A/N: Okay, this is the third draft of chapter one. I like the idea I have for the plot, but I wasn't happy with how my writing was. I hope this is better :)

How had so much changed?

Had it been that long since Zack had defeated him in Banora? How could the whole planet have changed so much in only a few years? Midgar was gone. That didn't sadden him. The floating city had been demeaning. It reminded those below of who were on top, and reminded those on top of how far ShinRa could make them fall. He had never been a fan of the over-populated and poluted city. He had been a country boy, just like so many others who had strived to join the ranks of SOLDIER.

Despite that, Midgar had become his home with the rank of SOLDIER. Anywhere had been better than the limited future Banora offered. He guessed that had been the reason behind his and Angeal's decisions to enter SOLDIER. A cold weight sank from the middle of his chest, straight down to the pit of his stomach as he stared at his friend's buster sword. It didn't belong here; over-looking the ruins of Midgar, marking where a fellow SOLDIER had fallen.

Zack was dead. Sephiroth had told him that, but he had still insisted on coming here to see for himself. He and Zack had never seen eye to eye. His personal decision to go against ShinRa had not helped that matter. Neither had his use of Angeal as a mere pawn. But Zack had been a hard person to not like; young, aspiring, a little naive at times, but determined. Genesis shook his head and sighed before running a gloved hand over the scratches and rust patches on the buster sword. He spoke quietly as he stood back up from where he had been crouched before the blade; a small smiled on his lips as he recalled Angeal's logic in not using the blade:

"Use brings about wear, tear and rust. And that's a real waste..."

"I informed you of what happened here. Why did you insist on coming?"

Genesis shrugged, his eyes still lingered on the blade as he ignored Sephiroth's question. It had been a big deal for Angeal to pass the blade on to Zack, he didn't know what had happened after that. Zack had fallen and been killed, that much was obvious. He had been on the run from ShinRa when they'd met in Banora. It looked like ShinRa had caught up with the SOLDIER.

Genesis tore his eyes away from the buster sword and looked out over the bluff towards the ruins of Midgar. He was having a hard time swallowing this reality. He found it hard to believe that all this happened while he'd remained sealed away in his cavern. He had agreed with the Goddess that he could not return until the planet was in genuine need of help. But why hadn't Meteor stirred him? Or the Geostigma epidemic? Or even Deepground? Why remain in slumber during all of those near-catastrophies, and be awoken now, when the only trouble seemed to be Sephiroth's three twits? Genesis looked back down at his friend's marred blade, a few partially wilted flowers skimmed across the ground as a breeze caught them. Nothing grew on the barren outcrop; someone had left them here. Had Zack had a girlfriend before he died?

"Who leaves the flowers? A girlfriend? Family?"

He had completely and knowingly ignored his question about coming here. Sephiroth sighed, already growing impatient with his friend's thought process. How was he supposed to know about Zack's family? He doubted they left the flowers here, Zack had been from Gongaga. And it was not his girlfriend. Zack had done well to keep his relationship with the Cetra under wraps, but rumours had began to circulate around the SOLDIER floor, speculating about his relationship with a flower girl from the slums soon after Genesis had gone MIA. The same girl he had murdered over three years ago.

"His family were from Gongaga, I am not sure if his parents are still alive. It was not his girlfriend. I would assume the flowers were left by Cloud."

"Cloud? How are you so sure it wasn't a sweetheart?"

Sephiroth walked forward a few steps, impatience setting in, this wasn't one of his books with sweethearts and torn love affairs. His impatience wasn't helped by the twinge of guilt in his chest. He hadn't asked to come here. He had not wished to be a part of this fight.

But he had been thrown into it. It confused him. He saw things clearer now; saw the reasons behind his defeat and saw how fainfully wrong he had been. Mother's – Jenova's – influence did not fog his mind any longer. But with that freedom came realization and guilt. He blamed Genesis for this. He wasn't sure why or how it was Genesis' fault, he was just as clueless as he was regarding the Goddess' logic, but if felt better having someone to blame.

"Cloud Strife, the infantryman with blond hair. He is the one who defeated me."

