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Chapter Four: The Transformation

"Vincent?... Vincent!" I yelled, "Wake up! It's already noon!"
Despite the yelling, all he did was move his arm on his chest. I was sitting next to him trying to wake him up in the forest still.
"He's not budging, is he?" Zuko guessed.
"Yeah," I said, "We should at least get some food. You and Ashly should go."
"Why not you?"
"I have to talk to Vincent. Besides, Ashly should know the plants and animals cause she's a gypsy"
"Really? I didn't know that."
"Yup! I'm a gypsy!" Ashly announced.
"Vincent's asleep," I whispered, "Whisper!"
"Weren't you just trying to wake him up?" She whispered.
"Yes," I replied," Just get food."
"Okay."
"Fine," Zuko said, and they left. I pondered on how to wake Vincent. I grabbed the guitar and started to play a calm, soothing sound [coffee house, from the AT&T commercial]. I sat next to the slepping body, watched him, and the notes I was playing. Little by little, he woke up. As soon as I noticed his eyes open, I stopped playing. He turned his head and looked at me.
"Finally. You're awake!" I said as quietly as possible.
"What is it?" He asked rubbing his eyes a bit.
"What? No good afternoon?" I said smiling behind my scarf.
"Fine, good afternoon. We have to leave soon I'm guessing."
"Yup."
"It's gonna rain. Probably when we get to Edge."
"We have no choice, but to continue on."
"Really?"
"Well, according to Reeve, we have to."
"Hmph! I thought you were gonnna say to wait."
"Why? You don't wanna go?"
"No, I seriously wanna go. Battles in the rain are better than any other type of battle."
"Heh," he grinned,"What like of.girl are you?"
"I told you before. I'm the type who loves brawls and is ready to risk anything," I replied smiling.
"Where's Zuko and that girl, Ashly was it?" he said changing the subject.
"Yeah. They went to get food since we didn't pack."
"Hmm, good," Vincent mumbled.

After 30 minutes, Ashly and Zuko appeared. They found a large amount of herbs, apples, and fish. I said,"That's a good catch. Good job!"
"Thanks,"They both said. Everyone helped prepare the food. Ashly and Vincent fixed the herbs, while Zuko and I cooked the fish. We ate the fish and herbs, saving the apples for the trip. Once we were done, Ashly said, "Sorry guys, but I have to go now."
"Okay," Vincent said.
"See ya," Zuko said.
"Bye," I said," Oh. You have a cell?"
"Yup. Wanna have my phone number?"
"Sure," we switched phones, dialed our numbers, then returned it,"I'll call you when we need help."
"Okay. I'm looking foward to seeing you again. Peace!" and she disappeared into the forest.
After her departure, we finished our meals and left.

We were finally in Edge, silent and very ominous. Zuko and I were hiding and scouting for enemies on the roofs of the gloomy buildings. Vincent told us to protect him while he checks the ground. We saw a girl in a white lab coat and orange hair. When she was heading towards Vincent, we instantly jumped down to protect him. The woman pulled out a gun, and then Vincent turned around with his gun out. Both guns were pointed at each other's head. Zuko got ready to firebend her, while I got a knife out. There was a short pause until Vincent said,"You're WRO?"
"Who's asking?" She asked.
"Vincent Valentine. Reeve sent us," he replied putting his gun back.
Zuko lowered his arms while I lowered my knife but I left it in my hand. She put her gun away and said, "My apologies. Shalua Pui of the WRO. The commissioner has told me much about you."
"What happened here?" Vincent asked. I needed to know this as well. Ever since we got here we never saw another WRO member and any civilians. Zuko got bored and went back to the rooftop and continued to scout.
"That's what I'd like to know,"Shalua said,"I'm here on other business, but something's not right. It's too quiet. I've seen no trace of Deepground, or the squads that were sent in to fight them. Also, where are the 500 people who are supposed to still be living here? Well, this is getting us nowhere. Like I said, I have business to attend to. I'll see you around."
"Business?" I asked.
"The comissioner keeps telling me I'm wasting my time searching,"Shalua said.
"Searching for what?" Vincent asked.
"For my reason to live," she said and left.
Well, I'm confused a bit,"I said expressing my emotions.
"Why's that?" Vincent asked.
"What Shalua said. Deepground, WRO soldiers and the citizens, all gone. I wonder where they are?"
"That's why we're here. And you're a nosy asian."
"Hey! You added on!" I couldn't help but start arguing.Sparks were flying but they were coming mostly from me.
"Just go back to the rooftops."
Nah. I'll be okay. Besides, I'm better at close combat, and I'm pretty quick on my feet too."
"Fine stay behind me. bu Zuko has to stay up there for back up."
"Okay," I called him and told him the plan.

We stopped after we encountered an eletromagnetic gate. We searched for the key but instead I heard a moaning. I ran towards the sound while Vincent and Zuko.followed. We found a severly wounded WRO soldier. He said,"Ambushed... by... soldier... in red... Squad... wiped out...Warehouse... on the... edge of town... They... were gathering... civilians."
Vincent checked if he was still alive, he wasn't. Zuko came down and asked where we're going to now.
"The warehouse," I said. While I explained to Zuko, Vincent found the cardkey in the body's shirt pocket.

