Okay, okay, I see what's happening here... You're face to face with greatness and it's strange... wait, nope! WRONG FANFICTION! Haha! So, I got to thinking, I'm going to finish this chapter strong and maybe write a blast from the past with Bella and her older brother, Zack! Whaddya think?

Let's do this!

~

It had been several weeks after the incident with Leviathan, Bella, Kirara, and the Chocobros were on a train heading towards the Cartanica. Bella was sitting by herself with Kirara laying on her lap as she stares outside watching the scenery go by. Letting out a sigh, Bella looks overseeing everyone talking amongst themselves, it was mostly a quiet ride.

Kirara looks down at Bella's side seeing a bright purple and red mark covering most of her side. During the fight, both ladies didn't notice it until it started becoming apparent around the sixth-week mark, the men had asked her if she was alright, but Bella brushes it off as if it was nothing. Smiling at them. Kirara nudges her companions' side gently and stares ahead of her.

"So..." Prompto started looking at everyone. "We're gonna roll through Tenebrae?"

Bella leans up and looks at the aisle seeing Prompto and Ignis looking at one another. "Not before visiting the Royal Tomb in Cartanica,"

Bella stands up walking up with Kirara behind her and she sits next to Ignis and looks at him. "You're sure you're up for that?"

"The wounds of mended," Ignis answers looking over to Bella as Kirara sits in his lap as he pets her softly. "Eyesight's a matter of time,"

Bella looks overseeing Gladio standing up and walk to where Noctis was sitting, Bella gets ready to intervene if needed and she could hear him growl under his breath. "The hell is wrong with you?"

Noctis slowly raises his head slowly staring at Gladio with a 'what' look on his face. "We're not stopping in Tenebrae," Gladio was sneering. "You need to grow up and get over it."

"Guys!" Bella warns standing up.

Noctis stands up and glares at Gladio, confronting him. "I am over it!" Lie. "I'm here, aren't I?" Bella takes a step, ready to grab Gladio.

Gladio grabs Noctis by the jacket and pulls him close, Bella growls in annoyance towards the men and takes one more step. "Maybe when you're not busy moping, you can look around and give a shit about someone worse off than you."

Ignis. Bella begins shaking a little bit, but – then she remembers some of the wounds that she got after facing Ardyn. "Let go of me!" Noctis demands Gladio, glaring at him snapping Bella out of her thoughts.

"How's the ring fit ya?" asks Gladio, then points at Bella who was standing there. "You'd rather have Bella carry it around than wear it?" The anger was still evident in his voice. Bella then remembers what Noctis had asked her to do...

"Could you... Could you hang on to the ring until I need it?"

"Luna gave her life so you could do your duty, not so you could sit around feeling sorry for yourself!" Gladio continues.

"You don't think I know that!?" shouts Noctis getting out his grip making Bella growl in annoyance as she rolls her eyes.

"You don't!" Gladio roars in anger as he points at both Ignis and Bella. "Ignis and Bella both took one for you, too! And for what!?"

"Enough Gladio!" Ignis warns him to make him stop.

Bella takes another step and snaps too. "Guys! Enough!"

"You think you're a king, but you're a coward."

Noctis shoves Gladio angrily. "Shut up!" And with that, he grabs Gladio by the jacket as well, Bella finally had enough and grabs Gladio's arm tightly.

"Stop this right now!" Bella snaps at them trying to pull him, but Gladio takes his arm and puts it on Bella's shoulder, and shoves her to the ground making her grunt. "Oof..."

Noctis shakes his head, still glaring at the giant before him. "I get it, alright!?" Noctis tells him as he shoves Gladio away and looks sadly at Bella who pushes herself up. "I get it!"

"Then get a grip!" shouts Gladio glaring back. "Pull your head outta your ass already!" And with that, Gladio walks off and Noctis walks in a different direction before Bella could open her mouth to say anything.

Groaning in pain, she pushes herself up again and dusts her skirt off looking at where Noctis went. "Are you alright, Bella?"

"Uh..." Bella snaps out of her thoughts and nod. "Yeah, I'm fine," She sits back down next to Prompto and pulls out the ring. "He, uh... He asked me to hold onto it..."

"It's alright, whenever he is ready, he will take it," Ignis told her as she nods looking at it.

Prompto nods as well. "Everyone seems so angry because of what happened."

"I know," Bella agrees with a curt nod. "I just want them to calm down, freaking out doesn't accomplish a lot." Sighing a little bit as she looks down at the ring gently. Putting the ring back in her pocket she looks up.

