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

Everyone sits in a chair or stool as Tifa pours water for them. As everyone waits patiently for Esmee to come down a girl in a ninja outfit stands up, looking to the stairs. "When is she coming down? I can't wait to meet her." She said as she jumps up and down. "Relax, Yuffie. She's getting the kids ready. That's part of our deal." Tifa said. "Deal?" Said a red cat-like creature. "She needed a place to stay, so I gave her the spare room if she agreed to look after the kids when I can't and help out around the bar." Tifa explained. "Well I can't wait to meet her too. Little Marlene hasn't stopped talking about her and her little pet." Said a man dark skinned man with a metal hand. "You mean Lazul. He's her cute little furry companion. The kids seem to adore him and Esmee." Tifa said. "That would explain why I smelled another animal in her." The red cat said. "Yep, that's Lazul." Tifa said. As she refills the other people's drinks. The sound of small footstep causes everyone to turn to the stairs and see Marlene and Denzel came down. Marlene looked up at Tifa with a smile. "Where is Esmee?" Tifa asks. "She's putting some things away, but she'll down in a few minutes." Denzel said. "Thank you, Denzel." Tifa said as she hands him and Marlene a cup of juice. "Can she fight?" Asks a man with shorter blond hair as he lit a cigarette. "I'm pretty sure she can. She managed to take down about ten guys by herself when she saved the kids." Cloud said as he takes a sip of his drink. "Not too bad, but I want to see what she's got." Cloud said as he puts his broad sword that he rests against his chair. "Oy, be sure to go easy on the lass." Said a cat wearing a red cap and a gold crown. "I'll keep that in mind." Cloud said with a small smirk on his face. "What do you think Vincent? Do you think she can fight?" Cloud asks him. "I'm not sure, if she carries a weapon around with her, then she may know how to use it." He said in his usual monotone voice. "So you want to test her too?" Cloud asks. Vincent nods his head answering his question. Before Cloud could say anything else Esmee comes down with Lazul in her arms. "Hi everyone." She said smiling as she waved to everyone with one of her hands. Her eyes spot Vincent and she smiles at him. Vincent returns the gaze and nods his head with a small smirk but it quickly fades. Tifa greeted her as Lazul climbs out of her arms and onto her shoulder. Marlene ran up to her and hugged her legs. She looks up and Lazul jumps off Esmee's shoulder and onto Marlene making her giggle.
Esmee's P.O.V
"Hey, sweetheart." I said smiling. "Esmee, these are our friends." Tifa said as they all stand up to introduce themselves to me. A dark-skinned man with a weapon for a hand shook my hand and nodded. "Name's Barrett. Marlene's my little girl, so I expect you to take good care of her." I saluted and nodded. "You can count on it." I said as Lazul jumped on my shoulder from Marlene's shoulder. "I'm Esmee, and this is my companion Lazul." I said introducing myself and Lazul. "Name's Yuffie Kisaragi, the Super ninja. Need a hand, and I'm there." Said a young girl dressed in a ninja outfit as she extended her hand to me. "That's good to know. My name is Esmee and this Lazul." I said accepting her hand as Lazul walked to my other shoulder and bows his head to her. Suddenly Yuffie squeaks a high pitch squeal making me and I guess everyone else jump. "Oh my God, he is so cute. I've never seen anything like him, he's so adorable." She said childishly. I felt Lazul twitch as Yuffie called cute and adorable the same time. "Yes, he is but I wouldn't-" I said but I couldn't finish my sentences when she stretches her hand out to take Lazul. "Can I hold him?" She as she almost reached him; but Lazul jumps off my shoulder and runs away, but Yuffie follows him as he runs around the bar. "Wait Yuffie don't chase him he'll-" I said trying to warn her but it was too late. She had Lazul at a corner and just before she could touch him; he shape shifts into his tiger form. Before he could raise his paw to slash her, I got in front of her and used my bow to stop his paw. "Stop Lazul!" I commanded. He realizes what he's done and bows his head to me. [Really Lazul; this again?] I said in my thoughts. [I know, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have over reacted.] He said shamefully as he turns back to his true from. I sigh and contract my bow. "I'm sorry about that. He's not your typical animal that likes being fawned over." I said apologizing to Yuffie. "He should know better than to attack people." I said frustrated as I turn and look at Lazul. "I hoped he learned his lesson when he almost attacked Vincent." I explained as Lazul jumps back to his spot on my shoulder and I faced the others. "So that's what happened?" Cloud said looking at me. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that Yuffie I hope you're okay." I said looking at her. "It's all good. I'm okay, nothing can stop this ninja." She said cheerful. Suddenly I hear laughter and look and see a man with short, blonde hair and a blue short-sleeved shirt approaching us as he holds his light cigarette in his hands. "So he's not a big pussycat then." He said as he stands next to use. "Yeah, I guess you could say that." I said chuckling. "Name's Cid, best damn pilot this side of the world's ever seen. I'm working on the latest model of my aircraft. When she's finished, I'll let you and your fuzz ball come aboard my aircraft." He said with a smirk on his face. "Cool, we can't wait." I said smiling at him. Suddenly a cat like creature walks towards us causing me to jump back a little. "That's Red XIII or Nanaki" Tifa said as she pet my shoulder telling me it's okay. