*Chapter 3: On Our Own*
After 10 years have passed, things have changed for the silver haired siblings. Sonia was no longer in Shinra when she received the mysterious illness, and Sephiroth had to look after Cyrus when they were young. Sephiroth remembered receiving that letter that was written by Sonia herself before she died. He couldn't believe she died. Sonia wanted him to promise to take good care of Cyrus, and never leave her alone with Hojo. Growing up together had been a little rough, Sephiroth had his hands full on missions and look after his sister. As soon as Cyrus turned 10, Sephiroth had to teach her how to defend herself and take care of herself whenever he was out of the building for missions. It wasn't easy for Cyrus to endure the pain, but at least Sephiroth had some patience with her unlike Hojo who loves to see somebody in pain.
Cyrus had been learning how to fight well with her martial arts and control her Phoenix powers with the help of both Sephiroth and Tseng. For years Cyrus had been treated differently by either the Turks, SOLDIERs, or regular employees in the building. Some are afraid of her; others think she is unique. Cyrus hates being trapped in the Shinra Building and she is a bit jealous that her brother gets to go out into the world and not her. She had been told that she is not ready.
"They will be afraid of you. You're a monster. If you expose your powers, they will run in fear. And we cannot have witnesses..." Hojo once said to her when she was in training. Cyrus thought the rule of a witness seeing her Phoenix powers will be disposed is unfair and cruel. She started to think that Shinra are nothing but vultures. There are good people out there in the world. But Cyrus wouldn't know for sure if she goes down to Midgar herself. She wanted to know if Hojo is telling the truth about the outsiders of Shinra. Sometimes Hojo lies. Both Sephiroth and Cyrus know that.
Cyrus is sitting by the window of the 49th Floor, looking at the view of Midgar with its lights on. But she is not alone. Zack is doing his squats, waiting for his training with Angeal to begin. She and Zack are good friends since he first joined SOLDIER, and he is only in Second Class. His dream is to be a hero.
"So, Cy. What is your dream?" Zack asked after he finished his squats.
"You might judge if I tell you." Cyrus replied. "It wouldn't come true anyhow."
"Aw, come on. I've told you mine." Zack said as he walked over. "Everybody has dreams. You must have one. Or maybe more. And I promise I won't laugh or judge you." Cyrus placed her hand on the window.
"...Freedom." Cyrus finally said.
"Oh." Zack blinked at her. "I see."
"Zack, do you see me as a caged bird? I've never been out into the world since I was little. I almost forgot what it was like. I asked Sephiroth if the world is really dangerous for me, or the people out there couldn't be trusted. I won't expose my powers to them. I've been very careful." Cyrus said, looking at her hands.
"People are different. It depends on what you see in them." Zack told her. "Wish I could help you out, but you know I've been told about you and everything. If I take you out, there's big trouble."
"I never want to put someone's life at risk. But if I ever do go out there, I have to keep my profile a secret. No one knows about me, right?" Cyrus asked.
"The less they know, the better." A voice spoke, making them flinch. Zack and Cyrus turned to see Angeal approaching them. "Zack, to the Training Room."
"Uh, yeah." Zack turned to Cyrus. "See you around."
"I'll be there in a bit, Zack." Angeal said. His puppy nodded and hurried to the Training Room. Angeal turned his attention to Cyrus. "Still thinking about seeing the world? Look, maybe there is a chance. If you are truly ready, you will go out there to join us on missions. I did see your results on your skills. When you trained with Zack, I was a bit worried, but you held back. That puppy needs to keep his guard up."
"Glad you see that I can keep my control." Cyrus said, forming a small smile.
"We'll talk again soon." Angeal said as he turned away. Cyrus sighed a little and turned back to the window. Maybe one day, she will see Midgar herself.
Figures are sneaking around the shadows in the city, returning to their base trying not to be spotted by the Shinra troopers who patrol the streets. They lifted the sewer lid and went below the steps as one closed the lid. The figures hurried to the tunnels to get to the hidden base. One reached to the door and knocked. A sliding peephole reveals a pair of brown eyes.
"Password." A male voice spoke.
"Long Live AVALANCHE. Down with Shinra." A female voice replied. The slider peephole shuts, and the door opens. Two figures walked in the base. They removed their hoods. One male has black hair, brown eyes, and dark skin. The female has blonde hair, blue eyes, and have a scar on her cheek. There are some posters being made by the members on some tables. The two walked down to get to their leader, Elfe, who is sharpening her weapon. She looked up at them.
"Quinn. Dakota. Any reports?"
