So. oh my God. I'm so sorry you guys (the few of you left who might still be reading this Dx) I've been so lost in life lately that I just haven't even thought about this story! Falling out with co-authors and losing someone dear to me, bad breakups and a lot of health problems have kept me busy, along with finally finishing school for my trade and working (still!) on my own original series.

This chapter is meant to bring things together. It seems a bit jumpy, I know, but I'm hoping it captures the confusion of just how fast this is all happening, and how quickly life can turn you upside down. One, maybe two more chapters and Legacy is finished, and I'm really hoping I'll have those out by the end of October! Thanks for sticking with me, guys!

Chapter 52: Wrath of Heaven

Kadaj fought against the weight pinning him down, even though his muscles had no strength and his spirit could barely muster the will to scream.

She was gone. Harmony was gone. Her dark green eyes that sparkled so beautifully when she was angry, or playful, or happy, or sad, or any of those wonderful things she'd shown him, were lifeless and hollow. The grip of warmth, the forgiveness and stubbornness, the hope and compassion was gone.

"I'm sorry." Sephiroth's voice broke into his misery, and he realized he'd been saying it out loud – that one line, "she's gone," over and over as his limbs trembled and his chest ached.

The stiff tension in Sephiroth's form above him had ebbed and the howling winds had stopped, and Kadaj didn't move when the older man moved away at last. Prone in the dirt, Kadaj found that he couldn't feel anything. And then he felt everything.

Regret: He'd wasted so much time these last weeks… He'd missed so much in his own fear and pride and now? Now, he would never get to make it up to her, or himself.

Anger: If what Sephiroth had said was true, she had asked him to kill her. She had died willingly. She had willingly left him!

Grief: She was gone. Harmony was dead. He would never see her face or feel her touch, or hear her voice or taste her strength again.

Fear: What would he tell Kiku?

Oh, God. Kiku. She didn't know. She was still in danger, and her mother was-

"Get up." Sytherea's solemn voice stabbed into his thoughts. "You will not shame her sacrifice by lying in the dirt waiting to die!" Clawed hands gripped his shoulders and dragged him up, put him on his feet with more strength than a woman of her stature should have and a glance to the earth behind her revealed Vincent's cold, pale form.

Two. Two of their own!

She was right. Someone would pay for this. If it couldn't be the man that killed the love of his life, it would be the worms that started this, the bastards that brought them to this Hell.

They were outnumbered and a few of their own were missing, besides the two dead. Somehow in the havoc Chaos wrought – speaking of, Kadaj noticed that the demon was missing as well, but he didn't have time to consider the implications of that development – the scattered GR soldiers had come together, closed in. Kadaj had no idea where Yuffie's Wu Sheng were – if they were dead or turned against them or what, but it didn't matter.

"Stay there. Loz." He commanded, trusting that his brother understood his intention. Everyone – everyone – that came into the path of his blades tonight was going to pay with his or her life… And his lover, awaiting him in the Lifestream, would most certainly show them the way to Hell.

He glanced over his shoulder to the Cetra that Harmony died for – he couldn't bear to look at the ground behind her. One last time, he would stand in for Harmony. Let it not be said that he didn't keep the promise made those years ago, even if it was in death.

! #$%^&*()

Sassi couldn't breathe. She couldn't speak. She could barely move through her shock, confusion, and elation. Harmony was alive. Harmony was alive, and had blinked somewhere with Chaos. She could feel the tension, the strain – her Guardian was in the middle of an intense spell. This was magic that shouldn't be cast on one's own, and were Harmony not a Guardian, Sassi was certain the strain of such powerful magic would kill her all over again.

But, she knew, she didn't have time to find out.

The moment Chaos had vanished, GR soldiers poured from the treeline. From her position in Loz's arms, she could see that Wu Sheng circled around them as well, trapping the GR between them. Their enemies may lose, but it was likely more than a few of her family and friends would be dead by the time the Wu Sheng got to them.

