Disclaimer: I do not own any of the material appearing in this story. The OC's belong to their respective owners.

Three Days Before Eggman Invaded

"Mmmm…" Esdeath stretched as she walked into her home after a day of work. She noticed that Ironwood wasn't home yet.

Normally she'd have the TV to herself with dinner on her lap when she's home alone, but this time… she felt different, since there was mud all over her skin.

That mission got a lot dirtier than she had thought it'd be.

She put her clothing in the washer while she stepped into the shower, turning it on and letting the hot water strike her.

"Haaaaaaah…" She sighed softly, closing her eyes and letting the water run down her body as the mud washed away into the drain. She softly hummed as she scrubbed herself clean to her heart's content, washing her hair as she lathered herself up before rinsing.

She turned the water off and dried herself off, wrapping the towel around her waist as she looked into the mirror while putting on some deodorant before she walked into her room, and came out in a revealing light blue halter top and black short shorts.

She walked into the living room… only to see a bouquet of flowers on the coffee table. She curiously tilted her head as she walked toward it, then seeing a note next to it.

"Meet me at Mushroom Hills - Your Secret Admirer"

Esdeath blushed, knowing full well how attractive she was as everyone and their mothers admired her and asked her out, knowing full well that she was way out of their leagues. Not that she hasn't dated folks before, they just weren't her type or they had different tastes that she felt was a deal breaker for her.

Not her fault that some folk were mentally deranged.

There were also some secret admirers that she knew she had, yet they never fully revealed themselves when she was asked to meet them at the designated place. They probably either forgot or they were too intimidated by her beauty.

Then again, she's never been vain about how beautiful she was.

She knew she was attractive. She just didn't care.

Esdeath closed her eyes. "This one will more than likely be the same. Yet… I can't help but indulge."

She walked out after grabbing a sandwich, made herself an ice phoenix and flew off toward Mushroom Hills.

Alternatively, she could have just taken the Warp Pipe that was a shortcut, yet what was the rush?

She soon made it to Mushroom Hills, hopping off of the phoenix and looked around.

"You got my message."

Esdeath turned around, seeing who the voice belonged too. "Oh, Sephiroth!"

"You look nice."

Esdeath brushed some bangs away. "Of course…" She chuckled before she blinked. "Wait, are you here for another rematch?"

She got in a battle stance, forming ice daggers. "Because if we're having a rematch, I'd be more than happy to-"

Sephiroth pulled his hand forward, giving her another bouquet of flowers.

"To-... to…" She blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

"These are for you."

Esdeath took the flowers, taking her time to sniff them. "Mmm… lavender." She said before looking up. "So what's up, Sephiroth? It's not like you to give anyone flowers. I've heard the horror stories from Cloud."

"I'll have you know that I was more of a gentleman before that fateful day."

"I can… somehow believe that. But hold on a moment, I thought you were "the destruction of worlds" kind of guy."

"Indeed."

Sephiroth turned his back on her, looking at the night sky with the moon shining down. "After I found Cloud, I thought I could find a way to potentially take over this world… to destroy it, take out the entire Smash roster just so I could get a rise out of Cloud. I've tested various Smashers to see who I can take seriously. For instance, I thought Mario was not worth my time, yet when Mario demanded a rematch, he put up more of a fight than I had originally thought. In fact, just a few days ago, I tested out Ruby, Blake and Yang once more. To my surprise, those three were more capable than I had realized. Especially Ruby… her Zinogre form is something else. Don't get me started on Xena and Yagami, those two are quite powerful. And Chiaki? Heh, she's more trouble than she looks. Lana and Cia are worthy of a good fight, and Midna lets on more than you'd think… of course, Waluigi isn't up to snuff."

He reached up toward the moon. "Regardless, I had thought by figuring out who I should be worried about, I would take them into consideration while I began destroying this world. And yet…"

He closed his hand, seemingly "grabbing" the moon. "There is something that has been on my mind. Or someone."

"Let me guess, Cloud?"

Sephiroth smirked, turning around to face Esdeath. "You."

"Me?"

"I had heard about how powerful you were so I wanted to see for myself. I was not surprised when I realized how strong you actually were when we fought. But… ever since that day, I could not stop thinking about you."

"Huh… wait… hold on… so those flowers that dropped in front of me after the Blorb crisis-"

"Indeed." Sephiroth nodded. "And don't think I didn't catch you staring at me during the Phazon War."

Esdeath blushed deeply, shyly looking away. "Uuuuh… well… um… I… uh… I didn't realize you had a six pack, s-so…"

Sephiroth let out a chuckle. "I knew you were staring, I just didn't want to say anything."

"O-Oh… o-okay."

"My thoughts of you have been getting in my way… so I have been thinking…"

Sephiroth extended his arm out to her.

"Esdeath Ironwood. We can rule the world together. Will you do me the honor of fighting and tormenting Cloud by my side?"

Esdeath blinked, sweatdropping. Oh… this was not how I thought this conversation was going to go.

"Um… I'm not that type of woman."

Sephiroth chuckled, lowering his arm. "I had a feeling you would say that."

"Maybe in another timeline, I probably would consider it. Then again, I don't personally see myself as evil…"

"That's understandable."

*Crickets chirping*

The air was filled with awkward silence as the two stared at each other for a while.

"You want to get a coffee?" Sephiroth asked.

"Yes!" Esdeath said quickly before composing herself. "I mean… of course, I'd love to."

"It's a date then."

"Yeah, a da-... a DATE?!" Esdeath blushed a deep red.

