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There is always that moment; one that most everyone knows. It is in the breath of calm before a storm, and in that moment of blissful blankness when one plunges beneath the water. But then it must always pass without hint of when such a time will come again. And when it does, the storm breaks and our heads seem like to burst for want of air. So it was with Zack Fair when he broke at last through the sickly green liquid and glass of Professor Hojo's test tube. And so it was when Terra Branford dropped from a hazy sleep into a consciousness where the only thing she knew...was her own first name.

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His mind whirred to catch up with his body; humming like a laptop coming off sleep mode when it's opened. Faces in his mind barely registered; a scientist was there. Zack lunged, giving the punch more weight than skill. The man crumpled, out cold. There was only one other face to recognize. Floating in mako, looking pale as death, was Cloud Strife. Still stumbling from lack of previous movement, Zack fumbled with the controls and glanced up at his friend's face.

The older of the two's face contorted in a moment as his fast-acting mind at last clicked; now filled with flashes of returning images. The helicopter crash in the snow-covered mountain, a familiar but slightly green face at Junon, fire and smoke erupting from the village of Mount Nibel, Masamune protruding from the chest of his best friend. Then the images changed, accompanied by the sound of screams and the stench of blood and mako. Hojo. What had happened?

His attention shifted back to the present as the mako in the tank before him began to drain, and upon opening the door, caught the smaller man as he fell limp in his arms. We need to get out of here. NOW. Zack's thoughts ran on determination. Pulling one arm over his shoulder, the black-haired SOLDIER guided his friend out of Shinra Manor. He wanted to leave as quickly as possible.

Zack Fair gasped at the sight that greeted him. Whatever he expected to see of the ruined Nibelheim was not what he saw. The town was rebuilt so well that for a small moment he wondered if he had dreamed the whole thing. Then he shook his head upon looking back at Cloud, who still sat slumped against the gate of the mansion as Zack scouted ahead. Anger rose in the former SOLDIER as the retreated to Cloud's side. He had seen a blue-clad infantryman enter the town. Shinra. "What is going ON?" he muttered to his friend, though by now he knew that Could wouldn't answer. He looked at him closer. It was probably mako poisoning.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Zack felt his natural smile tug at the corners of his mouth. Anyone who knew him would say he was inextinguishable. "I suppose we could go back inside for now," he said aloud. "It seems more dangerous out here than in there...at least the upstairs floor, that is." Here he felt a pang of fear. "But we should get ourselves together, eh?" He ruffled Cloud's hair as he pulled the smaller man back onto his feet. Zack wondered whether he would have grown more is not for the mako...and whatever else.

Having half-dragged the unresponsive Cloud up into one of the bedrooms and finding a dry pair of clothes for him, Zack started to pace as he tried to come up with his plan. Restlessly, he dropped into a round of squats; counting them in an attempt to get his thoughts in order. A small idea leaked into his brain. The Basement. Find out what happened, Zack. He gulped, but shook himself in a shuddering sort of way. "I'll be right back, Cloud. There's something I need to do."

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"Uggh..head...hurts," choked the girl as she numbly looked around her. She almost wished she could fall asleep again. In the moments before her awakening, she had had the strangest feeling of a light, buoyed walk on the edge of a great fog; that though stifling had been like a hug from the air. It was then that she felt the first grasp of cold, and she shivered; becoming aware of the weight of a heavy blanket pressing on her small but formed body.

A man came rushing in at the sound of a voice. He gaped at her, exclaiming, "You're awake! Incredible! And I've just removed the crown!" He walked over to a table and held up a sleek metal band as proof. The girl shook her head, not understanding but feeling a minuscule sliver of foreboding inch into her at the sight. But the man seemed to understand. "This is a Slave Crown. It...robs the wearer of both thoughts and free will," he continued with some hesitation.

Slave Crown? The girl tried to recall hearing the term, but instead gasped and cried out. "I- I don't remember anything!" Now the fog seemed to try and swallow her beyond return as she attempted to set foot in it; to find some kind of answer to her multitude of questions. She clutched the blankets like a lifeline, afraid to let go.

The older man shook his head sadly. "Unfortunately, that is a side effect. But with time, I assure you, they will return. Time heals most everything." He was quick to console. He gave her a rueful but thoroughly kind smile. "My name is Arvis," he added, "and you should know that you are in a town called Narshe..."

The girl didn't hear the rest. She closed her eyes and again sought a way into her own mind, dipping cautiously into the blocked and lost reserves of memory. Finally, something surfaced. Not much; not a memory, but a name. And it must have been hers. However small the victory, she was excited enough to blurt out, "My name...is Terra!" She blushed slightly as Arvis turned back to her, with shock and glee written on his face.

"Unbelievable! Terra, I have never heard of anyone recovering so fast!" That small and delicate body must hold such a great power and strength. But he did not add the last part. The girl tried to rise, rubbing her head on account of an obvious headache. "Woah, I'd take it easy for a bit!" he retorted, gently grasping her arm and guiding her down again.

Suddenly, they were interupted by a loud commotion by the door. Someone was trying to get in. Or some people, by the sound of it. "Give us the girl!" they cried, pounding with an angry force. "Give us the Imperial soldier and the Emperor's Magitek Armor!" Arvis ran into the next room, followed by an off-balance Terra. He turned to her.

"I'm sorry," he muttered almost angrily. But Terra could tell that the anger was directed at the strange people at the door. She was so confused. Why did they want her? What were they talking about? But Arvis didn't seem to be in the mood to answer questions. Terra was just happy he wanted to help. "I would have liked for you to fully recover here, but you must go. Now, and hurry! Leave through the back; there is a passage that leads through the mines. I'll keep these brutes busy!"

She couldn't protest before she was pushed out the back door into the bone-chilling night air, and into the snow swirling almost as fast as her mind.