Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Ashen Skies ❯ Chapter 25

Ashen Skies"

Chapter 25

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Warnings: Violence

Author's note: For some reason, I couldn't get a certain scene from the movie "Office Space" out of my mind while writing the end of the big fight scene in this chapter.

 

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*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and all related characters belong to Square-Enix. This fiction piece is strictly a non-profit exercise of creativity and entertainment for people (like me) who can't get enough of this world and the characters.*

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They flew out of range without being spotted by the approaching force of WEAPONS. Unwilling to leave without seeing what would happen, they found a small copse of evergreens growing on the side of a mountain within visual range of the ruins. They settled into the trees and peered out through the branches and pine needles, each of them tense and wary as they watched the monsters in the distance close in on their old fortress.

 

"They just showed up out of nowhere," Cloud whispered. The wildlife was utterly silent. No birds chirped, no squirrels chattered. It was as though the animals were watching with them, afraid to make noise for fear that the monstrosities crossing the hills and plains might turn their rage on them.

 

"It might seem that way," Sephiroth answered him just as quietly, "but it's more likely they were already traveling towards us. It was merely bad timing. We're fortunate they weren't already there when we arrived."

 

Angeal said nothing. The illogical part of his mind thought Gaia purposely waited for them to arrive before sending her creatures in, just so they could witness the destruction of their home. He knew it was paranoid theorizing. If Gaia were that omnipotent, they'd all be dead by now.

 

The creatures reached the outskirts of the ruins and spread out. For a moment, nothing happened. "Maybe they won't do anything," Cloud whispered hopefully.

 

Angeal silently echoed his hope. Perhaps the WEAPONS were reaching out with their senses. Maybe when they didn't detect human life in the vicinity, they would lose interest and be on their way. The possibility was just as unlikely as the planet sensing Angeal and the others at the ruins and manifesting an army to send in but...

 

The slim hope was dashed in moments as the biggest WEAPON opened its maw and gathered white-hot energy. The plasma fire erupted in a blinding beam and struck the entrance of the base. The ground shook as pieces of the mountain began to crack and slide down. The other WEAPONS seemed to take the blast as a cue to move in and they launched less impressive blasts of lasers, projectiles and explosives.

 

Angeal felt his mouth drop open and he braced himself in his perch and glanced at his companions. Cloud was shaking his head, his youthful face torn between anger and sadness. Sephiroth was like a statue beside the blond. The green blaze of his eyes was the only thing to betray his feelings.

 

Finally, Angeal looked at his lover beside him and when he saw the tense set of Gen's jaw and the reckless look in his eye, he felt dread. Genesis released his right hand from its hold on the branch and he slowly began to reach for the sword sheathed at his back. Angeal desperately caught his companion's hand in mid reach and held it tightly, as much to comfort him as to hold him back. The furious aqua gaze shifted to him and Angeal silently shook his head, threading his fingers through Genesis'. The action was normally reserved for private, intimate moments and Genesis looked down at the hand squeezing his and slowly returned the pressure.

 

A metallic roar reached Angeal's ears, blending with a louder screech. Explosions drowned the sizzling noise of plasma and lasers out. Angeal stared into Genesis' eyes for a moment longer, until he was certain that the brazen man wouldn't take it into his head to go on a suicide dive. When Genesis shut his eyes and nodded, he felt safe to turn his attention back to the destruction taking place in the distance.

 

The bathhouse collapsed in a heap of shattered glass, broken mortar and dust. Another great blast from the lead WEAPON broke off a chunk of the mountain and sent it tumbling down to crash into the mining shack closest to the fort entrance. The noise bounced off the surrounding mountain ranges and hills until it was deafening. The fort began to collapse under the assault, leaving no hope that it could ever be returned to.

 

"There's nothing more we can do here," Sephiroth announced, pitching his voice to be heard over the destruction. "If we linger, we risk detection. Withdraw now, while their attention is occupied."

 

Angeal and the others nodded in consent, knowing that he was right. Heartsick, the four warriors took to the sky and flew away, while the place they had called "home" was obliterated.

 

~*********************************~

 

They stopped for a rest halfway to the Forgotten City, choosing another forested area for cover. The snow cover wasn't as thick beneath the trees and they found patches of grass to sit and rest on. Each man was silent, absorbed in his own thoughts over what they had witnessed. Cloud relieved his bladder a few feet away from the others, behind a tree. When came back, Sephiroth was missing. He started to approach Angeal and Genesis to ask them where he'd gone but he stopped when he saw them. The bigger Soldier extended his huge white wing and he wrapped it around the redhead sitting beside him, either to comfort him or to warm him. Rather than pull away or accuse him of babying, Genesis laid his head on his shoulder and reciprocated with his raven wing.

 

Cloud knew the two of them were very conservative about displaying affection in front of others. He and Sephiroth were the same way. Deciding not to intrude on their private moment, he quietly spread his wings and flew up above the canopy, seeking the General. He guessed Sephiroth wouldn't have gone far and if there was reason to be alarmed, surely Angeal and Genesis wouldn't be snuggling like that.

 

He spotted Sephiroth a few meters away, toward the southern edge of the forested area. He was hovering silently and surveying the landscape; probably scanning for signs of danger. Cloud flew to him and hovered beside him quietly, at a loss for anything to say.