Meanwhile…

"I'm home!" Ironwood said as he walked in. "Esdeath? Hmm, she's probably still at work."

Ironwood noticed the bouquet of flowers on the coffee table as he walked over to see the note, and then there was another note attached to it.

"I'm going to Toad Town for a little bit. I'll be back soon. Love you! - Es"

Ironwood chuckled. "Good for her, she probably landed a date." He said as he walked to the kitchen.

Back at Toad Town…

"Is that…?" A Koopa wondered.

"I'm seeing it, and I'm still trying to believe it!" A Shy Guy said.

Two Toads looked at each other. "Match made in hell?"

"Probably!"

"So, you actually went insane when you found out your origins?"

"Yes."

"Damn…" Esdeath sipped her coffee. "I don't personally blame you, I'd go a little insane myself. Not to mention I probably would have killed this Hojo guy…"

"I might have… overreacted a bit."

"Ah yes, because throwing a large meteor at the world is overreacting "a bit". I can imagine you killing Aerith is also "overreacting a bit"."

Sephiroth chuckled. "You got me there."

Esdeath shook her head. "I've been meaning to ask you. Why did you save me from those Space Pirates?"

"I don't know. Something had come over me."

"I see…" He doesn't want to admit it. Esdeath thought with a soft chuckle.

"I'm still trying to figure out what's wrong with me." He chuckled.

Esdeath gently reached for his hand. He lightly flinched as he looked at her. "Sephiroth… I know you're meant to do a lot of destruction, but… Jenova's no longer a thing as far as I know, not to mention Hojo is more than likely gone. There's no need to continue this."

"If only it were that simple. I don't see myself saving the world."

"Perhaps you don't need to save it, but maybe you can help protect it."

"Isn't that the same as "saving it"?"

"Mmm, maybe?" Esdeath shrugged. "I can help you… I know you've done a lot of bad, but you haven't done anything wrong in Remnant as far as I know, right?"

"I suppose you're right."

"Plus, didn't you help Bowser with the Dark Star? Not to mention siding with everyone when they were fighting Ruby's dark clone? You have some good in you… it's just so buried in the bad, that you've lost sight."

"Are you saying you're going to fix me?"

"Fix you? No. Pull you out the best I can? Absolutely. There's some light in you… and I have a feeling our meeting might have had something to do with it." She giggled.

Sephiroth let out a genuine chuckle. "Perhaps. Heh, when they saw you're a sweetheart, they weren't kidding."

Esdeath softly smiled. "Indeed… I can't imagine what I'd be like if I didn't have a heart. I shudder at what that'd be like. Would I turn Remnant into an ice age or… would it be something more horrific?"

"Part of me wonders what that'd be like… but, I can safely say that it's impossible for someone as genuine as you."

Esdeath blushed. "Yeah… you're right." She said. "I think it's safe to say Remnant is a safe place with a gal like me."

"Indeed."

Esdeath finished her cup of coffee around the same time as Sephiroth. At that moment, a nervous waiter approached them.

"So, um… would that be all, you two?" He asked.

"Yes." Sephiroth nodded as Esdeath handed him some Lien as they both walked out together.

"Ooooh thank goodness…" He fell on the floor with a sigh of relief.

The two of them walked into Toad Park, chatting amongst themselves as Mario walked by, seeing the two together as he kept walking… and then he stopped as he turned his head, rubbing his eyes to see if he was seeing things correctly.

"...Huh… no more-a late night pasta for me. Mama mia…" He rubbed his head in bewilderment.

"HUH?!" A Toad yelled in surprise.

"Goodness!" Toadette exclaimed as the two of them sat down on a bench and looked at the stars together, continuing to chat amongst themselves.

Victor and Neo walked by together, both of them noticing Sephiroth and Esdeath. "Huh, they look cute together." Victor said as Neo's eyes widened, quickly snapping a photo and quickly texting Marnie and Luigi.

"Apparently Esdeath's dating Sephiroth!"

"Sweet Arceus… that's a match made in the Distortion World for sure."

"Mama mia, there's something you don't see every day!"

["That's a match made in hell…"]

"Hmm? Did you sign something?"

Neo shook her head. ["Don't worry about it."]

Victor chuckled. "Alright then." He said, gently giving a quick peck on Neo's cheek as they continued to walk together with Neo glancing over at Esdeath and Sephiroth until she couldn't glance anymore.

"I should probably take you home."

Esdeath smiled. "Very well. I'm glad you asked me out, Sephiroth." She said.

"You don't get out much, do you?"

"Got it in one." Esdeath chuckled as Sephiroth sprouted his one wing, wrapped his arms around Esdeath and flew off.

Back at Atlas, Sephiroth dropped Esdeath off. "Here you are, my snowflake."

"Thanks." Esdeath gave him a hug as she walked in.

"Goodnight."

"Good night." Esdeath said quietly as she closed the door, where Sephiroth chuckled and then he flew off.

"Did you have a good date?" Ironwood asked as he was reading the newspaper.

"Aaaah, it was magical~" Esdeath giggled as she walked to her room with a hum. "Night, dad~!"

"Night…? Huh, I've never seen her so happy like that. Heh, whoever it was that asked her out must have been a good one." Ironwood chuckled.

Esdeath shut the door behind her, sinking to the ground for a moment before she composed herself and curled up on her bed, giggling uncontrollably as a blush appeared on her face.

Needless to say… she did not sleep well that night.

Deadpool: Huh... and they say me and Lady Death was a match made in hell.

Ibuki: It's cute!

Yup!