"So, about what happened in Altissia with that man," started Ignis as she freezes. "Who is he?"

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she squeezes her hands together tightly and takes a deep breath before answering. "A man I wish I could forget..." She begins and looks back down at her hands seeing them lightly shaking. "He's... He's the one to put that scar on my back when I was eight years old. My brother and I were heading back to Midgar from a mission when Genesis decided to attack me..."

"Your brother took you on his missions?"

"Sometimes he didn't have a choice," Bella shrugs. "I learned quite a bit when I was on those missions and they never did turn out worse, I never got hurt, it was just – one of those unlucky times I did. My brother felt awful after it happened that he didn't bring me on the last couple of missions." Bella sighs a little bit.

"Genesis? Is he like... You're old boyfriend or something?"

"Oh... Oh, Eos no..." Bella shakes her head viciously making a face. "So, back when my brother, Cloud, and I were kidnapped, they were infused with a thing called Sephiroth genes, instead of infusing the same thing with me, I had what you call "Genesis" genes but they modified it with the Sephiroth genes. I don't know why, but they did -I'm surprised I'm not dead-, I had a thing called MAKO poisoning after it was done but – it was a miracle I recovered the way I did."

She sighs a little bit once more and clenches her fists. "My... hair and eyes changed when it happened, no one recognized me afterward. Only Cloud and my brother did. And Genesis... He's what you call... The darkness that I carry... He won't stay in the back of my mind – in my memories... He – he always finds a way back..."

"I'm sure you did everything you could to keep him there," stated Ignis looking at her as she let out a shaky breath. "Right?"

"I... I really don't know what else I can try to keep him there," Bella whispers releasing her fists. "He always seems to find a way to me, he's... the one that brought me here..."

Prompto and Ignis were in shock as she sighs a little bit. "What?"

"He keeps telling me I'm meant for something here," Bella shakes her head. "Something more than Edge, and if I'm gonna be honest here – I feel like he's right. Sure, I've messed up and things happened, but isn't that the adventure?"

"That's right," Ignis agrees, slowly reaching out and touching her hand making her look up at him. "I believe you're meant for something as well; you've done well with us so far and for that, I thank you."

Bella smiles putting her other hand on his and pats it quickly while quietly thanking him. After their talk, the train stopped for a break, Bella and the Chocobros got off the train and Bella stretched with Kirara on her head. She turns and looks at Ignis.

"Ignis..."

"Yes, Bella, is there something I can help you with?"

Taking a deep breath, she walks up to him and touches his arm. "Would you like to ride Kirara when we get down there?"

Ignis smiles and shakes his head. "I'll be alright, I promise," Bella nods her head and walks beside him as they walk to the elevator and they all head down.

~

After getting down to the bottom, the chocobros went first while Kirara, in her sabertooth form, and Bella took up the rear. Both Kirara and Bella could feel the tension in the men in front of her making her sigh a little bit. Prompto was helping Ignis down the hill while Gladio was ahead of the two and Noctis was traveling a bit farther than everyone.

It worried Bella a little bit. Letting out a quiet sigh of annoyance, she keeps following them. She didn't know how to quite help them, but – she was sure they would figure it out on their own. As they continue down the hill, Bella noticed the water creeping up, and she cringes a little bit looking at Kirara who shakes her head stopping so Bella can get on her, she looks down as Kirara continues on while the water swishes around.

"So gross..." Bella whispers to herself as Kirara growls quietly. "I remember the last time we did this... I ended up in a deep hole and it took my brother and Angeal to save me..."

"I remember," whispers Kirara with a small snort. "Way before I learned I can grow big,"

Bella chuckles and nods as she looks up seeing everyone just walking and staying silent. As they walk out of the water, which took a while, Bella hops off Kirara as she feels a drop of water hit her head. Blinking, she looks up and feels more water hitting her face.

"Maybe we should hang back," Noctis suggests looking at everyone.

Ignis looks up and asks. "Was I in the way?"

"No," Noctis shakes his head. "You weren't... It's just..."

Bella shakes her head as she and Kirara walk ahead trying to leave them behind so they could get things done. She hated when people bickered, it's not her thing. Never was. The men watch her as she walks off and began following her. As it began to become night, Bella looks up at the sky while it continues to rain.

"Prompto, perhaps it's time for some light."

