.:`'~ Legacy ~'`:.

-=-=-=-=-=-

It doesn't hurt me.
You want to feel, how it feels?
You want to know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
You want to hear about the deal I'm making.
You, (If I only could, be running up that hill)
You and me (If I only could, be running up that hill)

-=-=-=-=-=-

Prologue

The Sleeping Forest hadn't changed at all since his last visit. The same trees whizzed by him as they had his last visit, illuminating the entire forest with a neon white. Despite the night sky, everything here was lit so brightly he could see everything as clearly as day. It felt good to be here again, peaceful. There was such a serene, surreal atmosphere that flowed in the forest. It was a sanctuary for him, a place he could go to for safety when he wasn't feeling well with himself or the world. Every time he came back he could always expect it to be the same, open and inviting and full of wandering memories.

It was a little known fact that Cloud Strife was afraid of death. Not so much in the sense of dying, but what came after it. He'd always wondered what would happen to him when he died. If I died would be more accurate, he thought. He felt perfectly justified in his fears, that he had a very good reason for them.

The Lifestream was, he supposed, what one could call the blood of the Planet, Gaia. A living, sentient thing. It gave off bits and pieces of itself to form into thousands of living creatures, such as humans, for instance. They would live and die, returning to the Lifestream with all of the knowledge, memories and experiences of their lives. In this way, Gaia expanded and grew.

But the Lifestream was more than just the blood of the Planet. It was the immune system. It would cast out those who had lived dirty, unpleasant lives in an effort to keep itself clean and pure. But like all immune systems, it was susceptible to virus'. One such virus had been Jenova, an alien life-form that had impacted with the Planet more than two thousand years ago. The virus had nearly wiped out the entire race of Cetra, humans who could still communicate with the Planet, until she had been stopped by a small group of the remaining Cetra.

But humans, Cetra who had lost their connection with Gaia, with all of their blinding and careless curiosity unearthed the virus once again two thousand years later. They foolishly believed the alien to be one of the long-thought extinct Cetra and had infused her cells with other humans, giving them superhuman strength and abilities.

One human had transcended above them all. His name was Sephiroth. He had become something more than human, more than Jenova. There had been a struggle, a fight, and the Planet herself had nearly been destroyed in the process.

The only way Cloud had been able to defeat the demi-god of human evolution had been, oddly enough, thanks to the Jenova Cells he'd been given at the hands of Professor Hojo, the scientist heading the Jenova project. That, coupled with the force of the Lifestream he'd absorbed the several times he'd suffered from Mako poisoning had given him the strength to defeat Sephiroth and save the Planet.

But at what cost? He was almost as close to Gaia as any Cetra had been. He may not be able to hear her acutely, or understand her needs, but he could feel the whisperings and stirrings of the Lifestream surrounding this place. The Sleeping Forest lay just outside of the Forgotten City, the last and greatest stronghold of the Cetra race that had reigned two thousand years ago. This place held many memories for him, many of them tragic and others peaceful. These days, it was a refuge. He could feel the Lifestream gently tugging the air around him, cautiously welcoming him. The planet was trying, he could tell, to welcome him. But it was difficult.

Cloud carried the last of Jenova Cells still. They were what kept him alive and gave him his inhuman strength and reflexes. Without them, at the speed he was pushing Fenrir, he would've surely been killed long before he ever reached the forest. It was because of them, however, he was so conflicted. If he died, would the planet, could the planet take him back? Was he himself now a virus? He knew he was at the least a carrier, and while the cells no longer bothered him and had seemed to go into some sort of remission, he still feared the impact his spirit would make. He feared that the Lifestream, in order to protect the planet, would reject him. What would happen to him, then? Would he be regurgitated back onto the planet, forsaken to live forever? Or would he simply cease to exist, cast out and forgotten to protect Gaia?

It was this uncertainty that plagued him the most these past few years. He'd watched his friends die one by one of old age, except for Cid, who after headlining and realizing his dream of space exploration met his fate with a malfunctioning rocket years later. He had only two of them left, two friends from that day and age so long ago when they had all banded together to save the Planet.

Vincent was still alive and healthy as ever, although Cloud wasn't sure how. He'd initially thought it had to do with Chaos, whom he'd been told had been some sort of semi-WEAPON of the planet's. But Vincent had informed him that Chaos had returned to the Planet after the incident with Deepground. If that was the case, Cloud suspected it was the experimenting done to the former Turk at the hands of the scientist Hojo, and unfortunately the interference of Lucrecia Crescent, a woman Vincent had fallen for. Cloud, to be perfectly honest, was just glad that he still had him around.

