An Angel's return...

A harsh and fetid wind blew atop Shin-Ra Tower. The city wallowed in squalor below. Orphaned children slept in the dark alleyways. Thugs and ruffians preyed on those trying to scratch out a living. It was a cesspool.

In the half-light brought on by the smog producing mako plants, a swirling black portal appeared.

Mottled black feathers fluttered in the turbulence of the vortex and seems to dissolve.

From the depths of it came a jet black wing, slowly forcing its way into reality. The great mass of obsidian feathers, so too became mottled and lifeless as they came forth. The great wing slowly dissolved as a body stepped forth. First a black gloved hand,then more. An arm and leg pressed through the barrier and soon followed a head and torso. His silver locks flowing in the turgid breeze.

As his final booted foot pulled itself from the void, what was left of his great wing dissolved completely away.

His lip curved into a look of disgust as he cast his gaze on the city below.

The city he once safeguarded, now only a memory. He felt no remorse, only disdain.

"This place is foul and corrupt, I will wipe it from the face of the planet. The lifestream will purge its sickness."

His hand rose to the darkened sky. Across the city, black portals swirled into being. From them monsters spilled out. Giant predatory birds, ferocious beasts and armies of the unholy dead swarmed forth.

The One Winged Angel lowered his hand to his belt and pulled the wicked blade from its sheath. Masamune. Its light gleamed in the dimness.

Sephiroth had returned to Midgar...

Although 7th Heaven was closed for the night, Tifa would allow Shade to stay after hours to simply find solace from the city with a hot cup of brew, so long as Shade made sure the establishment was locked down securely before she left while Tifa went home totally exhausted.  Usually, the barmaid would stay for a spell and share a drink while always befuddled that Shade remained in Midgar instead of returning to her own home world.  ...better company, the Balamb native always replied with a lift of her glass and a smirk for merit. There was no need for Shade to return.  Her brother and what few friends she had there kept everything in order without need of her presence.  She was far more needed here, seeing how Tifa struggled on her own to keep the restaurant and bar running, plus caring for Denzel and Marlene alone.

Wasn't like Cloud was around to give a shit.

Thankfully, the streets were pleasantly quiet this evening.  Shade slowly paced her way to the double glass doors and leaned against the frame to gaze out into the night while lazily sipping her coffee and rum.  So long as she looked up, it was easy to dismiss the deteriorating city.

But not this night.

At first, she thought her beverage was spiked with something far more potent than liquor.  Her steel hued eyes squinted to concentrate on the visage far off  into the distance, yet the full moon didn't lie.  The random distortions in the sky erupted without warning, and as she slowly stepped outside, Shade could make out various creatures pouring through.  "What the...."

Instincts brought her hand to her own sword, but she turned back around and returned into 7th Heaven and headed for the back stairs located in the stock room.  She ran for the third floor toward the door that led to the roof, but found it locked.  With a curse hissed through her teeth, she had no choice but to use the hilt of her blade to slam the doorknob off and kick open the door while silently promising her friend she would pay for the damage.  

While cautiously venturing out onto the roof, Shade scanned the night sky again.  Sure enough, the unbelievable sight of lethal creatures were pouring out toward the city like a faucet turned on at a full flooding force.  

She wasn't ignorant.  

After everything Shade had endured over the years, especially on this Planet, she was fully aware there must be a source or reason for something this extraordinary.  Her pace grew faster the closer she came toward the edge of the building as neighboring structures slowly shifted out of her line of vision.  She suspected Shin-Ra may have played a part in this.  Damn organization was always trying to play God... or Goddess as some would claim to believe.

But her short trek came up short once the towers came into view and seeing the lone silhouette standing upon the tallest smoke stack.  Normally, anyone else in the city would have stared in dread, save for a handful who've dealt with.... him.  For Shade, she not only dealt with Sephiroth once, but his crazed counterpart as well.   “Yippy-skippy...” She mumbled under her breath.

Well... if the Jenova spawn wasn't going to place nice, than neither was she.  

With a sudden slam of her blade driving straight into the flat roof, the resounding energy from the impact erupted upwards with a great gust of tornado winds, soaring up into the sky and consuming the multitude of creatures in one great hurricane swarm of defiant screams.  With the guidance of her gloved hand, the beasts and undead were thrown back into their portals.  Her other hand took hold of her sword, awakening its own power to sweep through the air with a single swing, sending a wave of energy to slice into the sky and sever the portals into shreds and dissipate into the clouds.