Aerith was safe, she knew. Yazoo had bolted with her, at Sephiroth's command. And… Maybe, if Sassi was truly in danger, Harmony would come back. Kadaj didn't seem to know that Harmony was okay, though, and Sassi still couldn't find her voice to tell him, even when he turned to glare at her and she understood the horrible intention behind his eyes.

He's going to let them kill him, she realized, but horror struck the words from her lips.

It was the only thing she could think to do. There was no other way. A picture in her mind flashed vividly; a glowing white orb, tinged with softest green, bouncing off a glass-like altar before a falling curtain of chestnut hair. Materia that was still active, swirling withing the Stream itself, waiting to be called upon.

Finally her voice returned and she fought, struggled until Loz was forced to drop her to her feet. She shoved away from him, pushing her sleeves up and scowling hellfire and wrath at the soldiers around them.

"This might hurt." She warned him, and it warmed her that though he didn't know what she was doing or how bad it might be for him, her remnant simply nodded and stared at her with resolve and trust.

Harmony trusted her to take care of this, too, or she never would have left with that Demon. She was powerful enough. How had she ever let that beast convince her otherwise?! She was going to kick his ass if she ever saw him again!

Protectiveness rushed through her, fueled by fierce rage and determination. The mud squished under her knees when she dropped, her hands folded together as though in prayer.

Shield. The word came to her, and she thought it hard. A vision of a swirling dome, alive with energy and color came to mind and she pushed, built, reached deep within.

Very good. A new voice murmured; it was only one, female, warm and rough yet smooth and powerful at once. Before she even though to ask, the voice eased through her mind again.

I am Gaia, little Cetra. I am the mother, the blood and the flesh. Now, reach within yourself, within the Weave of Life, and bring my soul from the depths. Renew your light with mine. Save this land from the evil that awaits.

Sassi thought she'd had just about enough of voices in her head telling her what to do, but something about this one was achingly familiar; she could swear she'd heard it before… Just a whisper, recognition, a promise that wasn't quite tangible. Twice, actually… Once, in a cold bedroom in an Irish castle, and again in the mud only moments before.

Well… If she could trust no one else, even herself, she could trust her guardian. Harmony trusted her. And if Harmony trusted her, she could offer the same to herself.

Reaching within oneself was a lot more difficult than she thought, when she didn't know what she was searching for. Of course she knew that as a Cetra, the lifestream was inside her, a part of her. But knowing it and finding it were separate things and first, she would have to fight through a fog of anxiety – numb smoke in the labyrinth of uncertainty that had become her mind, heart, and being over the last seven years.

Where had that strong, stubborn and determined attorney go? Where was the vitriol bubbling to the surface, waiting to sear away injustice? So much had been neglected in her depression… So much she'd let slip away in the face of loss and fear. No wonder Chaos was so easily able to manipulate her – she was half-way to fallen already.

And she was angry… That discovery was more surprising than she would have thought. She was angry at Harmony… Not for stepping up and taking the lead and actively protecting her, no. But… She hadn't. Of course Sassi knew how important their coven was. Of course she understood the dire circumstances. But… Harmony had stayed. She left her. Alone. In a new world. Yes, she had Loz. And he was sweet and doting and supporting and everything she could ever wish for in a partner… But he was of this world. He'd never understand how… how shattering it was for her to be thrust into this forever, as something not human with the responsibility of all life on the planet on her shoulders.

Alone.

You were always alone, Sassafrass. That voice piped in, Because you never let anyone close to you. You feared yourself, your power so much, that you shut everyone out. Your trust was solely in your Guardian, and she carried it well. But then she made a choice… and it wasn't you.

I know she had to- Sassi started to defend, but the voice cut her off.

But she had a higher responsibility… Not just as a guardian. This is how you feel, and it does not matter who is right and who is wrong. You feel abandoned. She felt it, too. Not by you, but the others she sacrificed you for.

You love her. She loves you. You were born for each other, bound by my blood and my breath. That light is the hope that has flickered within me for so long… That someday, my precious lands will teem with magic once more. So reach within. Now. Take my soul. Save this land. Give birth once more to a time of magic!