Genesis thought for a few seconds until his memories of Banora became more clear; Zack had had a younger man with him back then, but he had been wearing a SOLDIER uniform, or at least he thought he had. Genesis' extended slumber had done nothing to sharpen his recollections of past events. Neither had awakening to find the place he had known torn to its knees. He regretted that he had remained safe in slumber while the planet had been forced to its' limits, but that had been the Goddess' doing, not his. His fleeting guilt subsided to curiosity; Sephiroth had not answered a part of his question.

"You are avoiding the subject of the girlfriend."

Sephiroth was fast remembering why he and Genesis had butted heads so often during their years at SOLDIER. The younger man had a knack for pressing matters and questions which others wished to avoid; sometimes it was deliberate, while other times it was accidental and due to his curious nature. He wasn't sure which one it was right now, but either way Sephiroth knew he would not be allowed to leave this subject pass without a decent answer.

"She died before Meteor."

"The sector seven collapse you mentioned?"

"No, me."

The words foot and mouth shot to Genesis mind. He had never been one known to swear, but several curse words shot through his head at once. He and Sephiroth had never been the best of friends, they possessed a love/hate relationship at the best of times, that was not the fault of Sephiroth though, it was the fault of his own jealousy. Angeal had been forced to play referee between them most of the time.

Genesis groaned inward as he stopped his train of thought, a painful twinge reminding him of his role in Angeal's demise. He had played sides with his friend; forced him to choose between their friendship and his honour, which had resulted in Angeal removing himself from the equation for good. Great, now he was guilty again, and angry.

Why had they been chosen to help? Why had the Goddess allowed Sephiroth his chance for redemption, free from Jenova's influence for the first time since Nibelheim? Why was Weiss allowed an opportunity to avenge his brother's death and redeem himself? Why allow the three of them to help and fight and not allow Angeal?

Genesis did not understand why things were the way they were. He knew that what lay before them was not a simple task. The three remnants of Sephiroth had returned, they were seeking out the remaining Jenova cells. The more cells they acquired, the stronger they became. He had thought at first that he, Sephiroth and Weiss would be capable of defeating the three remnants on their own' eliminating the threat before it terrorized the inhabitants of Gaia yet again.

It had been a good plan, in theory. But the remants had made their grand re-entrance two weeks ago with a direct attack on the ShinRa Headquarters. No fatalities, but plenty of injuries. The purpose of the attack had not been to harm, but to undermine the stable environment which had developed after the whole Deepground saga. Genesis, Sephiroth and Weiss had stayed back, watching how the remnants fought and attacked, with the theory of indentifying weaknesses in mind. Again, their theoretical approach had failed them. They had clashed with the remnants only a week ago. They had grown stronger, which left them with only one option – allies.

It was the logical option. If they could not defeat the remnants on their own, then the next option was to outnumber and overpower them. But Genesis' logical option was not without its' flaws. He doubted that Rufus ShinRa would fall had over heels to ally with any of them; he who had caused the mass desertion of SOLDIER, Sephiroth who's long list of activities needed no elaboration, while Weiss' achievements were still fresh in the minds of ShinRa, AVALANCHE and Reeve's new company.

Genesis sighed again, resigning himself to the fact that no amount of procrastinating or thinking would get this over with any sooner. It was time to go and try to cross the bridges the three of them had incinerated years in the past.

He felt like a child being ordered to the principal's office. He knew he had messed up, but that didn't mean he wanted to admit to it. Of all the scenerios possible, he had never pictured himself and Sephiroth working together with a Tsviet, and about to approach ShinRa to request and alliance.

However bad he felt, Genesis was sure Sephiroth felt worse. After all, he had never tried to destroy the planet or killed anyone substantial...except Angeal.

Genesis groaned out loud as a new wave of guilt washed over him. Wherever Angeal was, he knew he would be enjoying watching him and Sephiroth squirm.

"Angeal had better laugh this up."

Sephiroth nodded; Angeal had gotten the easy side of this deal. How was he supposed to walk back into Edge or ShinRa Headquarters without causing a full-blown battle or uproar?

"I believe the option of a raise would be out of the question with Rufus?"

A/N: Thanks for reading :)