 

"We'll rest for twenty more minutes," Sephiroth told him in a low voice, "and then we'll keep going."

 

"Yes sir," Cloud agreed.

 

Sephiroth looked at him and the marble expression on his face softened. "Are you cold?"

 

Cloud felt chilled to his bones, but it wasn't a physical chill. "I'm okay."

 

"And the others?"

 

Cloud bit his lip. "I wanted to give them privacy. They seem okay, I guess."

 

Sephiroth nodded. "Perhaps that would benefit them the most, right now." He looked around and spotted a large tree with thick branches. "Come, keep watch with me while we rest."

 

Cloud nodded and followed him down into the tree a short distance below. Sephiroth straddled one of the biggest branches facing out from the forest and he leaned against the trunk, patting the spot between his thighs in silent invitation. Cloud settled down and put his back to the General as he straddled the branch as well. In the privacy of the tree, he leaned back against Sephiroth's chest and the silver warrior put his arms around him. Together they watched the landscape, keeping an eye out for danger while enjoying the comfort of one another's proximity.

 

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When they neared Bone Village, they spotted a flying WEAPON circling the area. They quickly sought cover in some bushes on the ground before it spotted them. It had the appearance of a drake, with web-like wings, a long slender neck and glowing blue eyes. It was forest green in color, bleeding into red at the tail, claws and wingtips.

 

"It's only one," Genesis whispered, "and it isn't that big. The four of us can take it."

 

Appreciating the desire for some vengeance, Sephiroth was on the verge of giving the nod when he remembered something Genesis had said earlier that day, concerning whether the protection surrounding the Forgotten City was strong enough.

 

"Not yet," he whispered back. When Genesis looked like he would protest, Sephiroth quickly explained. "First, we need to confirm something. We'll lure it towards the forest surrounding the city."

 

"You want to lead it to the colony?" Angeal stared at him as if he were mad.

 

"I want to test the protections," corrected Sephiroth. "I have no intention of letting it near the colony itself. We have to know whether these creatures can enter the territory if they have enough incentive."

 

"It's risky," Angeal muttered, looking up at the gliding monster.

 

"If it manages to follow us into the sleeping forest, we'll dispatch it immediately," Sephiroth assured him. "We can call for backup if needed but I'm confident that we can do this on our own."

 

Angeal studied him for a moment before nodding. "I trust your judgment."

 

Sephiroth looked at Cloud. "Are you prepared to do this?" There wasn't even a need to ask Genesis. He could sense the redhead's eagerness and he knew he'd go into action as soon as he gave the word.

 

Cloud's sapphire gaze was resolved and he nodded tensely. "I'll do my part."

 

Sephiroth got his masamune ready and the others did the same with their weapons. He saw the red glow from the corner of his eye as Genesis slid his hand along his blade and enhanced it with supernatural fires.

 

"Genesis will draw its fire first," Sephiroth told his companions, "we'll follow and provide a distraction. Our purpose is to lure it to the sleeping forest, so do not engage in extensive combat with the creature. Descend into the forest once we reach it and wait for further instructions."

 

"Affirmative," Angeal said.

 

"Yes sir," answered Cloud.

 

"Agreed," Genesis replied.

 

Sephiroth waited until the creature turned away from their direction. "Genesis, go."

 

Genesis immediately leaped up and snapped his wing out. He picked up speed rapidly as he closed in on the target and Sephiroth waited until he was only a few feet within striking range.

 

"Now," Sephiroth confirmed to his remaining companions as he took flight. He activated the barrier materia socketed to his bangle and his two companions did the same. He silently cursed himself for not reminding Genesis to take the precaution as well but it was too late; the redhead had already closed the distance between himself and the WEAPON. The ambush was a success. The creature screeched in surprise as Genesis flew past it and slashed a long cut in its left flank as he went by.

 

Sephiroth feared that Genesis would take it too far and try for another pass, but the redhead followed his directive and rolled in the air, swooping out and under the target before it could gather its wits and retaliate. While Genesis employed a burst of speed to get ahead of the creature and show it who was responsible for the sting, Sephiroth closed in with Cloud and Angeal beside him.

 

"Split up," Sephiroth ordered. His two companions broke away from him and closed in to flank the target on either side. Sephiroth came up behind it. The WEAPON was fixated on Genesis and it chased after him. A gout of flame shot from its mouth, nearly scorching Genesis' boots. Sephiroth heard him shout an angry protest before employing evasive maneuvers and swooping from side to side.

 

The General reached the WEAPON first and he gave it something new to think about as he sliced one of the barbs off its back. The thin head swiveled around to glare at him and he swooped upwards as its sinuous neck arched and its jaws tried to snap at him. He took a slightly different flight path from Genesis, banking more to the east. As it turned to go after him, it came face-to-face with Cloud.

 

Large neon blue eyes met vivid blue human eyes. Cloud chopped at the creature's left nostril with his sword, scoring a gash in the top of it before he dove away and banked west. Sephiroth breathed a little easier when he saw that the blond made it out of range before one of the WEAPON'S front claws could hit him.