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to frighten you child. You can call me Red; all the others call me Red. It is a pleasure to meet you two." He said politely as ears bend back, showing that he won't hurt me. "Okay Red, I'm Esmee and this is Lazul." I said as I reach out and pet his head. Then Lazul climbs down my arm and looks at Red. He and Red sniff each other for a moment and Lazul climbs back to his spot. "He doesn't mean us any harm." Red said telling the others. "That's good hearing. I was afraid I'd have me head bit off by this lass comrade here." Someone said with a Scottish accent. I look and see a black and white cat with a little golden crown and a little red cape on its back with big white gloves. "I'm Cait Sith!" He said sticking his gloved hand out to me. "Nice to meet you." I said smiling sweetly at it, trying to resist the urge to pick Cait Sith up and squeeze him until his head popped off. 'Oh my gosh, it's just so cute!' I thought as I shake his gloved hand. "So what brings you to Midgar Esmee?" Barrett asks me as he sits down with Marlene in his lap. "Nothing really, just traveling around." I said as Tifa handed me a glass of water. "We came into town yesterday looking for a place to stay and we found Marlene and Denzel in trouble." I explained. Before I could finish my story, Yuffie butts in. "That's right I heard that you took down ten men all by yourself. Is it true?" she asks wondering. "Well, I took down 9 guys and Lazul took down their leader from behind." I said explaining what happened. "Hmph, that makes sense." Said a voice that came from behind us. We all look back and see it was cloud who said that. "What's that supposed to mean?" Tifa said sounding surprised by his words. "Nothing, I just didn't think that someone like her could possibly take down ten guys by herself." He said as he leans further back against his seat. "Cloud" Tifa said surprised again. "So in other words; you don't think that I'm not strong enough to take care of myself." I said feeling slightly insulted. "In a word, yes." He said with a slight chuckle as he stands up from his seat holding a big sword in his hand. [Okay, now feel insulted. That jerk; I can't believe he said that and in front of everyone!] I said yelling into my thoughts. [Just because he's going through some emo stage, doesn't mean he should be disrespectful.] "Cloud." Tifa said even more surprised. "Yo man, that's harsh." Barrett said just as surprised as Tifa. [I guess this isn't how he normally behaves.] I thought. [Regardless, he shouldn't have said that to you] Lazul said in my thoughts. "Yeah cloud, that's way, rode. You don't know what she's capable of." Yuffie said defending, but before she could say anything; I place my hand her shoulder. "It's okay Yuffie; at least I don't have to show how tough I am by carrying around a big sword." I said snapping back at Cloud. [Ow, oh no she didn't] Lazul said in my thoughts. Then suddenly all became quiet until; everyone but Vincent broke into a laughing frenzy. "Good one Esmee." Yuffie said holding her side as she falls to her knees laughing while everyone is still laughing. Vincent however isn't laughing, but despite his cloak covering his face; I see a small smirk painted on his smooth pale skin. "Ha-ha, she got you their spiky." Barrett said patting Clouds back making him move forward slightly. "Alright, you got the attitude of a fighter," he said. As he gets up with his sword in his hand and raises it. "But do you have the skills." He said as he points the tip of his sword at me. This caused Lazul to jump on my shoulder and lightly growl at him. "Is that a challenge Porcupine?" I said with a small chuckle as I place my hand on my rod ready to pull it out. "You bet." He said smiling the same smirk as me. "Alright spiky, you're on." I said as I pulled out my rod and expanded it into its full length.
Outskirts of Midgar
We headed to the outskirts of Midgar, far enough away from the townspeople. We came to an open field that had enough space that is perfect for a battle. [Lazul, stay out of the fight. I want to show him what I can do okay.] I told him through my thoughts as I hand him to Denzel so he can watch him for me. [Okay fine, but if something goes out of hand. I'm stepping in.] He said back in my thoughts. [Hopefully it won't come to that.] I said as I watch Cloud walk a few feet away, ready to go. "You can do it Esmee, kick his butt." Yuffie cheered from the sidelines. "Go Esmee. Oh and go Cloud." Marlene said as she tried to figure out who to cheer for. I couldn't help but smile at how sweet she is. "Just so you know; we'll be fighting for real. I'm not going to be holding back just because you're a girl." Cloud said from the other side as holds his sword in front of himself. "Good, then this should be fun." I said as I pull out my rod and expanded it to its full length and take my stance.


thanks for making it to chapter 5.
hit you all are enjoying it so far.