Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

(A/N: There are some qoutes in here that I used from the game/movie. They are not mine. I'm pretty sure I labeled all of them but I could be wrong.)

Summary: Cloud's adventure during Kingdom Hearts I. Will he ever find his light?

A blurry face smiled at Cloud.

"Who are you?" He asked. Just answer that. Please. Something to go on. Please.

"Who am I? You've forgot?" A female voice called. It was sweet sounding, like honey. A scent carried to his nose, flowers…

"Who are you?"

"Who am I?" He repeated foolishly.

"You don't know that either?" Came the reply.

"I'm Cloud."

"But who are you really?" The voice inquired and a hand touched his heart. He drew in a breath sharply at the touch

Cloud woke up light piercing his eyes. He blocked the light with his hand trying to remember the dream. Who was that girl? So familiar yet far away. He used to know. But now he didn't know anything. Are you my light? He wondered. Where are you…? He fell back onto his bed falling back asleep.

Darkness surrounded him. Someone's deep heavy breath breathed all around him. His blade drawn he looked around him. Darkness…Darkness… He couldn't see anything. Where was he? What was happening?

"Show yourself!" Cloud growled loudly.

A laughter came through the air, "Ah… you are so funny, puppet."

Cloud hacked away at the blackness, "COWARD!"

Pain seared through his arm.

"AHHHH!" Cloud screamed gasping his arm. Crimson blood drowning him…

"Sephiroth!"

He woke up with a jolt grabbing his arm. The golden hand starring at him…cold bloodless hand.

"So even the dark assassin has nightmares?" A laugh called.

"What do you want?" Cloud asked coldly facing his employer.

"Did you forget? Today's the big games. It's time for you to go do your job. Now there are some other pip squeaks in the tournament as well. If you could finish them off as well…" The black god said.

"My contract says…"

"I know what it says! I wrote it, damn it!" Hades yelled fury of red and black clashing with his gray god aura, "GO! You've a job to do."

So Cloud went out onto the arena and fought.

The battle was a blur. He had made his way up the games and now he was facing Sora, Donald, and Goofy. He had heard of Sora, had watched him train a few times. He was a youthful lad, yielder of a mysterious key blade. He fought bravely, with strength…. Cloud grinned, but with too much self confidence. He lunged and Sora was barely able to fend off the attack. Suddenly he felt sick. He couldn't kill this boy. Hercules was a grown man and he had made a deal with Hades. But this boy? He had heard tales of the boy who wield the key blade and he wondered if this was right. The boy was far from harmless but he was innocent and kind. Memory seared through his veins of someone else just as innocent and pure. Someone who had died to early. He hesitated. Suddenly something knocked him to the ground and he was unconscious.

When he awoke he realized it. Hades had been using him. Whatever had crushed him was Hades doing. And somehow…somehow he was alive. He closed his eyes feeling something break inside him. A slight piece of light and warmth cradled him. He opened his eyes looking around. The darkness was fading… but still there. Maybe he could still find his light. Maybe the darkness hadn't consumed him completely. A gentle laugh and smile played across his mind, "Of course there's hope, silly."

He sat down on the cobblestones of the coliseum. Light is that you?

"Hey there!" A voice called. It was Sora.

"Why did you go along with him anyways?" He asked.

"I'm looking for something. Hades promised to help. But I was sucked farther and deeper into the darkness. And I couldn't find the light."

"You'll find it. I'm searching to."

"For your light?"

Sora nodded.

Cloud got up walking away. Maybe he still had hope. (NOTE: above convo w/ Sora from KH. Not own words.)

Cloud spent the next couple months building a gummmi ship to get away and searched for his light. Then he had traveled world to world in search for his light. He had learned much about the worlds, but little about his light. One day he came upon a busy town.

"Flowers! Flowers here!" Someone called. Cloud turned to see a girl next to him selling flowers.

"Want one?" she said thrusting one at him.

A flash crossed his mind. An image of a smiling optimistic girl played before him.

"I asked if you if you wanted one. Answer me will you?"

"Sorry… you just… I…"

"Do you want one or not?" She said eagerly. Her eyes were dark and angry. He looked at her wondering if she ever sold any flowers with such an angry face about her. She had reminded him of someone. But she was definitly not her.

"You reminded me of someone else, is all."

"Well?" She asked impatiently.

Silence followed. He was tempted. He wondered if it would jog his memory more. But now he couldn't…"No thank you."

She walked away in a huff.

Cloud rubbed his forehead, it ached. He needed sleep. He walked through the town impersonating his best 'back off' look. He didn't want to run into anyone else. Finally he found a local inn and decided to sleep there for the night. He wanted to move on… to continue to piece together the puzzle but his body protested. Finally he gave in. He found a place to stay and went to sleep.

He stood in a church. The hazy outline of a girl kneeled before the altar.

"A---?" He called.

She didn't look up.

Suddenly a figure descended fast onto the girl. A large sword embedded though her heart.

"NOOOOO!" Cloud yelled.

He ran forward but as he went p pick her up she disappeared and he woke up.

Unbidden tears ran down his face. No… not her. Not his light. Not his l… He buried his head in his hands. What were these dreams or memories…? What did they mean? Why couldn't he remember!?! He banged his fist at the wall beside him. Damn! He got up glaring outside the window, the dream washing over him. Just tidbits of a memory. Most were just feelings. Pain, anger, sadness, loneliness, needs, wants…. Who was he?