 

Angeal came up along the creature's left side as it tried to go after Cloud. He employed a mighty swing with his Buster Sword and tore a gash in the outer part of its wing. The WEAPON'S frustrated roar was deafening and it whipped its tail around and shot a volley of spikes at the big man. They struck the protective Barrier spell surrounding him, doing no damage but jarring him in flight. He quickly righted himself and chose to fall behind, rather than outdistance it.

 

The creature started to turn around but then it got a face full of burning, eldritch projectiles from Genesis. It followed him for a while until Sephiroth herded it toward him again with a strike that lobbed off one of the talons on its right wing.

 

On it went, with each fighter taking his turn distracting the beast and keeping it in a more or less steady trajectory toward the sleeping forest. More than once, one of the operatives pissed it off more than the others. Cloud applied a little too much force with his jabs and slashes, not used to practicing restraint when fighting WEAPONS. Genesis simply didn't like to restrain himself. Between the two of them, Sephiroth and Angeal had their hands full dividing the beast's attention evenly.

 

"Dive, now!" Angeal shouted when they reached the edge of the sleeping forest.

 

Sephiroth was already heading down. Genesis and Cloud overtook Angeal as they dove with him into the canopy. The four of them landed amongst the mossy boles of the trees and they peered through the canopy above as the WEAPON started to dive after them. The creature pulled up short, some twenty feet over the foliage. It shrieked in frustration and hovered there. It could obviously see them through the leaves and branches but it didn't try to land, nor did it attempt to use its breath weapon or projectiles.

 

"Well General, it seems your theory is tested and proven now," Genesis said in satisfaction as the frustrated creature flapped around above. "Shall we?"

 

Sephiroth was about to give confirmation of the attack when Angeal put a hand on his arm.

 

"Wait," Angeal requested. "Permission to retrieve Lieutenant Fair from the city first."

 

Sephiroth frowned. "We can dispatch the creature without—" The hard expression on Angeal's chiseled features gave him pause. Zackary deserved to be in on this kill as well. This wasn't one of the WEAPONS responsible for the destruction of Modeoheim but this kill was going to be as much for therapeutic vengeance as territorial defense. Sephiroth nodded. "Permission granted. Go quickly."

 

~********************************~

 

Zack's happy greeting died on his lips when he opened the door to his home and saw his former mentor's expression. "What happened?" he demanded in a low tone, mindful of his wife in the lounge room. He stepped outside with Angeal and shut the door behind him. "Is everybody okay?"

 

"We're all fine," Angeal assured him. He sighed. "Modeoheim is gone, though. It was still standing when we arrived, but a large group of WEAPONS came as we were getting ready to leave."

 

"Gone?" Zack repeated, "like, completely?"

 

"We watched it from a distance. They blasted it to the ground."

 

Zack lowered his gaze and pressed his lips together. "Damn it." He hated the thought of raising his kids underground but Modeoheim was where some of the most important moments in his life occurred.

 

"We found a WEAPON scouting around the area near Bone Village," Angeal murmured. "The others are waiting in the sleeping forest to engage it." A faint smile curved the bigger Soldier's lips. "Do you feel up to a little private revenge, Zackary?"

 

"What, you mean just us? You're not calling it in?" Zack was intrigued.

 

"Just the five of us." Angeal nodded. "For Modeoheim."

 

Zack gave a wolf's grin. "Hell yeah, I'm in. I'll just grab my sword."

 

"Bring your materia bangle with you," advised Angeal, "this one is a flyer, so you'll need spells until we bring it to the ground."

 

Zack grumbled. Great, he'd be stuck shouting taunts and using spells before he could get some action. There wasn't any help for it, though. He opened the door and went into the house, making a beeline for the locked supply closet by the bedroom ladder. Aerith got up from her seat on the couch as he unlocked the closet and opened it to retrieve his sword, combat gear and materia bangle.

 

"Zack, is something wrong?"

 

"Everything's fine," he assured her as he hastily started gearing up. "Just a little thing the guys and I are going to take care of."

 

She looked worried but she began helping him secure his gear. She knew by now whom "the guys" were when he referred to them. "Not the military or the Turks? Just you five?"

 

Zack thought about telling her a fib and saying they were just going to take care of some regular, wild beasts. He took one look at her face and decided he couldn't lie to her, though. "Angeal and the others found a WEAPON hanging around near Bone Village. We're going after it but don't worry; it's all by its lonesome and we can handle it."

 

"I don't know," she said uncertainly. She tugged one of the straps on his harness into place and buckled it, even as the concern on her face increased.

 

"Hey, trust me. If we get into a jam, we'll call for help but don't say anything to anybody, okay? We want to bring it down ourselves."

 

"But, why?" She wasn't exactly trying to forbid him from doing this, which was encouraging.

 

"They tore down Modeoheim," he answered her. "To the ground. We're just letting off a little steam taking one of them down our way."

 

She lowered her eyes for a moment and then nodded and looked up at him again. "I...understand. Just be careful, okay?"

 

He smiled at her, grateful for her support. "You bet." He slipped his bangle on and checked his sword before giving her a kiss on the mouth. "Love you. See you in a little while."

 

"Just don't let Genesis throw you," she called after him as he ran out the door.

