Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Final Fantasy 7 franchise. All I own are my Orginal characters, their powers, origin story, and the magical land they come from.
A/N: This story follows the story of Advent Children the video game as well as Dirge of Cerberus. With my own storyline intertwined. Whenever you see text in [...] and Italisided then these are when people are having a telepathic conversation. I'm a little new to Fanfic .net so bear with me. I'm learning how to write and post stories here.
Arthur's P.O.V
When Esmee, Vincent and Lazul made it to the door, Vincent let's go of Esmee's hand and opens the door for her and Lazul. "We're back Tifa." Esmee called out. Tifa comes down stairs and see them with her bags. "Good, just in time." She said as she comes all the way down the stairs and takes the bags from Vincent. "Esmee and Lazul fallow me to the kitchen." Tifa said then walks towards the kitchen followed by Lazul. Before Esmee begins to follow her, she stops and looks at Vincent. "Thank you Vincent." She said with a bow and walks to the kitchen. "Anytime" Vincent said softly as he watches Esmee walk away. "Where do want me to place these bags Tifa?" Esmee asks walks into the kitchen with her bags. "Just place them on the counter." Tifa said as she takes the bags out of Lazul's mouth and places them on the other counter. As the girls begin taking the stuff out of the bags Marlene and Denzel walks into the kitchen through the back door. "I didn't see Cloud this morning." Denzel said. "Is he not coming?" Marlene said sadly. Tifa walks towards them and pets her head. "Don't worry, he'll come. I warned him that if he doesn't come, I'd kick his butt." She said smiling at them. They smiled back and helped put away the stuff. When they left the kitchen Esmee looked at Tifa hesitantly but spook. "Why wouldn't Cloud come, if you don't mind me asking?" Silence filled the room before Tifa spook. "He thinks that he's alone and that he can do things by himself." She said as she takes out paper plates and puts them on the counter. "You see, a few years ago two of our friends died during the Jennies wars. The friends that died were close to Cloud. Now he blames himself for their death." She said sadly. "It may not be my place to say this but, give him time." Esmee said as she places her hand on Tifa's shoulder. "People mourn differently and since you said that he was close to them. He would feel the most of the pain of lose than anyone else." She said as Tifa faces Esmee fully. "Give him time. I'm sure he'll come around." She said with a tender smile on her face. "Thanks Esmee." Tifa said smiling back at her then they finished putting the rest of Tifa's things away. "So is there anything else you want me to do?" Esmee asks. "No I can take it from here. But what I want you to do is help get the kids ready. While I set up." Tifa said smiling. "Okay where can I find them?" Esmee asks. "Their rooms are upstairs and turn right, the first door on your right and first door on your left." Tifa said. "Okay." Esmee said then left the kitchen with Lazul.
Esmee's POV
As I walk upstairs to the first door on the right I walk inside and I don't see them. "This must be Marlene's room." I said as I step inside. Her room has a single bed with pink sheets and a cut stuffed animal sitting on her bed. [It's really cute. Kind of reminds me of your room when you were little.] Lazul said into my head. "I was thinking the same thing." I said as I step back out into the hall and close the door. 'So if they're not in there then they must be in here' I thought as I walk to the other and nocked. "Who is it?" Said Marlene's sweet little voice. "It's Esmee and Lazul, can we come in?" I ask. "Sure" she said as I hear little feet running towards the door and it opens. Marlene peaks her head through and smiles at us then opens the door all the way for us. I walk in and see Denzel lying on his bed with a hand on his head holding his forehead in pain. "Denzel are you alright?" I ask as towards him as Lazul jumps off my shoulder and onto the bed. I sit on the bed and moved his bangs away from his forehead and see a black scare like rash all on it. "What happen, are you okay?" I asked worried as I examine the rest of his head. "It's the Geostigma." Marlene explained as she hands a wet cloth to Denzel and puts on his head. "What's Geostigma?" I asked. 