Other than Vincent all he had was Nanaki. Also a former experimentation subject of the infamous Professor Hojo, the lion creature was simply a long-lived species. Perhaps the last of his kind, though Cloud hoped that someday Nanaki would find someone else. He'd heard stories of Nanaki's past from the lion himself, and he could sense the small amount of hope that Nanaki still held at finding others of his kind. He'd been a good friend over the years, and his home, Cosmo Canyon, had been one of Cloud's refuges.

It'd been from there that he traveled to Sleeping Forest, traveling through desert and over the sea, restless after months of deliberation. Nanaki had sensed his growing unease, and so when Cloud had announced his plans the lion had been unsurprised. He wished Cloud a safe journey, and assured him he'd still have a place to come back to when he did.

So, here he was. Fenrir sped through the trees, weaving down the grown path and leaving a soft trail of glittering dust behind him. His goggles covered his eyes, so Cloud had little to worry about. He felt comforted here, and felt his unease slowly begin to dwindle away as though someone were physically and mentally kneading away the apprehension and exhaustion of his heavy thoughts. The wind, despite his speed, was soft against his face and Cloud could feel himself begin to relax, his thoughts wandering in more pleasant directions.

It was then that Cloud stumbled, caught off balance by something in the road. The world exploded and he was blinded by pure white. Stumbling over his feet to catch his balance, his disorientation made his head spin. What..? It took several minutes, but Cloud stood, straightening slowly and squinting his eyes tightly against the brightness surrounding him. He didn't pay attention to the fact his goggles were off his eyes and resting on his head, and even his bike was forgotten. It felt as though he'd been walking the entire time and only just now realized it, waking from a dream. Cloud turned his head side to side, seeing nothing in either direction but white emptiness. He shifted his weight, and it was then he heard something soft crunch beneath his feet. Looking down, he saw flowers. A field of flowers that stretched out forever in every direction where he hadn't noticed before, colored and beautiful pastel yellow, white and pink with soft leaves of green that billowed in a breeze he couldn't feel.

Cloud held his breath suddenly, as he felt a gentle pressure rest on his back. It was so familiar and so warm that he was afraid to breathe. His body tensed, and he could hear a soft sigh behind him. Turning his head slightly, he caught a glimpse of pink over his shoulder. He didn't move, afraid that if he did she would shatter and this dream vision? would end.

"Cloud." Her voice came softly to his ears, gently echoing in the emptiness surrounding them. He didn't notice how tightly his hands were clenched until his nails carved crescents into his palms. Cloud finally had to let go of the breath he'd been holding, doing it slowly so he wouldn't disturb the surface of the lake he envisioned. It sounded so much like her, so amazingly beautiful and clear. It was a voice he hadn't heard in far too long, and he was afraid that he was only dreaming again. Afraid he would wake up, like he had all the other times, or that the dream would suddenly transform and morph into something horrible.

"It's good to see you."

Cloud hesitated.

It sounded like her. There was no mistaking that beautiful, gentle voice. It gently caressed his ears and filled his entire body with a familiar warmth and comfort, and he hoped it was her. But Cloud, in all of his endeavors, knew better than to let his trust go completely. It's happened before, and that's usually when the worst of them came. He hadn't had one in so long, he must remember to keep his guard up and be aware for the first sign of dan-

She giggled, and his heart melted at the soft laughter that tickled the air. "Relax." She said, and Cloud could feel her weight shift. He turned his head a bit further, looking until he could see the edges of her large pink bow and the plaits of her thick chestnut braid. He continued turning, until his torso and the rest of him followed. Once he could see her completely, he knew this was real. He could hear it. The planet, Gaia. He could hear and see the whispers of green that thread itself around them, curling and wisping off of Aerith's body with the gentle, fragile grace of spider silk in the air, disappearing into transparency. He knew then that this was real, and that this was really..

"Aerith.." He breathed, his voice barely audible, barely a whisper in the still air.

When she looked at him, turning herself a little so she could see him over her shoulder, Cloud felt himself at a loss. Her eyes, vibrant and full of life, were so.. green, so vividly green. "Hmm?" She asked, clasping her hands behind her.

Despite himself, he felt his lips tug at the corners. "It's.." He began, absentmindedly startled at the crack in his voice. "Good to see you, too." He couldn't think of what else to say, still afraid this would end prematurely.

Aerith turned then, and he was eternally grateful that the smile on her lips was as beautiful and warm as it had been when he'd last seen her. Her green eyes held nothing but love and understanding and he could almost feel his heart breaking again. She gently straightened out her dress with her palms, clasping her hands behind her again and tilting her head at him.