 

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Angeal carried Zack piggy-back style and the one-eyed lieutenant hopped off as they touched down at the outer edge of the sleeping forest next to their comrades. He heard the frustrated, angry screeches from above and looked up to see the creature still circling around, trying to find a way to get at them.

 

"So that wasn't just an obnoxious bird I kept hearing from the city, earlier," Zack said. "Thanks for including me, guys."

 

"Our pleasure," Sephiroth answered.

 

Genesis glanced at Zack and then at Sephiroth. "Well, are we ready?" Formalities were dropping all around. None of them felt a need for rank titles, for this particular fight.

 

"Let's not fight it here," suggested Angeal with a frown. "I'd rather not have it near the settlement. Even if it can't physically enter it could still crash down in death."

 

"Good point," Sephiroth agreed. "Damaging the forest or the city even by accident is out of the question, as well. We'll draw it away and fight it near Bone Village."

 

"I'm ready," Genesis assured.

 

Cloud stepped forward. "I want to lure it, this time."

 

Everyone looked at the blond with surprise.

 

"Ooh I don't know about that," Zack said uncomfortably, his brotherly protective urges quickly surfacing.

 

Sephiroth likewise had a dubious look on his face. "You aren't experienced with the role of drawing initial fire, Cloud."

 

"And I never will be if nobody gives me the chance to learn," Cloud argued stubbornly, holding his ground. "They destroyed Modeoheim. I've gotten the hang of flying." He looked at Genesis. "Skillfully?"

 

Genesis nodded grudgingly.

 

Cloud turned back to Sephiroth. "You can pull rank on me if you want and you know I'll follow orders. Just let me try this. Please."

 

Sephiroth hesitated and gave Genesis a silent, questioning look. The redhead considered Cloud thoughtfully before obligingly giving his opinion.

 

"He's...almost as fast as I am. I say let him do it. I'll tail him and should he get into trouble before the rest of you catch up, I'll intervene."

 

Sephiroth sighed. "Very well. Are you ready, Cloud?"

 

"I don't like this," Zack muttered out the side of his mouth to Angeal.

 

"I'm ready," Cloud said with a nod as he drew his sword.

 

"We all have to cut the cord sometime," Angeal muttered back to his former student.

 

Sephiroth looked up through the trees and gauged his timing. "Now."

 

Cloud leapt up and flapped his wings with powerful motions, scattering fallen leaves over the ground as he accelerated straight up through the canopy. Sephiroth watched him and he saw where he was heading.

 

"No, you little..." Cloud was climbing with increased speed directly at the beast's underside. Sephiroth gave Genesis a nod, sending him up a bit prematurely. As the redhead flew after their blond comrade, Zack scrambled onto Angeal's back and Sephiroth waited for a tense moment before taking off.

 

"Hurry, Angeal! He's going up straight under it!" Zack shouted, pointing.

 

Angeal grunted and shifted his hold on Zack's legs to get a better grip. "Stop squirming!" He bunched powerful legs and jumped up, following at a slower pace due to his burden and his greater size.

 

~************************************~

 

Cloud readied his blade and focused grimly on the underbelly of the creature. He heard his companion's alarmed shouts but he knew what he was doing. They had all told him at some point or another to trust his instincts and that was exactly what he was doing. He understood their concern for him. He was the least experienced of their small group of First Class operatives, the youngest and the smallest. Even Genesis was shouting at him to change tactics but Cloud pressed his lips together with determination and increased his speed.

 

He reached his goal just as Genesis caught up enough to make a wild grab at his boot. With a last, defiant burst of speed, Cloud gave a shout of exertion and swung his blade up at the target with all his might. He arched backwards until he was flying upside down along the underside of the beast as he struck and he flapped his wings heavily as he ran along the chitinous surface of its "skin", dragging his blade to tear a gash. The wound wasn't deep enough to cause mortal damage but it certainly caught the WEAPON'S attention and drew body fluids. The screech of pain and fury was painful to his ears but he smirked in satisfaction and pushed away with his feet, yanking his blade free as he did so.

 

Cloud spiraled in the air until he was hovering upright again and he glanced down in time to see Genesis' upturned face get splashed with a substantial glob of the beast's greenish-blue blood. He winced, knowing that he was going to pay for that later but his immediate concern was with the WEAPON, which had figured out he was to blame for its latest ailment. The creature hovered several feet away from him, terrible in it's size and power. Cloud felt fear, but his anger was greater and he glared at it as it opened its mouth and roared at him in challenge. He impulsively shouted at the top of his lungs right back. It was a pitifully small sound in comparison but it boosted Cloud's bravado to do it.

 

He saw the flames coming out of its mouth and Cloud took an abrupt dive, swooping under the beast and away toward Bone Village before the fire could hit him. He thought he heard Genesis cursing and sputtering, thought he heard Zack's shout but now that he had the creature's full attention, he couldn't pause.

 

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Sephiroth was treated to another powerful mixture of feelings as he watched his lover perform that bold maneuver and then shout a challenge in the WEAPON'S face. He was bewildered, he was anxious but above all, he was...impressed. He thought his heart stopped for a moment when Cloud faced off against the creature. While it could be counted amongst the smallest of the regular WEAPONS they had ever fought, on of its eyes alone was the size of Cloud's entire body.

