Summer Days *46*

Sephiroth rose onto his knees wheezing trying to take in as much air as he could. There wasn't a scratch on him. He saw you and a smile surfaced to his lips, he staggered onto his feet and walked towards you slowly.

Cid was now fighting alongside Auron against Cloud who was struggling even more so. He knelt to one knee and got to your level, you still struggled to catch your breath.

"You can't win [Name]. Quit trying. It's hopeless." He said darkly.

"..H-How..?" You managed to say.

He pulled back his sleeve to reveal a sleek shiny black metal bracelet. He slid his finger across it leaving a trail of white light where he touched the bracelet. When his finger had completely circled the bracelet it began to glow blue.

Your eyes widened as you could now see what looked like a thin bubble that took his shape and covered every inch of his body. After the bracelet's blue glow had completely dimmed, the bubble around himself shimmered and disappeared.

"Think of it as a force field of sorts. The very best from USPC technology." He grinned, "You would never guess where I found it. Of all places, it was in Ms. Bea's classroom."

Your breath had finally returned and calmed, you threw your fist at him but he simply caught it and pushed your hand away. He then took his other hand and grabbed a fistful of your hair pulling it roughly. You yelled out in pain.

"Now listen here. I tried to help you to the best of my ability. I did no harm towards you other then needed, but then you went and made a fool of me in front on Xemnas." He growled at you.

You clawed at his hands madly trying to free your hair or at least lessen the pain.

He roughly threw you into the snow on your back, releasing your hair at the same time.

Sephiroth stood tall and went to grab you again when a blue flame hit him in the side sending him into a pile of snow screaming in agony. You turned to see Big C sitting up hunched over and breathing in deep breaths of the icy air. His right arm was smoldering, showing signs of the fire that had just recently gone away.

"Bet you wish you had my shield on now don't you?" Big C spat at Sephiroth who now lay motionless in the pile of snow. Smoke rose from him. Big C losing all the strength and adrenaline he had to throw the fire ball, fell back into the snow. You stood slowly and took in your surroundings again noticing one thing in particular.

Where was Lauren?

"Ah!" Cloud yelled as he was forced to his knees by Cid and Auron.

Auron held his blade to Cloud's throat.

"Don't do it."

Hearing Leon's voice changed everything. Leon stood tall and straight, his gunblade was pointed at Auron and his eyes were back to normal with no sight of the sickly yellow ring.

"Leon!" You yelled.

His eyes went to you, Cid took this chance and swung his spear towards Leon. Luckily Leon was able to duck under it at last minute.

Leon maneuvered around Cid, during all the attacks Cid threw at him, and knocked Cid out with a blow to the back of the head.

While all of that went on Cloud got back onto his feet and held off Auron to the best of his ability.

After Cid was laying in the snow unconscious Leon began to fight Auron.

The fight didn't last long and soon Auron fell to the ground defeated.

"Ms. Bea." Leon called out looking over his shoulder.

She rushed over from by where Myra and what used to be Millie and injected the antidote first in Cid then Auron. Leon helped Cloud to his feet then walked over to you.

He set his hand on your shoulder and got to your eye level.

"Are you hurt?" He asked checking your body of any signs of injury.

You shook your head and hugged Leon tightly.

"I can't believe your back." You breathed. He returned the hug after a moment then released you.

"I should get Ven and Tifa inside." He told you.

You nodded in agreement.

Lauren cautiously went towards Sephiroth and took the bracelet he was wearing off then raced back over to Big C. Cloud, with much help from Leon, got Tifa, Cid, and Auron inside. Myra and you gently got Ven and was about to try and carry him inside when Cloud raced out to you.

Without a word he bent over and picked up Ven.

"Cloud your shoulder-", You began but he cut you off.

"I got him. Help Lauren."

Cloud took Ven inside. Myra and you walked towards Big C so you could try and get him inside. Emphasis on the word try.

Myra was still silent and looked a bit lost, she'd occasionally sneak a peek at Millie but quickly turn away with a shudder.

Lauren held the bracelet between her teeth so she could use both hands. After a long struggle you were able to get Big C inside.

"What about Millie?" Myra asked quietly.

Lauren frowned and slipped the bracelet onto her hand, "We can't help her until Big C wakes up."

Tifa was unconscious on the couch, Ven had finally woken up and now sat near the fireplace. His leg was what was bleeding so profusely but Lauren took a towel and wrapped it around it to keep it from bleeding so much. Leon was trying to wrap Cloud's arm with a ripped cloth to cover the wound and Cid and Auron were laying across the room unconscious. What seemed like forever passed and Big C was finally coming to.

"Cody." Lauren cried.

He groaned, "Aw geez, my everything hurts."

Everyone chuckled.

"Cody can you fix Millie??" Lauren asked.

Big C stared at her confused at first but realization hit him and he nodded, "Right, she goes by a different name here. Bring her in, but don't move her too much."

Cloud and Leon rose to go get her. Lauren handed Big C the bracelet, he smiled holding back cries of pain and slipped it onto his wrist. They set Millie's body close to Big C.

He grunted and pulled up the back of Millie's shirt, it looked as if he was massaging her back.

All of a sudden Millie's body stiffened and began to melt away until it was just a puddle of water.

What was laying in the puddle was the real shocker. A woman about Lauren's age maybe a little more took in deep breaths and coughed out some water. She had short cropped blonde hair that hugged her neck due to it's dampness. Her skin was pale and she wore a tight black spandex shirt that cut off mid neck and about mid way down her arm. She wore a pair of spandex shorts that were black as well and no shoes. Everyone stared speechless at her, she sat up still taking deep breaths and opened her dark brown eyes at us.

"Meet Melanie Sanders. Titan #809 in the Recognition sector." Big C introduced.

She nodded at everyone, "Hi."