On the way back to Edge, both warriors were silent. The hill was getting closer, same with the city.
"Let's stop here first" She almost didn't hear Cloud speaking. She was lost in her own thoughts.
That hill meant a lot for both of them. It had a lot of memories, bad and good.
While walking to that hill by foot, she started to remember...
It was Elly's first day in SOLDIER and she already met some of the captains. She was very excited to see Zack.
"I wonder if he will be happy" She wondered out loud.
"I'm happy you're here, Elly" She heard his voice whispering into her ear. She didn't even realize he sneaked on her. She turned around slowly and smiled brightly.
"Zack! You are?" She was very excited. She wanted to become a SOLDIER really badly and having his support meant the world for her.
"Who's this?" They both turned at the same time in the same way. It was funny how alike they behaved. The man who just entered the room was intimidating. However, his eyes held a lof of kindness, even if they were mako infused.
"Who are you?" She asked him while getting a closer look. He was handsome but old. However, he looked a lot like a more matured version of Zack.
"Angeal this is my sweet, dear, extraordinary, funny, loud mouth" He took a big breath and continued."happy, messy, hyper little sister, Eloise" And he finished. Elly was amused but not really. It was weird how happy she felt.
"And Elly he is my mentor, Angeal" She looked at Angeal who had a blank face.
"So how do you put up with him? Does he follow you like a lost puppy?" She asked the older SOLDIER. He seemed very amused by her question. Zack pinched her and narrowed his eyes playfully at both of them.
"He actually does, yes" Zack looked incredulously at his mentor while Elly started to laugh.
They were already on the hill when she remembered something else.
"I can't believe it! I want another fight!" Zack threw his hands in the air like a drama queen. Elly rolled her eyes. They were training and Zack was loosing, big time.
"Come on, I am younger than you and more inexperienced. You are either a lazy ass or don't take me seriously" Zack looked pretty pissed but they both knew he was just a sore loser.
"You're cheating somehow!" He walked closer to her and started to inspect her sword. It was stupid since she didn't even own one. That was given to her by her commander.
"There has to be something…" He mumbled while he started to rub his chin. She scoffed and pushed him. Since he wasn't paying attention, he lost his balance and fell.
"I'm not cheating. You're just a sore loser" He rolled his eyes and stuck out his hand. Elly chuckled and helped him up. In the end, they were siblings.
Cloud was already in his own world while Eloise walked closer to Zack's sword. She touched it and closed her eyes.
"Zack! I-I'm not ready" Even if he was encouraging her every day, she felt scared.
"Come on Elly! You're strong. You're going to be fine" But the mission was awful. She returned almost dead.
She was laying on her bed in the hospital when she saw him coming in. She stared at him and simply started to cry. He sat on the bed and hugged her.
"It's ok. I'm here" He was trying to calm her down and sooth her pain.
"I wasn't ready. I disappointed you, everyone. I'm not a good SOLDIER" She couldn't even look him in the eye.
"It was just your first mission. There are a lot more, Elly. You'll do fine. You are a good SOLDIER"
"Really?"
"Yes. And I promise you I'll be there every time, encouraging you." She looked up at him and smiled.
"But…what if you won't be there the next time?" She whispered for herself but he heard.
"I promise I will never leave you, Eloise. I love you and I will always protect you. I am your older brother"
"You lied"
She didn't mean it. She was sad and disappointed. She was still an innocent young girl even if she got through so much. She just wanted her brother to come and hug her. She opened her eyes and she realized that Cloud wasn't next to her anymore. She turned around to face an image she didn't want to see. Cloud was on his knees, clenching his arm tightly.
"Cloud?" He glanced at her but the pain was getting the best of him.
She didn't know how to react until she felt the same agonizing pain taking over her body. She clenched her hands around her stomach and gasped. It hurt even more than before.
She started to get images of old acquaintances out of nowhere. She could see Kadaj morphing into someone else. She could see him.
After a few more minutes, the pain subsided. She opened her eyes and saw another pair of arms around her.
"Cloud?" He seemed to feel much better. She shook his arms off and got on her feet. He was expecting an answer.
"What happened?" He was worried for her. That was a feeling she missed. Someone was trying to help.
"Geostigma. It's just that I have it on my stomach" He understood. He also had it on his arm. He knew what she was going through.
He was walking to his motorbike when he realized that she wasn't following him.
"Go. I'm going to stay a little more" He nodded and took off to the city.
I'm always here to protect you
She turned around shocked but no one was there. It was so strange. She could swear someone was right behind her. She glanced at the sword before she left.
"I wish I could have been there for you. Maybe then it would have ended differently. Maybe you would be here with us, alive" That was her only regret. She wasn't there when Zack needed her help.