'Why does it sound familiar?' I thought as I look back a Denzel as he cringes from the pain from his head. "The Stigma is a symptom of alien matter that is infesting the body." Said a familiar deep voice. We look and see Vincent standing by the door. "The body tries to eliminate it, and overcompensates. Inside our bodies is a current like the Life stream. That current is what fights off any malevolent intruders." He explained as he walks into the room and stands next to Denzel. "It's also called the" he said but I finished his sentence "The Planet Scar Syndrome" "So you've heard of it?" he asks looking at me. "Yes during our journey here. I was warned to be careful." I explained. "I didn't think it was this serious." I said as I gently pet Denzel's shoulder. "Does it still hurt?" he asks him as he places his clawed gently on his head. "Yeah." Denzel said smiling weakly at him. "Alright, I'll ask Tifa for some medicine." Vincent said. "Hang on, I have a better idea." I said standing up and ran to my room with Lazul at my heals. When I got to my room and grab my stone pouch. [What are you doing?] Lazul asks through my thoughts. "I want to help him." I said digging through my bag to find my healing stone. [Are you crazy, what if they notice something?] Lazul said worried. "Don't worry, as long as I whisper the words and close my eyes. No one will notice." I said as I finally found the stone I need and ran back to Denzel's room. I walk in and sit on the bed in front of Denzel. "Maybe this will help." I said opening my hand revealing a bluish green stone. "What is that?" Marlene asks me as she sits on the bed next to me with Lazul in her arms. "It's called a Healing Stone. Lazul and I helped a traveling mage and he gave this to me as a thank you." I lied. It's not time for me to tell them yet. "I don't think it will cure you, but maybe it will easy your pain." I said as I gently placed the stone on the stigma and closed my eyes and whispered, "Jiva" {Heal}I feel the warmth of my stone as my magic begin to sooth his mind. Then the warmth begins to fade meaning that my spell is finished. I remove my stone and open my eyes. "How are feeling?" I ask. "Better. A lot better thank you Esmee." Denzel said smiling at me as he touched his forehead. "That was amazing Esmee. You really are an angel." Marlene said happily as she jumped on the bed. I couldn't help but blush again at her words. "No, I'm not an angel." I said shaking my head. This surprised her and I couldn't help but giggle at her reaction. "But thank you for the compliment." I said as I hugged her making her and Denzel laugh. I pull him into our hug and Lazul jumped in and licked their faces making them laugh more. Out of the corner of my eyes I noticed Vincent has a strange look on his face. I guess he noticed that I saw him and then leaves the room. I let them go and ruffle Denzel's hair and pat Marlene's head. "Alright you two, Tifa told me to make sure that you guys get ready for the party." I said getting up as Lazul jumps on my shoulder. "Your friends might be here soon. So Denzel, wear something nice. Now let's go Marlene, you need to get read too. I'll help you get dress." I said as we walk out of Denzel's room and into Marlene's room. After a few minutes Marlene is all dressed and looks so cute. "Alright now go wash your face and brush your teeth. While you do that I go to check on Denzel." I said as Lazul and I walk out of her room.
Vincent's POV
Before he left Esmee with the kids
"Does it still hurt?" I ask him as he places my gauntlet hand gently on his head. "Yeah." Denzel said smiling weakly at me. "Alright, I'll ask Tifa for some medicine." I said getting ready to leave but stopped when Esmee spoke. "Hang on, I have a better idea." She said standing up and ran out of the room with Lazul following her. 'I wonder what she's planning on doing.' I thought as I watch her leave the room. I looked back at the kids and noticed how much pain Denzel feels. The Stigma is a serious thing and I wish there's something more I can do for them. I suddenly lost my thoughts when I hear the sound of feet running back to Denzel's room. Esmee walk in and sits on the bed in front of Denzel. "Maybe this will help." She said opening her hand revealing a bluish green stone. "What is that?" Marlene asks Esmee as she sits on the bed next to her with Lazul in her arms. "It's called a Healing Stone. Lazul and I helped a traveling mage and he gave this to me as a thank you." She explained. "I don't think it will cure you, but maybe it'll ease your pain." She said as she gently placed the stone on his stigma and closed her eyes. 'I've never heard of such a thing.' I thought as I watch intently. Suddenly I heard her say something in what sounded like a different language but I couldn't tell. Her voice is very faint. After I heard her voice, the stone began to glow a bluish green light agent's her fingers. [That's it.] Chaos said through my head. 