The city was in total chaos. Eloise's eyes widened at the sight. She blinked repeatedly until she got a grip on her mental state. It reminded her of the first time there was a crisis. One when a lot of people died.
Her eyes traveled towards the center of the square. There were a lot of people listening closely to someone. She got off her motorcycle and walked through the crowd. In front was Yazoo, giving some kind of speech. Around Yazoo was a chain of children. They were like statues that had the role to protect their leader.
"Hey! Do you hear me?" A man tried to get one kid to talk with him. The kid didn't move or blink.
"Why are you doing this?!" Another man, held back by his wife, exclaimed.
Eloise watched the chaos around her; the shouts and the pleads. She didn't know anyone in the crowd and she didn't know any child but it still broke her heart.
One girl caught her attention in that mess. It was the same one she talked to earlier that day. She was next to a young boy with brown hair and deep green eyes. She walked towards them, trying not to get any attention on her. She bent to their level and shook the girl slowly, not to hurt her. She didn't move.
"What happened to you?" She frowned and tried her luck with the boy. Since he had clearer eyes, she could look closely into them. His eyes were blank and the iris was dilated. She got a bad feeling.
When she raised her head, she saw Yazoo and Loz nodding to each other. She was pretty sure they had a bigger plan than giving a speech. Yazoo raised his hand at some man and with a flick of his fingers, a lot of shadow creepers appeared out of thin air.
The crowd got scared and dispersed. Some were trying to save their own lives while others tried to grab one or two children on the way too.
"The children aren't in danger. We are" She mumbled.
In the place she was, there were no shadow creepers, or at least, none were launching at her. She tried to shake the children to reality again but none were moving. Her eyes trailed back to the brothers. They each gripped on a pair of chains.
Reno and Rude made their appearance.
"Mom is there, isn't it?" Yazoo asked the two turks.
"Why do you say this?" Rude asked the two silver haired brothers, instead of giving a response.
She couldn't make out their next exchange of lines because a shadow creeper launched at her from behind. She avoided it but another one appeared. She sighed in annoyance. With one hand, she tried to protect the children but with the other, she just tensed it enough to canalize her energy into it. She threw the wave of energy at the monster and it dissipated.
Her mako infused eyes started to sting and she knew that was a sign to stop using the mako flowing through her body.
She was a little overwhelmed by the sudden pain in her body. That wasn't only the Geostigma, it was something that ran deeper into her veins. After she calmed down, she realized that something was different. She glanced to whatever the whole crowd directed their attention to. She definitely didn't expect that.
She saw a huge monster descending from the sky. He landed on the statue in the middle.
She glanced to other sides of the square and caught glimpse of Reno launching at Yazoo. After he remarked the creature above, he stopped abruptly. He also hit Rude on the head with his rod. The black turk regained his balance quickly and looked up to the creature too. The monster grabbed the chains and broke them in two.
After realizing what that was, both turks retreated. Ok, they ran away but it still counted as retreat. Yazoo and Loz followed them.
Eloise wasn't in any danger for the moment. She rubbed her forehead. The monster's red eyes trailed over the city. He formed a blue ball of energy and launched his attack. Eloise eyes widened and tried to drag the children with her. They didn't budge. The attack was powerful enough to throw everyone off.
Eloise grabbed the girl's hand but she didn't have time to touch the boy. She got thrown back a few good feet.
She groaned and felt pain in her left arm. She glanced to the body lying beside her. The girl stirred and woke up. She glanced around her and got scared.
"Run away and hide, alright?" The girl recognized Eloise and nodded. The ex SOLDIER got on her feet and watched the kid running away. She turned her attention on the city. Her eyes caught Reno and Rude fighting Yazoo and Loz. They were losing badly. She sighed and for the first time in two years, she felt the need to fight.
She ran over there with a new desire running through her veins. She kicked Loz and sent him flying into his brother. She walked in front of Reno and glanced at him, though she didn't seem to express any emotion.
"Are you alright, girly?" The red haired man glared at her, though it was playfully and scoffed.
"I was doing just fine. I was ready to punch him but then you came" She smirked.
From the corner of her eyes, she caught a glimpse of the monster hovering over the green eyed boy. She felt the impulse to run there and save him but someone else already took care of it. She backed off a little. The adrenaline was slowly slipping from her body and so was her will to fight. She got scared.
It wasn't the fight or her enemies. No, it was something uncommon. It was guilt. It was friendship. Barret saved the kid and he wasn't the only one who arrived unexpectedly. Red XIII and Cait Sith jumped into the battle as well.
"Maybe it's time to fight back the past" That was Rude speaking. He placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it. She was an amazing fighter. It was a disappointment not to use her skills at their true value.
"Maybe" Rude went to Reno and they both stared at her. She glanced between them and the monster. She could stay and watch or help her friends. "Friends..." That word meant a lot for Eloise. It meant salvation. She closed her eyes tightly and tightened her fists.
She breathed out slowly and relaxed. That was what she liked to do and what she was trained to do. She was a soldier of the human race. She had to live up towards the expectations.
Reno stared intensely at her back.
"Do you think she will let it go, yo?" Rude nodded. She was ready. She knew that too.
She ran towards the monster with a small smile on her face. It was time.
She arrived just on time to kick a few shadow creepers off Tifa. Cid took the other half.
"Nice to see ya, Elly!" Her small smile became wider. She nodded at the smiling man and faced Tifa. "See the new improved Sierra!" He said while pointing up. "I'll take you in a tour after." She chuckled. Some things never changed.
"Eloise, you-" She interrupted Tifa and messed the kid's hair.
"It's time for a new beginning" Both women smiled at each other and nodded.
"Where can I find a phone?" Eloise turned her head in time to see Vincent.
"Who's he?" Tifa smiled at the boy and responded.
"They're our friends." For a moment, Elly though of her brother as a child. But, she didn't feel hurt anymore. Maybe it was the meeting with Cloud or with her old friends but she felt lighter.
Cloud arrived a few moment later.
"Marlene is safe. I left her at the bar." Elly's eyes trailed slowly on a distingtive sword that Cloud grabbed out.
"Do you feel that too?" His eyes were on Elly. She blinked. "It feels a little lighter" She opened her mouth but she made no sound. After the incident with Zack, Eloise didn't use her fighting abilities anymore. She gave up. But now, now she had a second chance.
"I was ready to drag myself along until there was nothing left" Cloud's words cut deep into her soul.
"I'm going back to the bar. I'll be waiting with Marlene." The boy ran off but stopped abruptly and turned around. "We'll see you there. Won't we Cloud?" The blonde nodded making the boy smile brightly.
"It's time to fight, Ely" She got taken back. His smile, though, reassured her that they were ready to get over their guilt. Tifa got on Fenrir while Eloise cleared her head. She bit her lip and nodded. They had to help their friends.
"Time to help your friends, sissy. Move on and let them make you happy"
Those words came from nowhere but they warmed up her cold heart. She closed her eyes, proceeding what she had heard. She opened her eyes and smiled.
"You're right"