"Did you miss me?" She asked playfully, the smile broadening on her face with a small flash of white teeth.

"You know I did." Cloud said after a short moment, unable to hold back a small smile of his own. It was relief. It was welcome relief. It'd been so long since he'd seen her, not since after the last battle with Sephiroth and the Remnants. How long ago had that been now..?

Aerith reached up, gently dragging her long braid over her shoulder. "It's.. been awhile, hasn't it?" She asked, as if sensing his thoughts, looking down at her fingers as she played with the thick pleated braid. When her eyes came back to him, they were crinkled a little.

"Yeah." To say it'd been awhile was a bit of an understatement. He didn't know how time worked in the Lifestream, if it ran along the same parallels as the physical plane. It was with this uncertainty he elaborated. "Nearly two hundred years, Aerith."

She grimaced then, making a small face and letting go of her braid. Placing her hands on her petite hips, Aerith looked him over, her eyes finally resting on his face as she smiled at him. "Two hundred years.. and you haven't aged at all, Cloud. I'm jealous." Aerith pouted in good nature.

Cloud wasn't too certain how to approach his age and appearance. It was an awkward subject to talk about. He knew why he didn't age, why he'd lived as long as he did. It wasn't exactly something he'd expected as a side effect of the Jenova Cells and was definitely not anything he was proud of. He felt out of place sometimes, alienated. He would've never in a million years had guessed this fate, had ever thought he'd outlive any of his friends and be left to himself like this. His most ambitious dream had been to join SOLDIER, like the great Sephiroth. If he could've done just that, he had planned on being able to die happy. Sometimes, when he lost himself in thought, he'd consider the consequences of fate and what if's. What if he'd passed the first SOLDIER exam? What if he'd never left Nibelheim? What if no one, then, would've been able to defeat Sephiroth? So, settling after a moments hesitance with a small grin of agreement, he briefly deterred his eyes at his response.

"Yeah."

There must've been some tone in his voice that slipped out. He felt rather than saw her move, and then her small hand briefly touched his cheek, fingertips brushing aside a stray spike of his blonde hair from his face. When he lifted his eyes, he was a little startled to see the difference in her green eyes. She looked into his own directly, and he found he couldn't move beneath the weight of her stare. She looked so deeply that he could see green wisps of energy moving within her iris', shifting together and molding before breaking apart again. It reminded him of the sand beneath the ocean as the sun filtered through the waves, twisting and arcing in a beautiful, haphazard design.

"We miss you, Cloud. All of us. You're never alone, you know. We may not be able to talk to you, or comfort you. But we're always with you." Her gentle voice reached his ears, and the depth of understanding he felt there was enough to make his knees weak. Cloud never bothered anyone with his thoughts; the fact that even though he still had Nanaki and Vincent, he knew one day he wouldn't have them anymore. It filled him with a sense of preemptive loneliness. He felt like.. such an outcast. No one really knew him, other than those two. The current ruler of Wutai, Yuffie's great great great great granddaughter knew of him only through legends and stories her parents had passed down for generations. He doubted she truly believed them, not that he really wanted her to. The less she knew, the better.

Other than that, he got what he wished for. Ironically, Cloud didn't want to be singled out. He preferred to always be just a passing stranger. It was easier that way. He found a living easily enough, using the one true skill he could employ with keeping himself separated. Generally it involved monsters and fighting. He even still delivered things, though with all the roadways available now there was growing less and less of a need for a super powered delivery boy. All too often, he felt over classed for anything this world had to offer. Strength like his might've saved the world once and made him a hero, but in a day and age made safer by alternate fuels, advanced technology and higher populations, it was unneeded. He supposed he would be considered a discarded hero.

Cloud swallowed heavily in his thoughts. He missed all of them, his friends. Even with Nanaki and Vincent, there were times that were too often than not, where he missed everyone so much that it felt like he had no one left. Cloud never took his friends for granted and had cherished every friendship he'd had. He may not have been the best at expression his emotions, but he liked to think, to hope, that they still understood just how much he had cared about them. All of them. Aerith's words were still fresh in his ears, bare seconds had passed in a deep silence. He took in a deep breath, a bare nod of his head signifying his response.

Aerith seemed to understand, and her hand gently trailed down his cheek and rested on his shoulder as her smile only seemed to brighten. But there was a new uncertainty in her eyes, something of itself so unfamiliar on her face that Cloud couldn't help but become weary. His head tilted slightly, his bright blue eyes questioning.