We went back to the gate, unlocked it, and continued to the warehouse. We stopped when we entered a circular plaza with a stucture in the center. I heard guns reloading from a far distance, snipers. Vincent somehow sensed it, and aimed towards a sniper. I couldn't do naything with this range, but I found 2 snipers on the ground. I dodged their bullets, grabbed my knife and threw it into one of their necks. When I reached them, I grabbed the knife, twisted it out of the neck, and sliced the other sniper's body. I looked up and saw fire attacking the snipers above. I turned around to revendous with Vincent, but something bothered me. A little boy crossed my view, and was running away from something. I figured it was the Deepground troops he was running from and since he's the only civilian we found at all, I followed him. I followed the boy into a building, but when I entered I couldn't find them. I searched the whole room, but I couldn't find him. But just when I was about to leave, the boy runs outside and get chased by 3 DeepGround troops.
"Ugh, are you for real?" I asked myself. I continued to pursue the child. Before I could attack the soldiers, Vincent already shot them with his handgun. Zuko came down and checked the boy. Vincent told us forehand that he'll take care of the situation, and not to talk. The boy said,"Uhh... Thanks. The warehouse, I know how to get there. It's through that gate."
He pointed at the gate which required a cardkey.
"You have the cardkey?" He asked. Vincent barely shakes his head signifying "No". He ran away for a second, called us over and said,"I know someone who does. Follow me."

We protected the boy, and found the keeper of the cardkey. We got it back for the gate with the boy still with us. He said,"There, that should get you through."
"Right. Thanks, kid," Vincent said, and we decided to leave. Before we moved, the boy started started clenching his fist, and said,"Avenge."
We immediately paid attention. He continued,"I couldn't... Mom and dad... right in front of me, but I couldn't move. Please! Please avenge my parent's death!"
Vincent walked up to the boy, and crouched down. Zuko and I stood behind Vincent and promised, "We will."

We continued onward into the enterance of the warehouse. Zuko and I decided to fight with Vincent, so we slowly went into the warehouse aware of any attacks. Out of nowhere, a heavy-armored jumped and landed a couple of yards away from us. He began to pose in front of our faces. Zuko tapped my shoulder and whispered,"What a poser! We can beat that kid!"
"I know right! I bet-"
"Hey," Zuko interupted," Look!."
While we were silently taunting him he called out some soldiers. Vincent looked around the building and said,"You're alright."
After he said this, the troops yelled "Hail Weiss!!"
There were troops on a 2nd story walkway on both side of us, and 2 more next to the heavy soldier. Vincent shot the 2 troops with the heavy-armored soldiers, while Zuko threw fire at the left side of the side of the building, and I jumped to the right side. I grabbed 2 knives, threw them and landed into 2 soldiers. I ran to them grabbing the knives, jumped off them, and threw the knives at another pair of soldiers. Still trying to injure me, I dodged the bullets as quickly as possible, reached them and kicked them as hard as possible. Once I was done, I checked for Vincent and Zuko. Zuko was done fighting on the left side, while Vincent was nowhere to be found. I regrouped with Zuko asking," Did you see where Vincent went?"
"Huh?" he looked around," Nope. I thought he was still here."
"Rooftops?"
"Highly doubt it, but let's scout there."

We found him talking to a girl named Rosso the Crimson, as we were told prior to this. She wore mostly red and had a weapon on her back. The stench of blood could be smelled from the rooftops although it's still raining. Rosso creeped behind Vincent and attacked him. She contined using melee attacks, until she passed. She revealed a hidden gun and began to shoot. Vincent continued to dodge, but somehow she punched him to a distant wall. There was a huge crater surrounding Vincent.
"Aww, that's gotta hurt!!" Zuko silently screamed.
"We gotta help him," I guessed.
"Uh, I dont think so. Something's happening there."
I looked and a red and black cloud surrounded Vincent. The cloud shortly dissappeared and a figure came out. It had wings, a gun, red and black clothes and a glowing materia close to his heart.
"Is that...?" Zuko said in awe.
"Mhm, Its Vincent. It makes sense," I clarified. We were both shocked. Just then, a giant spherial red barrier of energy covered Vincent. Rosso was sent flying due to the power while we hid. Once it was done, we quickly jumped down and checked up on Vincent. Vincent transformed back and began to lose consciousness. Zuko ran and caught him before he fell while I helped him up. He turned his head and said,"Zuko... Janelle."
He lost consciousness then without any notice, Shalua showed up and offered us a ride to WRO headquarters. We accepted and followed her to the truck while I was carrying Vincent.
"You know, I should carry him," Zuko said.
"It's alright. I need the muscle anyways," I replied. We got into the truck and we kept him with us just in case. Still unconscious, he said,"Lucrecia..."

I fell asleep, it was 3 in the morning.
"Well, hello there. What's your name?" a man asked.
"Hi! I'm Janelle," my younger self said. I was 10 years years old, when this happened.
"Janelle, hm?" he walked around a bit," What are your favorite animals?"
"Wolves and ravens! They're cool!"
"Really?" he laughed. I should've ran away. Instead, I stayed and turned into what I am now.