Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Final Fantasy VII or Square Enix. Why would I be writing fan fiction if I did?

A/N: Alright then, first things first guys this is my first fan-fic so I might make a few mistakes here and there. Especially in regards to grammar, but I will do my best to correct these as people point them out and will try to make this a story everyone can enjoy. As this will a self-insert fan-fic it will be in first person. As I know the stigma associated with self-insert fanfics I will endeavor to make this fanfic worth you time if you are willing to take a chance on me. With that said I hope you guys enjoy the fic.


Chapter One: The Errant Dreamer Awakens

I was floating, at least I think so. That's what the strange sensations I was feeling told me. It was an odd feeling, but on the whole not unpleasant. That was when a sound started to filter through my ears. It was a soothing sound that seemed to put my soul at rest. It was also very familiar. Just when I thought I was about to place where I had heard it before the floating sensation came to a stop as I felt myself sitting upright.

Slowly I opened my eyes and I was greeting by a room with a familiar shade of blue. It looked like the inside of a large carriage, in fact I could even hear the clip clopping of horse hooves. Even the windows of the room were tinted with the shade of blue that covered the room. Funnily enough even though the color was everywhere it didn't feel obnoxious. In fact it was quite the opposite, if filled me with a sense of sereneness that seemed to soothe my very being. However the thing that stood out the most in the oddly colored carriage was the set of full sized mirrors scattered throughout, at least six that I could see. As I looked into them they showed my reflection as I expected, however the reflections seemed...I think subdued is the word I'm looking for. Still however subdued they were they all showed the same thing. A 20 year old slightly overweight black male sitting at 5'9, that's me if you couldn't tell. My face was a little chubby with a slightly prominent jawline, a clean shaven look and brown eyes. My black hair was short which suited me but I wish I could do more with it. Broad shoulders led down to very lightly toned arms that still held some fat, it was the same for my naturally thick thighs and legs. However the weight showed mostly in my gut which threatened to look more like a beer belly than anything that belonged on someone my age. In other words the first thing that came to mind when seeing me was 'big' and not in an entirely good way either. A slightly depressing notion but it is one that I have learned to live with.

The music that I heard before was what brought me out of my reverie as it persisted during my survey of the room. There was no shadow of a doubt where I was now that I had seen my surroundings and heard that music with them. Sure enough looking straight in front of me there was a table with a large nosed man in a nice suit with bloodshot eyes and white hair looking back at me from the opposite side. To his right sat a woman with platinum blonde hair, golden eyes, and ruby red lips wearing a uniform just as deep a blue as the room I was in. One of the only things I could think upon seeing her was that she looked even more beautiful and majestic in person. At that thought I shook my head a little, getting myself to focus on what what happening. Plus she scared me a little since she could easily rip me a new one. The large nosed man smiled widely at me as he said the words that I knew were coming.

"Hello! And welcome to the Velvet Room."

Those words cemented what was happening and sort of opened the floodgates of emotions I was sort of holding back. My eyes and ears were almost refusing to acknowledge that what I was seeing was real. In fact I was pretty sure it wasn't. That didn't stop my breath from becoming almost whispery as I tried to confirm what I was seeing.

"Igor?" I asked softly, well as soft as someone with a voice that's deep like mine can speak. His face seemed a little surprised at the fact that I knew his name. At this point my mind was starting to reboot and make sense again. I rationalized that I must be dreaming. Though I was immediately starting to doubt that as I almost never remember my dreams and when I do they are never this vivid. Plus the felt too...'real' to be a dream, but if this wasn't a dream them what was it? It was probably easier to just go along with the explanation that this was a dream though a niggling in the back of my head just kept drawing me back to the question, was this really a dream? In the time I went back and for on this topic my host seemed to finish deciding on his next words Igor answered my question with a question.

"I'm sorry young man, but have we met before?" He asked inquisitively. I shook my head negatively at his question before speaking.

"No we haven't met before" I said before continuing, "But you are a fairly iconic figure. That's how I know about you." This seemed to satisfy Igor's curiosity as his expression settled back into its usual look.

"Yes I suppose so. Well then if you know about me then you must know about my assistant Margaret as well. Perhaps you even know where you are right now?" Margaret nodded in my direction as she was acknowledged, but chose to remain quiet. As for Igor he seemed to be testing me in a way. Well best not disappoint him.