 

After issuing a surprisingly loud shout of defiance for such a quiet person, Cloud sped away and the beast took after him. Sephiroth regained his wits quickly and shouted at Genesis to get moving. He was closer than the rest of them and the fastest of the group.

 

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Genesis heard Sephiroth's shout of command and he wiped frantically at his eyes with his sleeve to clear them. He squinted and saw Cloud flying away with the WEAPON hot at his heels...literally. It breathed fire at the blond but Cloud swerved fast enough to avoid it at the last minute. He briefly entertained the thought of letting the damned WEAPON get Cloud but the unpredictable little shit had grown on him. Besides, it took substantial nerve to pull off something like what Strife had done and Genesis wasn't about to let that kind of potential go to waste.

 

Genesis pushed for speed and gave chase. He could feel the wind drying the creature's blood on his face and he grimaced at the sour smell of the substance. He readied his sword and reached for his inner reservoirs of power as he closed in, guessing that it would take more than a barrage of small flame bolts to distract the target's attention.

 

He concentrated and sent his usual volley of flames after the WEAPON but rather than allowing them to strike, he clenched his free hand and concentrated. The darts of flame surrounded the creature's tail in a sort of nimbus, before growing in size and converging together to create a large ball of fire. Genesis grunted and spread his fingers, releasing the gathered energy. The fireball exploded and it blew off a few spikes from the tail.

 

The plan worked. In fact, it worked a bit too well. The WEAPON'S tail streaked smoke as it turned to face Genesis and he was treated to an "oh shit" moment as it came straight for him.

 

~*************************************~

 

"Look, right up ahead!"

 

Zack's yells weren't doing anything beneficial for Angeal's concentration. Yes, he knew the WEAPON was up ahead. He'd seen it turn on Genesis after the redhead deployed his best natural ranged attack against it. Cloud didn't seem to realize he was no longer being followed, for the moment. The blond was still soaring away while the creature turned around and dove at Genesis.

 

Sephiroth was ahead of them and he performed a quick double-slash with his blade as the beast streaked past him in pursuit of Genesis. More blue-green fluid streaked through the sky as the cut sliced into the flanks, but the WEAPON only shot a few quills at Sephiroth and continued its pursuit of Genesis. It was going the wrong way, heading back over the sleeping forest.

 

"We've got to get it off of Gen and turn it around!" Zack hollered, stating the obvious. "Can't you fly any faster, Ange?"

 

"Can't you be quiet and let me concentrate on the flying?" Angeal growled back, though he pushed himself harder out of worry for Genesis. They had no communication headsets equipped. They were usually so in synch with each other that none of them thought they would need them for this battle, but now he wasn't so certain.

 

~******************************~

 

Genesis apparently realized that he was leading the WEAPON in the wrong direction and he banked sharply and climbed, twisting in the air in a corkscrew motion to confuse his pursuer. The creature fell behind a bit and Sephiroth dove at it again when it came into range. This time he stabbed it twice in the neck and slashed one of its wings. The razor stings of Sephiroth's masamune were cleaner than the attacks of the others, even when they severed something. Often, his opponents barely had time to realize he'd struck before a limb fell off. He followed up with a burst of lightning from his materia to the creature's head. This time, he got its attention.

 

He swooped upwards, increasing his speed as he gained altitude and gained his bearings. Sephiroth leveled off and lured the creature back on course. He saw Cloud heading back towards him and he almost smirked. He wasn't sure how far the blond flew before realizing he wasn't being chased. Sephiroth gestured at him and pointed in the direction of their goal. Understanding, Cloud circled around and got back on course.

 

The creature was getting too close and Sephiroth picked up speed, glancing over his shoulder to see if anyone else had closed in to take the heat off of him. He spotted Genesis coming up from behind and to the left. Angeal was behind the redhead, carrying Zackary on his back. Sephiroth saw Zack's mouth moving but he couldn't hear what he was saying from this range. The sour look on Angeal's face suggested Zack had been babbling the entire time.

 

Sephiroth checked the distance between himself and the WEAPON. Satisfied that it wouldn't get in range to strike at him before they reached their chosen battlegrounds, he turned his attention back to his trajectory. They were nearly there. A cold smile graced his lips. He was going to enjoy this.

 

"Engage now," Sephiroth shouted when he was satisfied with their location.

 

He swooped up and over abruptly, performing an inside-out loop that put him behind the suddenly confused WEAPON. As the other fighters closed in to attack, Sephiroth charged at his target with his masamune poised. The creature stopped, its wings flapping to hold it up as it looked for him. Sephiroth struck just as the sinuous neck turned and the beast looked over its shoulder to spot him. He glided over the WEAPON'S back and sliced a long cut on the right side of it. The creature snapped at him as he flew past its head and it tried to chase him. Before it could do so, a Blizzaga spell struck it from behind, courtesy of Cloud. It wheeled in the air and went for him.

 

Sephiroth made a wide turn and went back for another strike. Cloud was handling himself well, he noted. The blond dodged a swing from the huge tail, followed by a swipe of its front talons. Genesis scored another hit on the left wing while the creature was occupied with Cloud. Sephiroth closed in on the target and he frowned when he noticed that Angeal and Zack were still hovering in the distance. It looked like they were arguing over something.

