushed back a few inches, but other than that, she noticed the unfazed mockery within his eyes. She sailed forth, whipped around and glared at him warily in a crouched position.

Something was really wrong and she didn't like it one bit. Not only was he faster than before, but he also had high stamina. She could not hope to go easy on him.

In all honesty, she had no wish to take his life, but the way this battle was looking, she was left with no choice.

To his surprise, Selena dismissed her sword and took her stance. He raised his arms out and chuckled "are you insane? Do you really have that strong of an urge to die?"

"…I will not die…In the end, I shall survive and bring your so called 'queen' crashing to her knees in defeat."

And just to coax his wrath, she stuck her middle finger up and feigned a yawn.

It worked…too well…

His blood red eyes widened and he lunged with another snarl. He blurred before her again, but this time, she was better prepared.

Silver Back appeared before her and his sword flashed again and again, and again. Each time it came close to striking her, Selena dodged by the mere skid of her teeth until she turned the tables on him. He went to thrust, but she sidestepped, her mind working in an analytical frenzy.

Her eyes widened within those costly seconds and her mind screamed 'THERE!!!!!!'

Silver Back could do nothing but watch in slow motion as her hand zoomed into his face and the heel of her palm smashed between his eyes.

He shrieked and yipped in sheer agony, swinging his sword wildly in hopes of collide with her slender frame, but that did not happen. Instead, during his frenzied swings, she caught the sword between her palms and wrenched it from his hands with a twist before righting it in her own hands.

"This battle is over. You are blind and disarmed. You have no hope in winning this match."

"…No…Not yet…I still have your scent and sound to rely upon." He hissed frantically as he lumbered blindly about. But in the end, she shook her head.

"…So…you would choose death before defeat…Pretty pathetic way to waste the Gift of Life, don'tcha think?" she asked quietly and he turned his head to face her.

"...Kill me…Let me die with what little dignity I have left, goddess…Show no pity to my case and send my soul to the final resting grounds. It grows weary…"

Selena tilted her head and threw down the sword.

"I don't think so…Besides, my quarrel isn't with you and seeing as I won this skirmish, I expect you and your pack to hold up your end of the bargain."

With that, she turned her back on him and began walking away. Her footsteps fell sullenly upon the bare parched earth and her head was held high as she gazed at her destination.

Suddenly, a rapid pattering of feet caught her attention.

Her fury surged through her as she whirled around to scream "YOU FOOL!!!!!"

The black ribbon blade surged forth and was brought down with a mighty crash. The blind black wolf with a silver patch was no more.

She glanced at him out of pity and anger. Had Artemia driven this beast to desperate extremes? Had she made life a living hell for them so much that they immediately chose death so easily?

She knew not, but she did know what was awaiting her in the city and she had to put an end to it. She had no wish to kill anyone else just to reach the despicable Moon Goddess.

Elsewhere …

"Tch…I figured it was only a matter of time before that weakling Silver Back fell before her. Imbecile…Oh well, no matter."

Cold dark eyes flickered to the two children chained together and clutching each other tightly. Artemia's crimson lips curled into a small charming smile and she tutted at them.

"Well, no need to worry little ones. Your precious Selena is very well on her way." She chirped as she tapped her well manicured fingers against a rickety old office table as she glanced away from the children to gaze about their condemned whereabouts.

Denzel held Marlene tightly in his arms and bared his while shooting her with the most deadliest glare he could muster.

"You're one butt ugly bitch…When Selena gets here, she'll give you one make over you'll never forget!" he snarled and those cold deadly eyes slowly turned his way. Artemia rose from her seat and approached the children. She leaned slightly and took Denzel's face into her hand.

"You know…You are in no position to insult me. I'll let it go this time, but the next insult you make about my good look will place you in the most severe of pains you'll ever encounter in your miserable lifetime." She said sweetly to him and her grip increased, earning a small yelp of pain from the young boy. She roughly shoved his head back into the wall behind him and released him.

While he made small whimpers, she paced over to the nearest window and glanced down at the city below.

"Tell me children, who do you think will be victorious in the next battle? Your friends and family or your beloved goddess?" she asked without turning away from the window, but the sharp gasps gave her her answer.

Old loves versus the new. It was enough to turn any child's heart into a battleground, plagued with the fear of losing either or both. However, in Artemia's standing point, their pain and fear only entertained her.

Tears streamed down Marlene's face as she buried her face into Denzel shoulder. He held her tightly, looked to the ceiling and prayed 'Selena…Where ever you are…Come save us…Come save everyone…'

Author Note #2: Artemia is such a bitch. I whole heartedly agree with Denzel on that note! Anyways, feel free to read through everything again, leave a review or whatever it is you guys do. It's your call pals!