Closed eyes tightened and fine brows narrowed, teeth bared and grit so hard she feared they'd shatter in her mouth as Sassi reached, pushed, strained- her fingertips itched as though something danced just out of reach.

I can't touch it! She argued. A wave of power washed over her, knocked the breath from her lungs and the cold from her blood.

Now!

Sassi snarled. Shrieked. Roared and reached. Her hand closed around smooth white and pulled, and even through closed eyes she could see the blast of white and green that lit up the waning circle around herself and her friends.

Her eyes shot open, awe and giddy excitement blending with hope and relief at the sight of beautiful, swirling whites, yellows, and greens dancing around them in a perfect cocoon of protection, and the heavy power of the white materia gleaming in her hand.

! #$%^&*()

Sephiroth's eyes were impossibly wide, flickering with electric light as Guardian mode overtook his spirit… But he remained aware and in control. That materia… It was Holy! But… Holy had been lost! Aerith had dropped it into the Stream the day that he, in another life and another time, sent her into it. He had been brought through time, raised from beyond death. The other events… For everyone else, they happened. For everyone else he had killed Aerith, even though he, from his point in time, hadn't done it yet.

Yet still, Holy shone brightly in Sassi's hand, and its power washed over the field in grand promise. Not a soul could pass through from the outside but, Sephiroth realized, none inside could leave it either as the GR rounded on the attacking Wu Sheng.

They couldn't help them. The Wu Sheng were on their own and Yuffie, beside Sytherea, cried out in panic when one of her warriors fell to the ground, bullet holes in his side and lifeblood staining the ground. But just as Sephiroth turned to implore Sassi to let them out to help the others, the air at the direct center above the dome exploded. GR Soldiers fell, scorched and burned. The Wu Sheng, however, remained unaffected by the blast.

"Lì wéi tǎn dà cān!"* Came an enraged female voice, familiar and strong and Sephiroth didn't recognize it until a Wu Sheng man – Yuffie's second in command, he knew – dropped to his knees in awe and a fair amount of anguish.

"Hiroshima!" Feng cried as the ghostly image of Ten Hiroshima dove into the fray, and almost immediately screams of terror and pain sounded from their enemies.

What was happening?!

It wasn't the last of the surprises, he found; as his comrades stood in stupefied wonder another explosion lit the sky, the spectral image of a great airship blocking out the sun It dropped what could only have been missiles over their enemies, but rather than exploding on contact the men or women hit seemed to pull in on themselves, imploding in place without even a cry.

Michael Williams.

Sukai's parents were… they were summon spirits! Did Sukai know? Was she alright? God, she'd be devastated! It could push her over, could kill her with the stigma already eating away at her! He had to get back to the Shera, he had to find her, to comfort, to save her from her grief!

He yanked his power inward, focused hard on Sukai's location in the infirmary. A tragically lovely black wing erupted, fluttering at his right and he rocketed up, only to bounce off of the barrier Sassi had created.

"Let me out, Sassi!" He roared, desperate and pleading, and he rounded on her to issue the demand yet again. The look on her face stopped him cold.

She stared out across the field, horror and anguish covering her features for only a moment before Loz yanked her against him and held her tightly. Loz stared up at him, apology and a strange, youthful, brotherly compassion shining with resignation in his gaze.

Oh, God.

No. No.

"Tiānguó zhī nù." The words fell over the warriors on the field like heavy mist, barely a breath before something whipped through a line of soldiers. Then again. And again. Over and over the quick-moving specter zipped through their enemies, taking flesh with her blade and blood with her bullets. The other spirits continued their work, hands and feet striking and breaking, explosions rocking the ground and the odd hollow zip of others being removed from existence playing a ghastly melody.

"Sukai!" Sephiroth choked, and he hit his knees. Suddenly, Kadaj's violent breakdown made perfect sense. He understood. He felt arms around his shoulders and knew it must have been Sassi, for as much as he wanted to swing around and take those arms off whoever dared touch him, he couldn't force himself to do it.

"Oh, no." Sytherea whispered from somewhere behind him.