 

~***************************~

 

"Zackary, I've got to put you on the ground!" Angeal struggled to stay steady in the air and he was getting beyond the point of frustration.

 

"No way, I don't want to be stuck down there while you guys do all the fighting! Just carry me with you, we can fight together!"

 

"I can't swing my sword and hold onto you at the same time," yelled the larger man.

 

"So don't hang onto me," suggested Zack. "Let me worry about staying on your back!"

 

Angeal glared over his shoulder at his passenger. "You'll fall off! I'm going to need to maneuver!"

 

"Then toss me at the thing."

 

Angeal immediately vetoed the idea. "Absolutely not! That stunt was bad enough, without repeating it with an airborne opponent."

 

Zack sighed, but then he looked over Angeal's head and he brightened. "Okay, you win. You might want to bank right first, though."

 

Angeal turned his head to see the WEAPON heading their way. It was chasing Cloud, who had apparently gained most of its rage again. It was obvious that he was trying not to fly directly toward them but the beast was ten times bigger than him and they stood the risk of getting clipped in passing as it turned to follow the blond. Angeal quickly took Zack's suggestion and swerved to the right. As he did so, he felt his passenger's hold on him shift. He cursed as Zack deftly climbed up his back.

 

"Zackary, what in the hell are you doing?"

 

"Improvising," grunted the other lieutenant. His boots dug into Angeal's shoulders as he balanced on them. "Thanks for the lift, buddy!"

 

As the WEAPON passed by them, Zack Fair threw himself at it. Angeal felt his weight suddenly leave his shoulders as he made a powerful leap and he turned to see Zack arch through the air with his sword raised and pointed downward. Angeal shouted but it was too late to stop him. Zack stabbed his blade down and drove it into the base of the creature's tail as he landed on top of it.

 

Zack scrambled up the monster's back, stabbing as he went. The WEAPON tried to shake him off but he was using his sword as a handhold and he stubbornly refused to be dislodged. The creature lifted its tail and fired a shower of spikes at him, but he had a protective spell active and they bounced off. While the projectiles didn't harm the intended target, several of them pierced the monster's back. Zack kept stabbing his way up, until he was between the expanse of its shoulders.

 

The WEAPON evidently decided that the nuisance on his back was greater than the three attacking it on all sides and it swiveled its head around to glare at Zack. It opened its mouth to blast him with flame. Zack saw the danger and he deftly rolled to the left, nearly going over the side of the creature's body. He stabbed his sword in and hung there as the jet of fire billowed out over the spot he'd been a moment ago. The creature seared its own back in its attempt to get Zack. It screeched in pain and fury, abruptly ending the gout. It started to snap at the small figure clinging to its shoulder but Cloud saw the danger to his comrade and dove in front of the lunging maw, striking it several times in the snout and warding it off.

 

~*******************************~

 

All Angeal could think of during those first few moments of daring action was that he was going to end up carrying the broken body of his favorite student home. He imagined himself trying to console Zack's broken-hearted wife and explain to her why he'd failed to keep him safe. Zack's strategy—if it even was a deliberate strategy—was brilliant, Angeal had to admit. The WEAPON was only harming itself in its attempts to get to Zack. Still, the lieutenant was in trouble now.

 

Angeal couldn't take any more. The destruction of Modeoheim tested his stoicism enough. The sight of his honorary "little brother" dangling in such a precarious position pushed Angeal over the edge.

 

He snapped.

 

~*********************************~

 

~Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. ~

 

Zack struggled to keep his hold on the hilt of his sword as the creature's movements jostled him. He'd saved himself from the breath weapon and Cloud stopped the WEAPON from chomping on him like a tasty meat snack, but now he had no footholds to climb back up. They were too high in the air for him to drop safely to the ground and the others had their hands full trying to keep the beast distracted and avoid being hit themselves. He didn't know where Angeal was and he couldn't afford to look for him. He guessed he was somewhere out of his visual range, fighting with the others.

 

He had his answer a moment later when a flash of white caught his attention. He turned his head and saw Angeal diving at the WEAPON 's head. Even in his peril, Zack raised his eyebrows with surprise. The only time he'd ever seen the big Soldier fly that fast was when Genesis got clipped by a projectile and started falling. Angeal was coming in like a bullet and he wasn't slowing or changing his trajectory as he drew closer. Zack wondered if he intended to just plow into the WEAPON headfirst and he forgot his own danger as he saw the uncommon fury on Angeal's face.

 

"Ange, what are you doing?" Zack shouted.

 

Angeal suddenly twisted in mid air, so that he was coming in feet-first. He hit like a truck—right between the WEAPON'S eyes. The combination of Angeal's weight, strength and momentum resulted in an impact strong enough to stun the creature. Zack winced, hoping that Angeal didn't break his legs with the force of the blow. The big man didn't yell or curse as he followed up with the Buster Sword and drove the huge blade into the creature's forehead, driving it into a skull that should have been too hard to penetrate. The blade wasn't long enough to pierce the monster's brain but it certainly caused it pain. Blood spurted, bathing Angeal's face and torso in green.

 

Zack cursed as the WEAPON'S uncoordinated thrashing nearly made him lose his hold. Someone's arms came around his waist from behind and he gave a start.

 

"I've got you," Cloud assured him. "Pull your sword free!"

