"Smoke coming from the direction of Midgar." Someone reported.
They all turned to see it true. There was lots of smoke. This had them all edge. Something drastic happened.
A longship moved closer. It was the one Rufus commanded. Everyone else stayed in formation.
"What's the plan of action?" Rufus asked over the waves.
"Only a handful of us reach the docks. The rest stay blocking the bay. No one goes in or out until we have our victory." Sephiroth had a mind that hopefully there wouldn't be a lot left to fight.
"Then it will be my best shieldbrothers and sisters." Rufus agreed.
And if things went sour then all they needed was to use the horn to call in the rest. It was an unspoken promise. This was a sound enough plan.
As they came into view of the bay, it was a sad sight. Houses had been set to fire. The flames were just embers now. The smell of death and burnt flesh was heavy in the air. There was no sign of movement.
Sephiroth blew his horn. The sound of his return. There was movement close to the longhouse. Behind Sephiroth's longship were six others following to the docks. The rest of Rufus' army moved to block and surround the bay.
"Ready your weapons. They don't seem pleased." Sephiroth warned.
"How do we tell who is friend or enemy? These are our own brothers and sisters!" Someone panicked.
"If they attack you, then they an enemy. Simple as that." Cid was being cynical.
"I think I see Barret, by the treeline." Cloud couldn't miss the big guy. He waved his brightly reflective sword to show help has arrived.
At the sign of friends, Barret and those who followed his leadership to fend off the Queen's men charged out of the forest with a loud war cry. The longships reached the docks and Sephiroth leaped out of his boat to charge.
The Queen's men were surrounded from both sides. And they were evidently confused at the sight of Sephiroth so willingly fighting no questions asked. Some threw down their weapons to surrender.
"Take those who surrender as prisoner!" Sephiroth ordered.
Cloud was too focused in the fight. He released all of his pent up stress and anxieties of the last four days at sea. He was a furious storm that has finally been set free.
"Stormcloud, tone it back." Sephiroth took notice.
"Pah! He has no right to call you that!" Cid huffed as he swung his hammer into someone's face.
"He's mine. He can call me whatever he wants." Cloud sent a glare. Cid paused for a split second in surprise.
Cloud caught sight of someone attempting to take advantage of the distraction. He moved closer with a swing of his sword at Cid's attacker.
Heartlessly he beheaded the man where he stood. Cid was terrified to say the least. But the action snapped him back into the battle at hand.
"There you are! Took your sweet ass time, Spikey!" Barret caught up to them.
"How's Zack and Aerith?" Cloud wondered.
"She got scared when she had a vision you were killed. She's protecting Zack. He's among the wounded we managed to pull into the forest." Barret informed as he threw an axe into someone's skull.
"Is she at the longhouse?" Sephiroth didn't have to say who he was referring to.
"Where else she gonna be? And what the hell is going on with your sail?" The miner didn't care who he was addressing. He was relieved that Sephiroth seemed to have some sense.
"You'll see once she's been dealt with." Sephiroth promised.
Soon enough they finally reached the longhouse. Rufus was close behind Sephiroth and Cloud. Barret and Cid followed in after.
Blood splattered everywhere. Everything was soaked with blood. Even parts of the roof had blood.
At the sound of footsteps someone peeked out of hiding. At the sight of them Kadaj came running. Cloud was the only one to notice he didn't have his weapon. To everyone's surprise Kadaj hugged Cloud.
"She's gone mad. Make it stop please." Kadaj was beyond terrified. He was shaking uncontrollably.
"Go outside. You don't have to see this." Sephiroth urged gently.
"My son! My beautiful, perfect son - " The Queen's voice cut short at the sight of Cloud.
She was covered in blood from head to toe. Even her long hair was stained. And she was also very naked.
"I know of your plot, mother. It didn't work. How many of my friends died by your hand?" Sephiroth accused as he slowly approached.
"They were leading you astray from the Promised Land!" She defended.
Kadaj his behind Cloud. The blond waited until Rufus followed Sephiroth's lead to approach. Cloud was a silent shadow as he watched the scene unfold.
"She's clearly lost her mind. As the new king that will be taking over, I am leaving it up to either Sephiroth or Cloud to remove her from this world." Rufus made it very clear that he won't raise his sword against her.
"What? You promised Midgar over to the likes of him? How dare you!" Jenova shrieked.
"You're not my mother. I leave it to Cloud. He has more cause being her target in an assassination attempt." Sephiroth turned away.
