Summer Days *45*

"The antidote?!" You exclaimed as everyone stood staring at the clear light blue liquid.

"Yeah Lauren here spent the entire time she was here working on 'em and all she has to show for it is four lousy vials." Big C complained.

"They take some time to make sure but think of it this way, these are basically four people's lives restored!" Lauren shot back at him smiling.

"How did you make them?" Tifa asked curiously.

"You'd never guess", She winked playfully and stood cradling the vials carefully, "Heartless venom."

"Wait a minute did you just say-", Ven began.

"Heartless Venom??" Cloud finished.

"Yeah, that's why Tifa wasn't affected because she still had the traces of venom in her blood system." Lauren smiled at Tifa.

"Why is it such a nice color?" Ven asked, everyone stared at him.

"What type of question is that?" Cloud shook his head.

"What? I was always taught that Heartless venom was super black, and you wouldn't believe how much I'd love to go tell Vexen he was dead wrong." Ven explained.

Lauren giggled, "Well Ven I'm sorry to say Vexen isn't wrong. Heartless venom is black but this venom has been cleansed of all the impurities to it's purest form, a clear color."

"But it's blue." You pointed out.

She nodded, "I added an extra chemical that induces memories because I read a study that Heartless venom may effect the part of your brain that stores memories but I guess it was a waste of time considering Tifa seems fine."

Big C shook his head smiling adoringly at Lauren, "Better safe then sorry."

She smiled at him.

Myra glanced between everyone, "I'm really confused."

"It's a loooong story so don't even worry about it." Big C told her.

"Well can't we talk inside? Big C might be comfortable but my fingers are about to fall off." Ven shivered.

"Sure let me just-", Lauren turned to rebury the vials when the sound of a portal opening made everyone freeze and whip around.

They caught sight of the black portal opening and four tall figures walk out.

'Oh no...', you thought.

There stood not only Sephiroth in all his evil glory but also Leon, Cid, and Auron.

"Well well Lauren Bea. I see you have adapted quite well to this strange world." Sephiroth smiled at her.

Big C slide over so his bulky body covered her completely.

"And who do you think you are?" Sephiroth asked him.

"Your worst nightmare." Big C growled.

Sephiroth chuckled and with a flick of his wrist Leon, Auron, and Cid pulled out their weapons and got ready. The yellow ring around their pupils shone brightly compared to the dull lifeless color their once bright eyes were.

"We can't fight them." Cloud whispered.

"They're our friends Lauren." Tifa added to his statement sadly.

"I meant we can't fight them because we have absolutely no weapons and they're packing." Cloud replied.

Tifa briefly shot him a dirty look but returned her attention to her controlled friends.

"What is that you have there Lauren?" Sephiroth asked her menacingly.

She didn't reply but held on tighter to the vials.

"It looks important", He smirked then turned to Leon and them, "I want the vials, [Name], and Lauren. Now."

Leon, Cid and Auron charged. Auron jumped towards Lauren but Big C picked her up and moved her out of the way. A spark lit in his hands lighting all the way up to his elbow in a bright blue blaze.

He threw flames at Auron, which Auron easily avoided.

Leon and Cid charged towards you.

Tifa fought with Cid but she tried her best to mainly stay on defense only blocking his kicks and punches then dodging Cid's spear.

Cloud stood tall in front of you, Ven, and Myra.

Leon held tightly to his gunblade, no emotion sketched on his face whatsoever.

"Get them away Ventus." Cloud whispered.

Ven nodded and took you and Myra towards where Lauren was. Leon aimed and fired, Cloud actually managed to jump and roll out of the way. He then pounced up and charged at Leon.

Leon at last moment was able to pull the trigger firing at Cloud.

Cloud tried to pull away but the bullet caught him in the left shoulder, he fell to the ground and clutched his shoulder clenching his teeth to avoid yelling out. Blood seeped through his jacket and his fingers as it stained the snow red.

"Cloud!" Tifa yelled distracted.

Cid swung his spear as Tifa turned to check on Cloud, the spear hit her on the side of her face throwing her into the snow unconscious.

"Don't kill them. I don't know what Xemnas has planned for them." Sephiroth commanded them.

Cid lifted Tifa from the ground and threw her by Sephiroth's feet.

Leon grabbed Cloud by the collar and lifted him straight off the ground with no trouble at all.

As soon as Cloud was eye level though he threw his head forward making contact with Leon's head. He stumbled back releasing Cloud.

All this time Big C had been fighting off Auron. Big C had a long slash across his abdomen and across his shoulder where Auron had gotten him, luckily neither was very deep.

Auron was also injured, there was a large black scorch mark on his stomach where Big C had thrown a large fireball at him. Not only that but his clothes and some skin were burned just from the heat coming off Big C's arms.

Leon re-pulled out his gunblade but resorted to just slashing at Cloud rather then shooting. Unfortunately Cloud couldn't do much more then just barely jump out of the way because of his shoulder.

Cid turned and walked straight towards you, Myra, Lauren, and Ven.

Ven straightened himself and covered all of you.

"They need their weapons." You said mainly to yourself.

Lauren's eyes widened, "Of course!"

She handed you the vials quickly and stood up with Myra.

"Protect these [Name]. We'll be back." And with that Lauren and Myra traveled away.

Cid swung at Ven who dodged it easily.

"Come on old man is that all you got?" Ven mocked.

Cid swung again but this time it was within an inch of hitting Ven across the forehead.