Author's Note: Just a few more chapters folks and the journey will end…Not really lookin' forward to it myself, but hey, all good things must come to an end some time soon.

Disclaimer: I don't own FF7, just anything outside of the game I own…Like my nice fluffy blanky that I like to cuddle! ^.^

Part 19

"…Selena…Everything's going to be alright. Don't let me go…"

-Cloud Strife

His eyes were widened with panic as he pressed against the window. Clouds of smoke billowed from the demolished tower and the building began to crumble even further.

"SWEET SHIVA!!!!! WHAT THE HELL'S GOIN' ON?!!!!!" Cid howled with shock and Cloud whirled on him.

"Cid, can't you fly this thing any faster?!"

"I'm tryin', but if we go any faster, we'll either over shoot Midgar, or we'll get caught up in the commotion!" he argued, but Cloud wrathfully unsheathed one of his swords.

"Then let me and Sigmund off here!" he yelled and the pilot was so surprised at his desperation, his cigarette fell from his mouth. Cid quickly shook it off and began yelling orders.

Cloud and Sigmund were dropped off immediately and both took off running. In mid-run, Sigmund transformed and Cloud leapt on.

"Don't think this changes anything between us, Strife! You're still my enemy!" Sigmund yelled to him, but a sudden spur to the sides made him yip and go faster.

"Quit your bitching and run!" Cloud yelled at him angrily, guiding Sigmund through the chaotic streets until they ran into a familiar bunch. He reined in Sigmund.

"What's happened? Where's Selena?"

"She and Marlene are still inside!" Tifa answered as she watched the tower fearfully crash and crumble to the ground. Cloud gazed up and the clouds above began to swirl darkly.

"It's like fighting Sephiroth all over again!" he snarled under his breath and spurred Sigmund forward.

"OW!!!! DON'T DO THAT!!!!!!" Sigmund howled as he dashed and loped through the rubble, climbing higher and higher up the building.

"I SAID SHUT UP AND RUN!!!!!!"

Another quick spur pushed Sigmund further and they were practically flying through the wreckage. The wind whistled past them and Cloud's eyes were squinted as concrete rained down on them.

"NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, KEEP RUNNING!" Cloud ordered, as he sat back, unsheathed his swords and began to hack and slash though the larger pieces about to collide with them.

"YOU'RE ONE CRAZY SON OF A BITCH!!!!!!!! JUST THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW!!!!!!!!!!" Sigmund hollered back, closing his eyes briefly to avoid being blinded.

Soon, Sigmund swiveled through an opening and dashed though the building. His rider hacked and slashed upward as they rode through the mess until they finally reached the zenith. It was dusty and the visibility was not great. Sigmund haphazardly collapsed, coughing up blood and panting hard. Cloud pried himself away from the weary and stressed Summon and patted his head.

"Hey…Hey Sigmund…You okay?"

Sigmund transformed into his human form and was laying limply on his back, his head lulled to the side.

"…need…rest…" he coughed and groaned pitifully. His body at that moment was shot to hell. He could do no more. Cloud took him under the arms and lugged him to the side where he'd have the least chance of falling into the chasm.

"Alright…You stay here then. I'll go find Selena."

"You needn't look too far…" Sigmund mused as he turned his head to the right and through the dust, the battered goddess stepped forward. At the sight of them, her eyes widened.

"You fools…GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!!!!!" she yelled as she grabbed Cloud and went to grab Sigmund, but it was too late.

An energy blast was sent their way and Sigmund was thrown from the heights into dusty air below.

"SIGMUND!!!!!" Selena screamed and Cloud restrained her from leaping after him. "LET ME GO!!!! LET ME GO, I HAVE TO HELP HIM!!!!!!"

"We can't do anything for him right now and there's no point of getting yourself killed like that! Besides…" the dust began to clear and Cloud turned to gaze at the Emperoress like being before them. "We've got bigger fish to fry…"

Selena turned her hurt gaze upon him, but he didn't look at her. His blazing eyes were upon the source of all of their problems. If looks could kill…

Artemia's head tilted slightly and a small smirk graced her lips.

"Oh, so this is your human lover? I suppose I can give him points for looking absolutely adorable. Reminds me of what humans call 'Chocobos'. Maybe when this is over, I'll keep him as a personal pet."

"I think I'll pass. Ugly bitches like you aren't my type." Cloud growled and Selena could feel the heat roll off from him in waves.

She placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered "this is my fight. Stay out of it."

"…It was your fight…But as soon as you stepped into our lives, it became my fight too." He said quietly to her, eyes still on Artemia. Selena's eyes softened slightly and she gave a small smile.