"Yeah..." Prompto nods turning on his light but then realizes what he's done and looks back at Ignis. "How did you...?"

Ignis chuckles. "The hour is late. That much I can tell."

"Oh, I see," Prompto began with a small smile. "That's... good."

This is so painful

Bella sighs grabbing Kirara's fur as they continue down the slope and see a vehicle ahead and Kirara stops looking around seeing if they can find a way in. The men quickly pull up and Gladio growls lowly.

"They parked here?"

Prompto scoffs, "Wish we could give them a ticket,"

"What good will that do?" Bella rolls her eyes, crossing her arms walking in the water to inspect it further, and sighs turning around to face the men shaking her head. "It's nothing but a giant roadblock," Bella shrugs.

"Ironic for a vehicle," Prompto agreed, glancing at everyone.

Ignis speaks up looking around; "If we get its motor running, perhaps we can move it out of the way," as the men nod while Bella crosses her arms.

"I'll stay here with Kirara to make sure it moves," Without another word, the men nod and walk off while Bella sighs leaning down on Kirara's wet fur. "These men..." Bella mutters angrily, "they're going to be the death of me!"

Kirara chuckles and watches them as they continue walking off. "I don't know why they're being like – children!" Bella continues leaning her head up putting her chin on Kirara's back. "Things went wrong, we get it! But good grief, get over it..." Bella stands up straight and began to pace. "Stupid men and they're damn pride."

"They sound a lot like Barrett," Kirara jokes making Bella chuckle a little bit. "When he met you and Cloud for the first time,"

"I remember..." Bella smiles as she stops pacing. "It took a while for Barrett to really accept us, and when he did, he was just like a teddy bear." Bella laughs a little bit as Kirara sits down. "Red XIII was the same way if I remember correctly."

"Kind of," Kirara chuckles looking up at the sky. "Within reason."

Bella sighs and sits on the dirty ground and shivers from the temperature going down as it was getting darker. Bella worried about the men and their bickering and wondered if everything was alright. Bella then heard something shift as she stands quick with Kirara in front of her growling, but then stops when they both see the machine moving. Bella and Kirara smile.

"They did it!"

Kirara growls happily and looks behind seeing the men walking towards them hearing Noctis speak; "Good to go?"

"We did it!" Prompto cheers jumping in the air. "Together!"

Bella begins trailing down the hill with Kirara beside her making sure she didn't fall. She didn't quite hear the talk that was going on behind her, she was more focused on the trail ahead of her. Bella slips once as she falls to the ground and she slides making her yelp. Kirara catches her shirt keeping her steady as Bella heaves in panic.

"Oh, my Eos..." Bella whispers putting a hand to her chest feeling how rapid her heart was beating. She looks at Kirara with a grateful look. "Thank you, Kirara," Kirara growls and lifts her up as Bella regains her composure.

"You alright, Bella?" Ignis asks as Bella turns and nods.

"I'm fine," Bella says as she continues walking with Kirara. "Oh... my... Eos... That stinks...!!" Bella grabs her nose in disgust.

Prompto grabs his nose too and makes a face. "Man, something stinks around here," Prompto looks at everyone while warning them. "Don't slip and fall in whatever that is."

Kirara growls leading down and they went into a cave that was covered in eggs, Bella's eyes widen, and gags in surprise. "So much for sticking together..." Bella says, touching the gooey substance and wipes her hands in the water. "What is this...?"

"Good question," Prompto agrees, looking at the eggs as well.

Gladio scoffs loudly. "I hate eggs..."

Prompto looks at everyone while Bella looks ahead wondering what it was. "Do we really wanna know what's back there?" He looks at the men who all shrug then back to Bella who was walking ahead of them with Kirara in tow. "You know, your curiosity is going to be the death of you, Bells."

"Eh," Bella shrugs. "Better than you pansies, I've seen worse." Bella continues a little more irritated than most. Kirara guides her in at the swamp in the bottom, outside the entrance of the Royal Tomb as they wait for everyone to get there. But before they showed up, something shifted behind them as Bella tenses up. "Oh... no..."

"That looks like a mouth. IS THAT ITS FACE?!" Kirara grabs Bella's shirt dragging her back making her gasp when the enemy attack Bella. Kirara tosses Bella in the water as she lands there while Kirara shoots fire at the little monsters heading their way. Bella shakes her head from the swamp water drenching her skin now as she stands up seeing Kirara shooting fire at the monsters.