Most memories had been short happy memories. A laugh, smile, a question. Then as Hades had pulled him more and more into the darkness they had become dark and terrifying. Ones of a silver haired man named Sephirorth who destroyed everything with a long sleek sword. A sword that had destroyed her… Was she even alive? He wondered. Was he searching for someone who no longer lived? He needed something… anything.

He wiped his tears away angrily and packed his things and left the room. Time to search another world. He'd find out who he really was, and what his past was.

Traveling had taught him more than he expected. Back allies were people talked about how strange everything was. Worlds had separated opening gateways to other worlds. Something had obviously happened to his home and he had landed up at the Coliseum. Alone, confused, and with amnesia. The only thing he could remember was that he had to find his light… he had to find her. Who ever that was.

He lumbered down the street barely aware of the strange looks they were giving him.

"Are you a soldier?" This one kid said racing up to him.

"A mercenary." A mother said in a disgusted tone. "Don't stop." Shecommanded the kid pulling him away.

Mercenary???? How did she have the right to jump to such a conclusion by his look? Was his face so cold and cruel? Did the world see him as a murderer? Excluding the fact that he had been a mercenary for Hades… He thought suddenly having a flashback. He had been one once… hadn't he? With Hades but before that. A face flashed before him. Dark spiky hair and a confident cocky grin. Pain and hurt washed over him with the image. I failed him… his mind thought. Failed him? Failed who? How? Suddenly he wondered if his past was worth remembering.

"I think I can help you." A voice called to him

"I don't need help." Cloud said cooly. His heart was racing and anger filled him as he lost the memories to the darkness of his mind.

"You're looking for someone."

"They aren't here." He answered. What was this some kind of scam? The way people were traveling these days it was common to be looking for someone.

"Of course not. This is the wrong place."

"I figured that on my own thanks." Cloud said wondering why he hadn't just walked away in the first place.

"But how can figure out who you are looking for if you can't remember your past?"

"Not interested." Cloud said turning away.

"His name was Zach."

"Was?" Cloud said, memories piercing his brain.

"Hi I'm Zach."

"I'm 1st class SOILDIER."

"We'll get out of here together."

"We'll be mercenaries together to get money."

"That bullet was meant for me!"

"Zach… I promised to live both our lives… Easy promise to make…" (Note: lines from Advent children and FFVII)
"How do you know these things?" Cloud asked the memories fading. Pieces… so many pieces…how did the go together?

"Many have been gifted with certain abilities in this new era. Many such as the wielder of the keyblade. Many things are considered possible."

"Listen I've gotten myself in more than one mess already. If you just want money…" Cloud said. Normally he wouldn't have offered such. But the memories were makeing him frazzeled.

"You misunderstand me. I once could not find myself as you do now. It was harsh way to live. Especially when not many know more than you yourself do. They are lost, searching too…"

"I'm not looking for a speech. I'm only looking for answers." He said impatiently. Despite the truth he felt in the man's words he could not accept them.

"I know these things because as a result of my world collapsing certain powers it realized where given to me and many others of my world. We have found each other and have vowed to help those who seek what we once did."

"And?"

"You search for many things."

"I know that."

"Zach is a strong connection to you but he's dead."

"How do you know this?" Not really wanting to believe it.

"You suffer from memory loss but it still all there. You just have to find it. Sometimes… like know just a name brought back certain images. I have the ability to see certain things inside of you. Certain things that are probably are as foreign to me as they are to you right now. But I saw you when that boy approached you. The look in your eyes gave me something of what is hidden. Zach, fighting, death. That is all I saw."

Cloud looked around. Can he trust this person? But who could he really afford not to?

"What am I to do with this?"

"I can not help you out much more. You need to go here." The person said handing him a piece of paper. "There seek out Leon. I have a feeling he will help."

"He is one of your world?"

"No… He is someone I met on my journey. Now hurry! Or fate will pass you by…"

Cloud rushed off and soon he made his way to Traverse Town, searching for Leon. Perhaps it was a scam, a trick. But somehow he knew it wasn't. And if it was… well then maybe he just wasn't meant to find her.

"Cloud!" A voice called out.

He turned finding Sora, Donald, and Goofy walking toward him.

"Have you found your light?" Sora asked.

Cloud shook his head.

"Well… I'm sure you'll find it soon. Is there anything we can do?"

"Actually…" Cloud asked. He didn't want help. But Sora had good intentions, "are you familiar with this town?"

"Yes." Sora answered.

"Do you know anyone by the name of Leon?"

"Yeah, we do!"

"Great can I see him?"

"Actually… he's not here. He's at Hollow Bastion with everyone else.

Hollow Bastion…? Everyone else…?

"Great. Can I reach him there? What does he look like?"

Sora described what he looked like and warned him to be careful. Hollow Bastion was a place to be reckoned with. Apparently Sora was preparing for the battle of his life against a dark man named Ansem. The thought of darkness made his mind turn to Sephiroth… an evil enemy for sure but what was their history? Why did his blood run cold and his hands instantly went to his sword at the thought of him?

"Cloud?" Sora asked as Cloud's thoughts scattered.

"Thanks I'll be on my way…" He mumbled heading back to his ship.

(A/N: I hoped you liked! Please R&R!)