"None, Elfe." The young man, Quinn, spoke.
"Have you been followed?"
"No ma'am." Dakota replied. "The Turks or any Shinra troops haven't seen us."
"Good. You two have been improving." Elfe said. "Now, I must speak with you two. Follow me." She stood up and walked down the corridor. "I have heard a few rumors about someone who lives in the Shinra Building. Not sure if they are true, but I must know." She said as she walked in the room with a computer. She started to type on the keyboard.
"Who is it?" Dakota asked.
"There's this girl. Silver hair. With the powers of a Phoenix." Elfe said.
"How is that possible?" Dakota wondered. "What human could receive the flames of a firebird? Are you sure you heard people say such a thing?"
"As I said to you before, I hear rumors. It was years ago, but if that were true, she could be in the Shinra Building. No one has seen her outside of it." Elfe said.
"But...how did you know about her appearance and powers then?" Quinn asked, crossing his arms.
"From those who heard from the Turks or Professor Hojo."
"So...what are you suggesting?" Quinn asked.
"If it's possible, you could find out more rumors about this girl. I need to know how she got the power of a Phoenix. And more info of Shinra's plans. They are damaging this planet! They bleed it dry!" Elfe said. "And be careful with the Turks and SOLDIERs, even the one with the Masamune. Sephiroth."
Cyrus is walking down the hallway to return to her room until she saw her big brother across the hall. Sephiroth has grown tall, and his hair is very long. Cyrus still feels short and vulnerable around him. Her eyes went up to him.
"Hey."
"I've seen your results in training down in the lab. You've grown stronger." Sephiroth spoke.
"Thank you." Cyrus said. The specimens of Hojo were the ones she had to kill to test her powers and most of them are easy to defeat since half of them are weak against fire. Thank Gaia she is kept in the fireproof room for training since mako is sensitive to fire. "I'm guessing you are off somewhere?" Cyrus asked.
"Not tonight. But there are a couple of monsters that need to be dealt with by morning." Sephiroth told her.
"I still can't come with you?" Cyrus asked. "It'd be quicker if I finish them off." Sephiroth stared at her and shook his head. Cyrus sighed a bit.
"You are not ready-"
"I feel like I am! You just said I am getting stronger and-"
"Yet you are not wise to be outside of the building. You still have much to learn, little sister." Sephiroth brought Cyrus's chin up to make her look at him. "If anyone sees you with your Phoenix fire, they will meet death. You understand that don't you?" Cyrus frowned a little but nodded. Sephiroth released her. "But I'm not dangerous. I've been careful around people in this building. I can do the same outside."
"People cannot be trusted, Cyrus. They will spread the word about you, and they will fear you. This world is full of fear, hatred, and sadness. Most of all...monsters." Sephiroth told her.
"Like Hojo?" Cyrus challenged. Sephiroth would admit that his sister is right, but he can't say it out loud. Hojo is a monster to them. If only Cyrus would know more, but it's too risky to tell her. Cyrus crossed her arms as she looked down at the floor. "But I understand, brother. My time will come. Freedom comes at a price."
"Shinra is the only place for us. You have only me to take care of you." Sephiroth said before walking away. "Have a good evening."
"Good night." Cyrus watched her older brother disappear down the hallway and she went to her room. She closed the door behind her and walked over to the desk where the Moogle toy sat. Next to it is a Mr. Mew doll. She smiled a little, remembering Sephiroth got her that from a different town for her birthday a few years back. It's the thought that counts. Cyrus then picked a little music box and started to wind it, and it played a melody. It is called, "Prelude". Cyrus doesn't know what it means, but the music is calming to her. She removed her boots and socks, and she climbed on the bed. Her eyes went up to the ceiling as the music box continued to play. Cyrus let out a sigh and closed her eyes to rest. She didn't even bother to change into her pajamas.
The city is in flames. Everyone was screaming, trying to escape. Burnt bodies were everywhere. Even the Shinra troopers were killed. Stepping out of the flames is Cyrus. Fire is in her hands; she is forming a smirk. Her eyes are gold, and she threw fire at the innocent citizen. But the flames are purple and black, not yellow and red. A dark shadow forms behind her. A Dark Phoenix. It let out a cry.
Her eyes open wide as she sat up. She is panting, holding her chest. Her heart was pounding. That dream. No, that nightmare. The Dark Phoenix was there again. What did it mean? Cyrus shuts her eyes, taking a deep breath, and letting it out.
"A dream. Just a dream." She said to herself quietly. Cyrus rests her head back on the pillow and closed her eyes once more.