Whether he knew where the source of disruption came from, it didn't matter to her.  And it wasn't like Shade stood out in appearance, practically blending with any other ruffian who walked the streets.  But she didn't retreat either.  

Someone had to babysit Mr. Baddie....


((I figured the momentary godmodding actions were for fun since you were summoning a shytload of monsters and undead out of nowhere ))

((OOC - BUUUUUUUURRRRNNN! LMAO))

Tifa awoke suddenly to the sound of splintering wood and instinctively shot out of bed at lightning speed and rushed for the bedroom door. As her hand turned the door handle, she remembered about her state of dress, facing an enemy in your underwear was never a good idea. She shrugged and carried on anyway, her footsteps barely audible in the hallway as she ran towards the source of the commotion.

Her body tensed as she got to the top of the stairs, fully expecting to have to fight at least 3 enemies, and she raised her clenched fists in preparation only to glimpse Shade's silhouette as she disappeared through the broken door. Tifa sighed and relaxed her muscles and slowly walked to inspect the door frame. "That is going on your tab, missy", she mummbled as she picked up the door knob from the floor and peeked out to make sure nothing would come in after her. Along with Shade's silhouette, another familiar silhouette stood out against the Midgar skyline, the excessively long, billowing locks being a dead give-away. Tifa rolled her eyes and went back inside, closing the door as best as she could using the door knob as a stopper "Yep, this ones all yours, Shadey"

And with that final sentiment, she padded silently back to her room, climbed back into her bed and covered her head with her pillow.

The One Winged Angel leaped from his roost to the building adjacent where the She-Daemon stood.

"Well well well..."

He slowly paced the rooftop, never shifting his gaze from her.

"I would not have thought it would be you standing between me and my prey. Certainly Cloud or one of his little friends...."

His smirk shifted to a sneer. Something was off about the dark one.

"Nothing shall forestall my return!"

His composure had slipped somewhat. He smoothed his coat as if it were ruffled feathers. His transition back into the world had been less than pleasant and he had yet to recover fully.

"I will see this city razed to the ground. I will take everything and everyone from those who have taken from me. Would you stand in my way as well?"

With her usual calm, Shade watched him approach with slight amusement.  

So... he returned...

Again.  

Shade lost count by this point, but at least Sephiroth gained an "A" for effort.

But her annoyance soon followed by his misplaced behavior and hearing him speak words that were not his own.  There was that moment of befuddlement that struck her like a deer in headlights before she finally sighed and gave his sword a couple taps with her own.

"Having a personality disorder crisis, Sephiroth?"  

With her other hand, she thumbed in the opposite direction of the city and spoke with a flat tone.  "There's a shop down the street where you can choose between a wide assortment of red hair dye, if you're interested."

The commotion had awoken the children, all six of them. Of all the nights to make his grand re-re-re-re-entrance, Sephiroth had managed to pick the night Marlene had a sleepover. Five small girls, one young boy and approximately 14 stuffed animals charged into Tifas room and clambered on her bed. Marlene and Denzel had become somewhat used to this kind of activity during the course of their short lives, but the four guests practically vibrated with excitement. The smallest girl, wearing a chocobo onesie with the hood pulled up and drawn tight around her tiny face, peered at Tifa from underneath the fuzzy beak and squealed "Can we watch it, Tifa? Pleeeeeeeeaaase?"

Tifa smiled and sat up, all signs of sleeping this night had well and truly vanished. "Ok, ok. Everyone sit on the bed" She got up, grabbed her robe and threw it on while the kids got settled and then slowly walked over to the window. She took hold of a curtain in each hand and opened them an inch, "Are you suuuure?", she said with a grin, building the childrens excitement even further. They all responded, loudly as expected. She giggled and threw the curtains open wide, exposing the sight of Shade Face to face with Sephiroth on the rooftops, Sephiroths hair billowing in stereotypical Seph-fashion despite the lack of wind this night. She recalled Cloud uncharacteristically joking that he had enchanted his hair to look fabulous, it seemed to be true today.

She left the kids to watch and slipped downstairs to the kitchen to make hot chocolate and popcorn, this was going to be a long night