 

Zack was a little worried that he might be too heavy for his smaller friend but if nothing else, they could float down to the ground. He planted his feet on the side of the beast's shoulder and tugged at his sword, grunting with effort. It pulled free after a moment and Cloud awkwardly carried him away. Zack saw Angeal pull his Buster Sword free and kick off before he and Cloud ascended. They touched down and Cloud let go of him. Zack turned around to face the blond, whose winter camouflage was now stained greenish blue with WEAPON blood.

 

"Thanks, Spike. I guess I'll wait for you guys to finish bringing it down before I get more licks in." He figured he'd done plenty of damage in his brief participation, so he felt satisfied to wait.

 

"I don't think it's going to take very long," Cloud said. His blue eyes were gazing up.

 

Zack turned around and looked up as well. Angeal's unexpected rage wasn't appeased yet, it seemed. He'd swooped under the WEAPON'S chin and he drove his thick sword up into it. He yanked it free and moved on to the throat, opening a long gash from jaw to clavicle as he flew down the length of it. While Angeal commenced with butchering the creature, Sephiroth and Genesis were concentrating on crippling the wings.

 

"I think you're right," Zack said. "I've never seen Angeal so pissed! I'm a little worried about him."

 

"I'll try to look out for him," promised Cloud. "I'd better get back up there."

 

Zack nodded. "Good work, buddy."

 

~*******************************~

 

The WEAPON finally lay still. Angeal kept hacking at it, until Genesis talked to him. The others stood back and waited to see if he could get through to him.

 

"Angeal, it's dead."

 

The larger man kept going and Genesis tried again. He'd never seen him like this before. Usually Genesis was the one going on a rampage and Angeal was the one keeping his cool and using reason.

 

"Angeal," Genesis said, keeping his voice calm. "It's over. Your puppy is safe and the WEAPON is dead. You can rest, now." He had noticed that Angeal didn't go into berserker mode until Zack got into trouble. Knowing him as he did, it was easy to guess what drove him to the breaking point.

 

Angeal slowed his attacks and finally stopped. His powerful body was tense and he was breathing heavily. Despite the rage he'd expressed, never once did he utter a word. Genesis approached him and put a hand on his shoulder as the big man lowered the Buster Sword.

 

"Here, turn around and look," coaxed Genesis. "See for yourself. Zack is fine."

 

Angeal turned almost mechanically. His gore-coated face was hard and grim but his expression relaxed a bit as he looked Zack up and down wordlessly. Zack gave him a sheepish look.

 

"I'm all right, big guy. I was fighting right next to you when you guys brought it down, remember?"

 

Angeal nodded slowly and Genesis wondered if he'd ruptured a blood vessel. Clearly, the phrase: "It's the quiet ones you have to watch" had some truth to it. Angeal and Sephiroth both kept too many things bottled up. He took his right glove off and snapped his fingers before his lover's eyes, disliking this zombie behavior.

 

"Hello in there." Genesis stepped before Angeal and did it again. "Damn it, I always knew you were wound up too tight! Look at me!" His tone was growing harsh as his concern grew.

 

"Perhaps he should see a medic," Sephiroth suggested.

 

"Great, I broke his brain," Zack sighed remorsefully.

 

At a loss for anything else to do, Genesis slapped Angeal across the face. He immediately followed up by grabbing his jaw and shaking it. "I swear to Minerva, if you don't—"

 

Angeal blinked. His brows furrowed and his eyes focused on the redhead's.

 

"Angeal?" Genesis asked suspiciously.

 

"I...don't know what came over me." Angeal looked at the others and took a steadying breath. "I'll be all right. I just needed a moment to calm down, I think."

 

Genesis sighed, unable to completely mask his relief. He released his boyfriend's jaw and leaned in to hiss in his ear. "Don't ever do that again."

 

"Maybe we should all sit down for a minute and chill," Zack suggested in a relieved tone. "I think we're all more worn out than we realized."

 

Cloud immediately showed his approval of the idea. He plopped down in the snow-patched grass and drew his legs up, wrapping his arms around them. His tired blue gaze went to the remains of the vanquished WEAPON and he sighed. "I don't feel any better about Modeoheim."

 

Sephiroth eased himself onto the ground beside him and laid his masamune in the grass. "No, but it was a refreshing fight, nonetheless."

 

Cloud nodded in agreement. The others sat down as well and Genesis cast a covert look at Angeal, wondering if he should still be concerned.

 

"Hey Ange, I'm sorry if I had you worried," Zack apologized.

 

Angeal gave Zack a stern look, but he sighed. "You fought well, as always. I wasn't prepared for you to leap off of me onto the WEAPON and I thought you were going to get yourself killed."

 

"You mean you guys didn't plan that?" Cloud looked at them with a surprised expression.

 

"Well, not exactly," Zack answered, scratching his head.

 

"No, we did not," Angeal said, frowning at Zack again. "The plan was for him to wait on the ground and use spells until we could bring the WEAPON down, but he was too impatient to wait."

 

Genesis cast a smirk Zack's way. "Bad puppy. Would you like me to get you a rolled up newspaper, Angeal?"

 

"It's tempting," said the big man in such a serious tone that Zack winced.