'…Cloud…' she mentally whispered and took his side.

"Alright…Just keep on your toes. If she hits you, you might be a goner." She warned and Cloud nodded.

"Noted."

Together, they dashed forward, their battle cries merging in harmony. However, a sudden smile from Artemia and a flash of her elegant silver fan had them both scrambling for cover. Selena grabbed Cloud and pulled him to the ground as a vicious wind whipped through, cutting through stone and metal like it was nothing more than butter.

Selena glanced up and could see the Moon Goddess solemnly approaching them.

"Too cute…Lovers to the bitter end. Much like Romeo and Juliet, I'm afraid." She mused and Selena rose to her feet, brushing the blood from her bottom lip.

"However, this story's gonna end happily." She shot back and Artemia rolled her eyes.

"Oh come now! Don't you get it? You're beaten! You can't hope to beat thousands of years of training and biding strength!"

Selena closed her eyes and tilted her head briefly before snapping "watch me."

Cloud was on his feet now, shaking off his minor pain and took his stance.

"You got something up your sleeve, huh?" Cloud asked her and Selena gave a laugh.

"Are you kidding? I thought you had one?"

Cloud sighed "we're screwed…Aren't we?"

Selena glanced at him with a tomboyish grin.

"Sorta, yeah."

"You've got to be kidding! You came marching all the way from that forest to Midgar just to fight a powerful Goddess and you don't even have a plan?! What kind of a Goddess are you?!" he exclaimed and Selena shrugged.

"One of a kind…By the way…Since we're here and possibly on the edge of death, let's get something straightened out now…"

Before he could say anything more, she grabbed him by the front of his shirt and crashed her lips against his own. At first, his eyes were as wide as saucers, but slowly, they were half lidded until they finally closed.

There was that strange, fuzzy feeling again.

Selena pulled away, licking her lips jovially and nodded approvingly.

"Yep, you still taste good." She chirped giddily, but suddenly, pulled him out of the way again as another energy wave was sent their way.

"Dear gods, I thought I was going to puke! You honestly have no taste in men!" Artemia howled, wrinkling her nose in disgust, but she received a middle finger from the saucy blonde.

"Selena…What are you doing?" Cloud asked warily as she yanked him to his feet. At this rate, he was going to have a crap load of bruises from being yanked around so much compared to the battle itself.

She smirked and gave him a look that seemed to say 'you'll see…'

She turned back to Artemia and mused "I have no taste in men? And what about you? Daddy didn't seem to think you were woman enough for him. Is that why he went behind your back?"

Artemia's eyes were now wide and livid.

"Why you little smart ass bitch! How dare you-"

"I believe the question should be 'how dare you'? After all, I'm not the one going around taking my unhappiness out on others. In fact, I seemed to be well loved for that simple fact. Or perhaps, my ability to show love and affection towards others is what makes me more appealing than you. Whichever it is, physical beauty is nothing compared to what beauty lies within the heart, which I fear, you have none. Sure my daddy screwed you over, but he saw you for what you really were: a loathsome-"

"Silence!"

"Ugly-"

"I'm warning you!"

Artemia raised her fan, poised and ready to unleash hell.

"HAG!!!!!!!!"

The last word had done it. Selena stood before Cloud to protect him from the raging hellish winds as they battered against the shield she had created with her energy.

"Cloud…Whatever happens next…I want you to know, that I still love you and I always will."

As soon as those words left her mouth, it all finally came back to him. From childhood sweethearts to now, it all came back.

She felt his arms wrap around her waist and a soft pair of lips grace the shell of her ear.

"…I know…And it's because I love you, that I'm finishing this now."

"WHAT?!!!! CLOUD, NO!!!!!!" She screamed as he sped past her, swords locked in place and he flew out into the furious gale.

The winds tore at him, cutting into his flesh and more, but he did not slow down. He did not yield to the mighty winds as he came crashing down upon the shocked Moon Goddess.

Artemia dodged out of the way, but her magic fan wasn't so lucky. The fan was sliced in half and the winds ceased all together.

Artemia wrenched a small blade from the front of her bodice and with outrage as her companion, she rushed the injured Cloud.

As Selena's barrier fell away, she watched with horror as Cloud lurched forward while the Moon Goddess smile wickedly at his plight, hands covered in his blood.

Her cold, merciless eyes flickered to Selena as she hissed "you better come save your pet. Are you going to let him die without lifting a finger?"

The world suddenly felt cold to Selena as she stared in a daze at the unmoving body before her. He was alive, that much she knew, but just barely.

Author Note #2: Cloud!!!!! Noooooo!!!!!! Q.Q