Once again he was too trusting. Jenova lunged at him with a maddened speed. Cloud raced to intervene. However her dagger pierced his ribs. Cloud released a roar as he swung.
Her head tumbled to the floor. Not a hair from it had been cut. Her body slumped and Cloud yanked her hand away from the dagger. He left it in so the bleeding won't be worse. His sword dropped as he held Sephiroth.
"Don't leave me!" Cloud panicked.
"It missed...my heart. If the Seer's house is intact..." Sephiroth knew he had a chance.
"Come on, let's take him outside." Rufus surprised everyone by actually moving to help Cloud carry Sephiroth out of the longhouse.
"Is it true? You won't be king brother?" Kadaj stammered.
"Even if I took it and died, I would be a very short lived king." Sephiroth scoffed. Cloud felt hope rise at the fact his humor was coming through.
"Don't speak like that. The Goddess might hear you." Rufus half heartedly snapped.
"Don't get sentimental on me, Rufus." Sephiroth countered. "You and I both know you don't believe."
"Ladies, cut the crap." Cid's voice made them all glare at him.
"Aerith's house is intact!" Cloud glanced over at it and relief flooded him.
"Let's take him there. Tseng can help with the preparations until the girl comes back for the real work." Rufus instructed.
Sephiroth was placed on the bed. Cloud went straight to work with giving Sephiroth herbs for the pain. Tseng entered to begin helping Cloud cut and remove the armor and clothing. They left the dagger to stay.
Rufus can be heard outside giving orders to burn the longhouse. Too many innocents lost their lives in it for the bloodbath the Mad Queen. Even if the blood could be cleaned the walls will forever hold the memories of what transpired in them.
Slowly the people who couldn't fight emerged from the forest. And as they all gathered before Rufus with his pretty words that he is now king of Midgar, he was met with rejoice for it meant the end of the Mad Queen's terror.
Aerith was brought to her house and immediately began her work. But first she hugged Cloud tightly and he returned the gesture.
"I was so scared you died!" She cried.
"I had a vision of the night shit went down. I saw through your eyes. It was...strange." Cloud informed.
"Funny, isn't it? We both had visions of each other." Aerith had a small smile.
"If you don't mind, I have a dagger in my ribs." Sephiroth spoke up.
"Can't forget about you." Aerith pulled away from the hug to study the wound. "You know, I'm surprised you actually turned against her so willingly."
"She tried to have Cloud killed. From one of my own men. I knew then she had to be taken care of." Sephiroth reached for Cloud. Their hands intertwined.
"Did she know? About the blood pact?" Aerith asked.
"If she did, she never asked details." Meaning Sephiroth wasn't sure.
"Okay, I'm going to ready the bandages. One of you hold him down and the other pulls the dagger. Make it fast and don't change the angle of the dagger going in." Aerith instructed.
Cloud moved around the bed to hold Sephiroth down. Aerith gathered the strips of cloth bandages while Tseng grasped the handle of the dagger. Aerith had the grace of counting to three. Sephiroth didn't make a sound but he did try to thrash.
Cloud held him steady with all his strength as he watched Tseng remove the weapon. It came out clean and didn't do more damage as it left the way it pierced through. Once Sephiroth was calm enough Aerith worked the bandages quickly and tightly.
"Once the bleeding is a minimum I will see if it needs stitches. Until then you should rest. Let your body heal itself." Aerith gave Sephiroth something to help him sleep.
When he was asleep Tseng left but sent two of his men to guard them. A redhead named Reno and his partner Rude.
"I can protect him just fine." Cloud scoffed.
"This is to show Rufus ain't messing around." Reno chuckled. "So you gotta get used to us."
"Whatever." Cloud rolled his eyes.
"Will you be able to watch him? There's still a lot of wounded to help." Aerith asked him.
"You sure you don't need help?" Cloud offered.
She looked so tired. Dark circles under her eyes and everything. It had been a very tiresome last several days.
"I will be fine. I'll be sleeping over at Zack's until Sephiroth is healed." She didn't mind that her bed was being used.
"How is he?" Cloud asked.
"The worst has passed for him. I worry about Sephiroth, though. He's never been injured. His body might fight itself." Aerith let slip her concerns.
"He has me." The blond declared.
"I hope it's enough." Aerith turned to leave with a basket of herbs and bandages.
Cloud laid down with an arm around Sephiroth. It was strange, really. Usually he was the injured one and Sephiroth was the one watching over him. This time it was the other way around. Sleep claimed the blond as he listened to Sephiroth's heartbeat.