"Yeah, this is the Velvet Room. It lies between dream and reality, mind and matter. I've heard you say that line way too many times. It's also only available to those who sign a contract after you bring them here for the first time." I gave a practically textbook persona nerd answer to Igor's obvious question. Actually, now that I think about it if this is just a dream then why is my own subconscious testing me? Igor nodded his head with that same wide and slightly creepy smile on his face at my answer.

"That is exactly right my dear guest. Now then allow me to explain why you are here. If you know about me then it is likely you know about my master Philemon as well. His opposite, and enemy, The Crawling Chaos also known as Nyarlathotep is engaged in a sort of game as you would understand it. While the closest approximation to what you would call it is a game I assure you it is anything but. As opposites my master and The Crawling Chaos are locked in an eternal struggle unless the requirements of this 'game' are met. It is a fact of their existence as they both represent aspects of humanity. The requirements of this 'game' are that either humanity rises above its flaws and enlightens itself or that humanity's natural impulses destroy itself. It is less of a game, and more of a war." Igor looked quite serious when he said this. I had to admit myself this explanation felt a bit heavy for a dream. It was more like a recruitment drive for the army.

Igor closed his eyes as continued his explanation. "This is not the only world to have felt this battle. There are countless others, separated yet all connected. For example why did your favorite video game come to be? What about your favorite TV show? What about your favorite Anime? It wasn't just simple inspiration from their creators. It was that world influencing this one. Normally all this does is send ideas or thoughts through the boundaries, maybe a picture of what the world looks like if the connection happens to be particularly strong. So this 'game' happens all over those worlds. Like any other game it has rules. However those rules are violated quite frequently by my master's opponent, still there is a way that we can fight back that the enemy also has access to. That method is people like you who possess an innate ability. The ability to cross the boundaries between worlds, for you see most worlds are connected to only a few other worlds. This world, your world however has a connection to every world that has been or ever will be. Such is the unique nature of it. Thus you and your brethren can cross to just about any world and acclimate to it. Taking on the characteristics of them as if they were your own world, such is the task your people are uniquely suited to. So I humbly ask of you, do you wish to fulfill your destiny?" He said those last few words with an odd sort of tone that I couldn't place.

If I was being totally honest I would jump at the chance. I dream that I can remember and it could be a fun adventure? Sign me up. As I was about to speak though Igor cut me off as if he knew what I was going to say. "Please wait a moment. Before you give me your answer please think it over seriously. I realize that this may seem like a dream or a fantasy but I assure you it is not. Your adventure will not be easy depending on what world you end up in. In fact it could be quite horrific, and happy endings are never guaranteed. To accept this responsibility means accepting the two clauses. That you chose this fate of your own free will, and that you will take responsibility for your actions. This is a very serious matter young man. I implore you to treat it as such."

That really threw me for a loop. Not a dream? How could that be possible? Did that mean that this was reality? Or was it something in between? I honestly wasn't sure what to think. I wanted this to be a dream but if it wasn't what would that kind of thinking lead too? I couldn't figure it out so I decided to do what I usually do, focus on what I could understand. And so I considered Igor's words very carefully. The more I did the more helpless I felt. What could I actually do to help? I'm just your average American. Heh, average. That's what I was average, boiler plate, run of the mill. I wasn't really special in any kind of big way. I'm not an athlete or any kind of physically adept person other than the fact that I didn't know my own strength. I was clumsy, lazy, and thought with my heart instead of my head. I didn't have any training and while I was smart I wasn't nearly as smart as some of my friends back home, what could I offer to these worlds whose inhabitants lives would hang in the balance.

As my spirits continued to plummet a deep dulcet voice from Margaret. I hadn't noticed it but up until now she had been silent, only choosing now to speak.

"You feel at a loss right now don't you? This is a common feeling that comes to our guests when they are asked to fully consider what it means to save a world. You are wondering what you can possibly as one person possibly not even the best for the job, am I right?" I nodded at Margaret wondering if she was that good at reading people, if I was easily read, if she really see this very often, or maybe even a combination of all three. "It is not out of place to feel this way. When it comes to humanity it is an almost universal truth that the individual is weak, however the individual is far from powerless as well. After all it can take only one person to ruin the world. The opposite also holds true. Sometimes the right person being in the right place at the right time can save the world. Additionally you will not be alone. You will have us to aid you as much as we possibly can without breaking our rules or nature. What's more is that the worlds you travel to will have people that you can make your allies. Be warned however that you can make enemies as well. These bonds that you form can make or break you as well as determine you chances of success. However for any of that to happen you must believe in yourself first. For if even you don't believe in yourself then why should anyone else?" she said in a gentle tone of voice.