 

"Well, even if you didn't plan it, those were some good moves," Cloud complimented in a pacifying tone. "Using the WEAPON'S own attacks against it was smart."

 

Zack shrugged modestly. "Most of that was accidental. I just wanted to be fighting with you guys and I figured the only way I could do that in the air was to ride the damned thing and hack at it."

 

"You must have been born in a patch of four-leafed clovers," Genesis snorted. "I've never seen anyone with such dumb like, before."

 

Zack chuckled. "Maybe. I was pretty blown away by Cloud's first attack, though." He gave his blond friend an admiring look. "Don't get me wrong, it scared the shit out of me but man, was it ever cool to watch."

 

"It was impressive," Sephiroth murmured, glancing at the blond with a subtle glint of pride in his gaze.

 

"It was entirely too bold and reckless," Genesis said, but he nodded at Cloud. "I approve. I would have preferred not to get a WEAPON blood facial out of it, however." He wiped at his itching face in vain, grimacing as flakes of dried gore came off. The others were grimy too—especially Angeal. They didn't look like they stuck their faces in a bowl of pea soup, though.

 

"Sorry about that," Cloud apologized bashfully. "I was just going with my instincts, like you guys are always telling me."

 

"If it makes you feel any better Gen, your face is the only part that's really grimy," Zack said with a grin. "I don't know how you and Seph manage to fight without getting stuff all over you like the rest of us."

 

"Because we don't go after opposition like loggers chopping down a tree." Sephiroth looked at Angeal beside him and arched a brow. "Or in your case, a butcher skinning a pig."

 

Angeal seemed a little puzzled. "It's all a blur. What did I do?"

 

"You kicked it in the head," Cloud informed.

 

Angeal's eyebrows went up. "Really. In the head?"

 

"Yup. With both feet." Zack grinned. "I thought you were going to try and head-butt it or something but then you flipped around and bam! Right between the eyes."

 

Angeal looked at Genesis suspiciously. "Are they joking?"

 

"Oh no," promised the redhead, "You did it exactly as they described it. In fact, you actually dazed the thing. Then you stabbed it and proceeded to cut its throat open."

 

Angeal's expression of faint disbelief didn't fade. "I'm having trouble visualizing it."

 

"Look at the corpse if you don't believe me," Genesis shrugged. "You'll see your boot prints and the hole you jabbed into its head." He climbed to his feet and gave a nod toward the carcass. "Come on, have a look."

 

~*********************************************~

 

Angeal examined the various cuts and lacerations all over the fallen WEAPON'S body and he recognized which ones his sword caused. He had suspected Gen of teasing him when he said his boot prints were on the creature's head but lo and behold, there they were: right between the eyes. The jagged cut in the long throat went all the way down, but the size of the neck made it look like a paper cut.

 

Angeal scratched the back of his head, perplexed that he could have done all of this without remembering it. Now he knew how Gen and the others felt when they had triggers. He had never lost control like that before.

 

"You had a lot on your plate," Genesis offered in a low voice as he came up beside him. His pretty eyes looked at him sidelong and Angeal could see veiled concern in them. "Your puppy's predicament just cinched it for you."

 

"You know me too well," Angeal murmured. "I remember thinking that we would end this day informing Zack's wife that she's a widow. After that, you slapped me."

 

Genesis lowered his eyes and coughed into his hand, possibly to cover a laugh. "I had to do something to snap you out of it. It was either that, or strip. I doubt the others would have appreciated the latter."

 

Angeal smirked. "It definitely would have woken me up." He sobered and shook his head as he looked at the large boot prints between the creature's staring eyes. "I don't want this to happen again. I can't afford to lose control like that."

 

Genesis rolled his eyes. "I think you can be forgiven for this one single incident. Out of all of us, you have your shit together the most. You're entitled to a breakdown and I say it was long overdue."

 

Angeal couldn't resist a modest smile. "Maybe I'm entitled, but I'd still rather avoid a repeat occurrence. What would you suggest as stress relief?"

 

When Genesis gave him decidedly lewd look, Angeal chuckled. "Besides that, Gen. I mean something that I can do in front of other people."

 

"Well, you could try swearing more often. I know you hate incessant vulgarity but it really does vent a little frustration."

 

"So you're saying I should become a potty mouth."

 

Genesis gave him an exasperated look. "'Potty mouth'. Listen to you. Soon you'll have a swear jar in the house to punish me."

 

"Hmm, a swear jar," Angeal murmured, pretending to consider it.

 

"Don't even think about it," Genesis smirked. "Listen, I'm not saying you should swear gratuitously but when you're feeling tense, it might help. Just let it out, once in a while."

 

"I'll try." Angeal looked at the carcass again. "It must have been an...interesting sight."

 

"Believe me, it was," agreed Genesis. "I was impressed." His eyes scanned Angeal slowly and he leaned closer to him to whisper the next. "Very impressed."

 

His breath tickled Angeal's ear and he looked at him sidelong, flushing a little beneath the grime on his face. The breeze shifted and the smell of the dead WEAPON assaulted them.

 

Genesis grimaced. "This moment would be sexier without the stench." His voice was thick as if he were fighting the urge to gag.

 

Angeal wrinkled his nose. "Agreed."

 

~**************************************~

 

-To be continued