Glancing around her surroundings, she saw everyone fighting the giant monster. Taking a deep breath, she puts her hand out summoning some fire herself, and quickly shoots it at some of the monsters herself. The tension from the men grew thick as they try to help Ignis while making sure he doesn't get hurt.

After finishing them off, Bella walks to the guys with Kirara following her. Noctis looks at everyone then walks to the tomb, destroying the eggs seeing the tomb within it. Walking up to it, he obtains the weapon.

"Great!" Gladio cheers gruffly then turns. "Let's haul ass,"

Noctis nods. "Yes, let's."

As they began walking, Ignis stopped moving, as did Bella and Kirara. "A moment?"

"Is everything okay?" questions Gladio raising a brow making Bella huff in annoyance.

Ignis sighs loudly. "It bloody well isn't," Ignis states in anger, "And I won't suffer in silence any longer." Bella nods, crossing her arms. "Let's be frank, my vision hasn't improved and probably won't," Ignis sighs a little bit. "Yet, in spite of this... I would remain with you all til the very end."

"You're all acting like brats," Bella adds keeping her arms crossed. "We all need to be on the same team if we're going to win and at this point, we will lose if this continues." Kirara looks at their faces seeing them soften a bit. "I'm tired of it, honestly. I'm not gonna stay if you continue acting like children. Kiss and make up, whenever that will be. I'll meet you all at the train." Bella shakes her head, getting on Kirara as she takes flight to the train.

~

Sitting on the bench near the train, Bella sits there with Kirara in her lap resting. Sighing quietly, she began thinking if she was too harsh on them, she hated being the mediator. Always has. Sighing a little bit, she hangs her head down a little bit.

Feeling someone sitting next to her, she turns and jumps seeing her friend there.

"What's on your mind?"

Bella looks around seeing that no one else can see her friend. Bella turns back to her friend and begins tearing up. "H-how are you here?"

"I have my ways," Her friend chuckles. "Now tell me, Bells, what's weighing you down?"

"I... I miss you... I miss everyone at home; but at the same time, I don't wanna go home..." She hangs her head in shame. "I wanna stay here with my friends that I've made... With the person, I care for so deeply that it hurts..." Bella looks up slowly. "What do I do?"

"Do what makes you happy," The friend replies, touching her hand gently. "After all, that's what Zack and I taught you, even Cloud. Isn't that right?" Bella nods at her question making the friend bring up her hand and bring it to her face. "Dilly-dally, shilly-shally, remember?"

Bella smiles and nods looking at her friend. "Yeah, I remember." Bella takes her hand back and brings it down to Kirara.

"Remember – you're your own person, no one can tell you how to feel and if you want to stay here, Bells, then no one can stop you. Only you can,"

"What about Cloud-Cloud, though..." Bella sighs a little bit. "He told me... he was going to be my new big brother... And now, he won't even get the chance..."

Her friend chuckles again. "He will, just – whenever you think about him, he'll visit you, and you can tell him everything. He'll always be there. And you know..." Bella looks up as her face turns red. "That Noctis boy is pretty cute and it looks like he will make you happy. Don't give up on him, he needs you more than ever. Everything will be alright,"

"Okay..." Bella says with a small smile. "Yeah, he's really handsome, I just wish I knew his feelings towards me..."

"He loves you even if he doesn't show it, give him time." Bella nods as her friend stands up and touches her head gently. "I believe in you, Bells, you got this! Don't doubt yourself now, alright?"

"Thank you..."

Her friend smiles and begins walking off as Bella sits there watching them disappear into the distance, smiling softly she feels a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she sees Noctis standing there rubbing the back of his head.

"You... ready to go?"

Bella nods as she stands up holding Kirara adjusting her in her arms. "Listen about..."

"Don't apologize," Noctis stops her. "We were acting like children; I suppose we're still hurt about what happened. And we didn't know how to process anything, so we took our anger out on each other." Bella releases her breath as he looks at her gently grabbing her shoulders looking into her bright eyes. "Thank you for being honest..."

"... You're welcome..." Bella whispers as he lets her go as they begin to board the train after the others. Finding a seat behind Prompto, she sits there laying Kirara next to the window while she sits there looking down at her hands. "Dilly-dally, shilly-shally." Bella looks out as the train horn blows indicating it was leaving. Bella's eyes widen as she sees the two important people standing there watching her and waving.

"We love you..." She saw their lips move as they continue waving as she stands up watching them become smaller and smaller.

"I love you, too, Big brother... Aerith..."