'What do you mean?' I ask wondering what he means. [That's what I sense from her.] Chaos said. [She has power within her and a powerful one at that.] Chaos said impressed. Then the light fade and she remove the stone and opens her eyes. "How are feeling?" She asks. "Better. A lot better thank you Esmee." Denzel said smiling at her as he touched his forehead. I couldn't help but stare at her and wonder how she eased his pain. This makes her even more interesting. I'm curious about who she is. "That was amazing Esmee. You really are an angel." Marlene said happily as she jumped on the bed next to them. Esmee is surprised by her words and blushes. "No, I'm not an angel." I said shaking my head. I noticed a hint of sadness in her eyes and voice. But it changed when Esmee noticed how surprised Marlene is by her respond and giggles at her reaction. "But thank you for the compliment." Esmee said as she hugged Marlene making her and Denzel laugh too. Then Esmee pulls Denzel into their hug and Lazul joins them and licks the kids' faces making them laugh even more. 'What a mysterious person you are.' I thought as I watch Esmee have fun with the kids. I lost my train of thought when our eyes meet for a moment, then I left and went to my room to think. 'What was it that you sensed from Esmee?' I ask Chaos. [What I sensed seemed something similar to a mage's power except hers feels more powerful.] Chaos explained. 'So you think she's a mage?' I ask trying to understand what he's saying. [There is a possibility, but her power is something I've never sensed before.] He said. 'Interesting' I thought wondering. What could she be? [Maybe you should ask her. I'm sure she'll tell you if you ask her nicely.] Chaos said teasingly. 'Maybe; but not right now.' I thought annoyed. [Aw, why?] He whined. 'I don't want to force her to say anything she doesn't want to say just yet.' I thought back to what she told as we left the market. [How sweet; you care about her well-being.] Chaos said teasingly as he entered my thoughts. I ignored his comment and walk out of my room. As I walk towards the stairs I hear Esmee talking to Marlene as she leaves her room. "Alright now go wash your face and brush your teeth. While you do that I'm going to check on Denzel." She said as Lazul follows her out of Marlene's room.
Esmee's POV
After you left Marlene's room
"Alright now go wash your face and brush your teeth. While you do that I'm going to check on Denzel." I said as Lazul and I walk out of her room. Before I could turn around to look at Denzel's room, someone calls me. I look to my right and see Vincent. "Yes?" I said wondering what he needs. "How did you do that?" he asks with a serious face. This made me jump slightly as I suddenly feel Lazul jump on my shoulder. [Do you think he knows?] Lazul asks worried. [I don't know?] I thought back just as worried. "What do you mean?" I ask trying to keep my voice calm. "I mean; how did you take away the pain Denzel was feeling from the Stigma?" he asks as he walks towards me and stands a few inches away from me. "What exactly happened when I used the Healing Stone?" I ask slightly worried. "After you closed your eyes, I thought I heard you say something in a different language and the stone began to glow." He said. [What now?] Lazul said worried. [This] I thought. "So that's what it did." I said looking at the stone. "What do you mean?" Vincent asks. "This is the first time I've ever used this stone." I lied. "The mage we helped told me to place the stone on the wound and to concentrate on what I want it to do. We even traveled together for a while so he could teach me the words to activate it." I explained as I look at him hoping he would buy my lie. It looks like he believes me but in his eyes I can see uncertainty. Before he could say anything; a young high pitch voice booms throughout the house. "Hey guys we're here!" "Calm down Yuffie." Tifa said. "Looks like your friends are here." I said smiling at the commotion from down stairs. "Yeah" Vincent said slightly annoyed by the noise. 'I guess he doesn't like loud noises.' I thought as I giggle slightly. "Go say hi to them I'll be down when I check on Denzel and put my stone away." I said then left into Denzel's room before he could say anything else.
Vincent's POV
Before Esmee left
"We even traveled together for a while so he could teach me the words to activate it." She explained. Her story makes sense, but there's more to her story than what she's telling me. Chaos wouldn't be reacting like this if it was just a small trick. Before I can say anything; a familiar high pitched voice booms throughout the house. "Hey guys we're here!" "Calm down Yuffie." Tifa said. "Looks like your friends are here." Esmee said smiling at the commotion we hear from down stairs. "Yeah" I said slightly annoyed by the noise. 'I guess I can't ask her now.' I thought. Suddenly I hear her giggle slightly from my comment. "Go say hi to them I'll be down when I check on Denzel and put my stone away." She said and then left into Denzel's room. [She's hiding something.] Chaos said in my thoughts. 'Maybe' I thought looking at where she was before and leaned against the wall. [Heh, it's always the innocent ones that have a dirty little secret.] Chaos said teasingly. I ignore his comment walk towards the stairs to join the others.
thanks for making it to chapter 4