But there could be no denying it. That lightning-fast apparition nearly teleporting back and forth the field was Sukai. Sukai was a summon spirit!

"What the hell?" Kadaj rasped, and Sephiroth swore every ounce of warmth in him seeped away, lost to the muddy earth when he answered, low and broken and furious.

"Sukai is dead."

! #$%^&*()

Heavy. God, it was so heavy. Hot. Impossible. Harmony's barrier flickered and wavered, writhed and wrenched against the hopeless force beyond it. Everything within her pressed back, held it in place with desperate resolve… though she already knew she'd won this battle.

The ancient creature set on destroying her family screeched and snarled, covered its eyes from the hideous light around them – in truth, Harmony wasn't sure how she could see him so clearly. But she didn't have time to keep contemplating.

"Chaos." She said, trying to keep the terror out of her voice. "My physical barrier is going to fail in about three minutes." The demon glared at her, and she continued. "I'll just die again." A smirk. "I won't even feel it. I won't even know. Poof! Not even cosmic dust."

"Get to the point, Guardian." Chaos hissed. "I've not the inclination to listen to your pleading."

"You won't." Harmony uttered. "You won't die here. You'll burn, forever. You won't even be able to get away. See, there's a lot of heat and a lot of gravitational force at the center of the fucking sun!"

The barrier around her flickered again, and it hurt. Even that split second was agony, terror, inescapable torment. Harmony almost dropped it, then, but she forced herself through. If she died again, alright. Chaos was stuck. Sassi and her family were safe. But… If she could save herself, she would. And not just her; Vincent would likely die without Chaos.

Chaos roared and lunged, and clawed fingers clutched hard around her throat. He held her eye level, her toes curled though she refused to kick and struggle in his grip. "You will take me back. Now." He growled, and Harmony smirked in his grasp.

"No." She rasped. "We're going to… talk." She gasped and fell into a coughing fit when Chaos snarled and dropped her at his feet. "I already know what's waiting for me." She continued as the beast paced within her bubble of wavering safety. "There are worse ways to spend eternity. And yes, I will absolutely disrupt the future balance of all life on Gaia to save my Cetra now. But I'm sure you don't want to spend eternity being crushed and burned, so let's talk."

Chaos stared. Scowled. Harmony nearly withered under the rage and wrath in that gaze.

She would not falter. Not here. Not now. If she could beg her brother guardian to slide a dagger into her heart, she could bargain with Death.

"Speak!" Chaos snapped, reminding Harmony that she'd lost herself to thought. She took a breath and stood. Stepped close. Folded her arms and craned her neck and stared unblinking and demanding at the demon towering over her.

"Calm. Your. Shit." She said slowly. "Let that Cetra put you back where she found you. You'll have your chance when it's actually time for life to move on, rather than losing everything here, today."

"And why even give me the choice, if you hate me so much?" The demon hissed, and Harmony could tell he was surprised by her cruel, mocking laughter.

"The only reason you have a choice is because Vincent will die without you. And this is the first time since I've known him that he hasn't wanted to."

"I should stay just for that!" Chaos threatened. Harmony shrugged. Inside she was shaking, scared to fail another person, but she knew she couldn't falter before the beast.

"I was literally just in the Lifestream. I know what's waiting for those who pass. He'll grieve. The others will. I will. But, he and I will sit in eternal paradise and laugh that you are stuck in searing, crushing Hell." Another flicker, her barrier groaning with strain and it was harder than ever before to press back. "Tick-tock!" She shouted.

Once more Chaos only glared. Christ, they were both going to burn anyway if he didn't make up his mind! Just as she opened her mouth to scream that he had less than a minute to decide, the creature straightened. He crossed his arms and pursed his lips, eyes narrowed dangerously, but enlightened.

"...You are indeed a worthy Weapon." He nodded, grudgingly. "Very well. Remove the empty orb within my host and restore me. The Cetra must do it."

And before Harmony could question or even blink, a great neon flash erupted and vanished, and in the place of Chaos a glimmering purple materia floated in space.