I looked Margaret in the eyes in shock for a moment before I broke eye contact and focused on the table between me and the two entities before me. She was right, if I didn't believe that I could make a difference then I would have already lost before I even started. If I can save even one person...I think it's worth it. To make these worlds even a tiny bit brighter. I swallowed heavily as I thought about the fact that I could die doing this. However the more I thought about it the more it didn't seem so bad. I know I would freak out if faced with that and that I still quiver in fear of it. However I think that if I can die for a purpose, doing something that I can be satisfied with I can at least put it at the back of my mind enough to make a decision at least.

Seeing me calm down Margaret smiled at me. "Ah, I see you're starting to calm down. That's good and if looks like you are close to a decision as well. I hope my masters words didn't frighten you too much. Just the same I hope that while my words helped you make this decision better I also hope they didn't coddle you. This decision needs to be your own, take it as seriously as it needs to be taken. Most of all be true to who you are. We are merely guides on your journey dear guest, as such you are the one who writes this story not us. Only you can decide the direction it will take."

Be true to myself huh? As I thought about Margaret's words did I imagined what these other worlds could be like if I didn't help. That there could be worlds out there that could be destroyed by my inaction. That real life people could be hurt. It was then I had my answer. It was just who I was, I couldn't ignore people in trouble. I nodded to myself as I looked firmly at Igor and gave him my answer.

"Yeah I want to help. I can't just walk away knowing what I do now. I'm ready, and I'm willing." I said in a clear and strong voice. Igor simply nodded at me as a deck of card materialized on the table between us along with a contract. He motioned for me to sign it which I did, both clauses that he mentioned above where I would put my signature. As I signed the contracted Igor flipped over the top card and he smiled as I saw what it was.

"The strength Arcana, it is associated with the morality about the stronger power of self-control, gentleness, courage and virtue over brute force. In other words inner strength, which I hope will see you through this trial. Now then you will need a means to defend yourself. This process we can do while transporting you. Now then, close your eyes and try to imagine a weapon, or maybe an affinity for something. The closer it is to our own world the more successful and stronger it will be."'

Following Igor's instructions I tried to imagine such a thing. Surprisingly it was easier than I thought it would be. What first came to mind was an axe. It wasn't just any old axe though. It was an axe wielded by a person from persona, like Igor semi-suggested. As Labrys' axe formed itself further in my mind a few modifications came to mind as well as a sort of armored chest plate that would have an open slot in the back that would act as a holster for it. I was just about finished when the same sensation of falling that brought me to the Velvet Room signaled my departure. As I fell through a sea of nothingness I heard Igor's voice one last time. "With this you are now, a dreamer."

That was the last thing I heard before I felt a sharp pain that brought me back to reality. I was splayed out on the ground like I had just fallen a long way and immediately I knew something was wrong. I felt dirt and stone underneath one of my hands. The other was wrapped around a long rod like metallic object. I clearly wasn't on my living room floor and that sharp bit of pain should have woken me up if this was a dream. What my brain had begun to think was true was proven right. As I lifted my head up to see where I was my eyes widened as I saw and unmistakable tall tower in the distance. The architecture of it was baffling, with wide base that narrowed the higher the building went. The last third of the structure belled out into a sideways barrel shape before taking the shape of a more traditional tower above that. The windows at the top of the building signal multiple offices where the workers could look down on the city. Finally parts of the building were bathed in an eerie green glow and pipes riddled other parts of it. I knew where I was. I was in Midgar, and I wasn't dreaming. I was wide awake.


A/N: Well guys that was the first chapter of The Errant Dreamer. I'm working on chapter two right now and will try to chug out chapters as often as I can. Once school and other responsibilities start up I will try to get chapters out every two weeks or so. For now it's more of a whenever I can deal. Be sure to leave a review so that I can learn what you guys liked and didn't like.