Aerith bit her lip, lowering her hand and head for a moment. Collecting her thoughts, she looked back up and Cloud could feel the atmosphere change almost imperceptibly. "Cloud," She began hesitantly, "I.. ...We.. The Planet, I mean.. there's something we need you to do."

His head tilted just a little bit more, eyebrows drawing together in silent, cautious question.

Aerith hesitated again, the small frown unwelcome on her gentle face. Cloud could sense the Lifestream around them. The whispers in her voice fading as it measured its words. He knew it was being careful. The Lifestream itself wasn't a conscious thing, but rather made of an infinite amount of conscious memories and spirits. The collective thoughts were pooling together and it took time to form its words into something coherent. Aerith seemed to listen as well, and it was still Aerith's voice he heard.

"The planet is trying to heal, Cloud." She began slowly, considering her words carefully before speaking. Aerith seemed to be concentrating, listening to the whispers that Cloud could only detect as mindless static. "It's taken more than two thousand years from the initial arrival of the Calamity, and two hundred ever since Meteor.. But finally the scar left behind from Jenova has almost completely healed. The planet wants to move on, but there's something holding it back. There's something keeping Gaia from healing completely."

Cloud frowned slightly. Her words hesitated again, and he took this moment to fold his arms over his chest, hunching his back inwards slightly in a posture vaguely reminiscent of a man long ago. He felt with a sense of guilty dread and perception that he knew what she was talking about. What was holding the Planet back. She didn't even need to say it. The Lifestream was an immune system, recovering from a virus that had plagued Gaia for several thousand years. Jenova was a virus. He knew this. And as long as a single cell of hers existed, the damage she did could never be healed completely, there was always a chance she could still come back. He also knew that even as an unsuccessful clone, he held a large amount of Jenova cells still inside of him.

He was the reason the Planet couldn't completely heal. But.. what could he do? He didn't know if it would even work, and he doubted he could kill himself if he tri-

"No, Cloud." Her voice was firm, interrupting his thoughts. His eyes locked with hers and his frown returned.

"I don't understand, Aerith. If I'm the only thing keeping the Planet from healing, how can I..?"

"We don't want you to die, Cloud." Aerith said softly, and Cloud felt the weight of that settle on his shoulders. He had on some subconscious level eagerly jumped at the thought of dying. He was terrified of it, and for the past two hundred years had been secretly grateful he couldn't die. But another part of him longed to join his friends in the Lifestream, if it would have him. He'd lived long enough. His strength was too much for this world, this time of peace. A warrior like him was unneeded. He knew of no one and didn't want to. Nanaki and Vincent would get over his loss, with time. He was certain of that.

Slowly she sat down on the bed of weaving, bending and flickering flowers beneath them, gently tugging on Cloud's hand until he sat next to her. Cloud pulled his knees up slightly in front of him, resting his arms on them as he looked at her. Aerith sat with her legs pulled closely beneath her, propped up on one arm as her other hand gently brushed over the tops of the flowers around them. At her touch, wisps of bright green energy flickered into the air from the petals, disappearing.

"The Planet is grateful for all that you've done. You saved her, Cloud. You saved us." She looked up at him, her green eyes glistening. "I don't want you to think you have to do anything else for her, for us. For anyone. You've done so much, too much for anyone to ever ask anything else from you. I want you to understand this before I tell you anything else. Do you understand me, Cloud?" Her expression was earnest and strangely enough, stubborn.

Cloud took a moment before nodding hesitantly. He understood what she said, but that didn't mean he had to agree. Cloud still felt like he owed them all a great deal, all of them. Aerith especially. Aerith and Zack. Speaking of.. "How is he?" He asked impulsively, almost immediately regretting it. He was always afraid what happened to Zack in the Lifestream.

However the smile that erupted on her face was bright and fresh and new, and it dazzled him. She laughed softly, tendrils of brown hair falling over her cheekbones as her head shook side to side, seeming completely unsurprised by the sudden question. "He's fine. He's worried about you. He misses you. And he hates all the noises and wishes everyone would shut up." Her nose crinkled at the phrase. "It's hard to hear him sometimes, but he tries. He's as stubborn as you. He knows he can go back at any time, but he's afraid he'll be turned into something silly, like a Chocobo."

Cloud couldn't help but smile at that. And unlike other smiles that were small and kept well in check, this one broke out welcome and open on his face. It was a beautiful, rare expression and he enjoyed it. Aerith seemed to also, her own smile growing even fonder. "I miss him." He said quietly, his voice soft in the whispers. Sometimes, he missed him more than everyone else. Zack had done so much for him, had sacrificed so much for him..

"He knows." Aerith replied, tilting her head as her smile became smaller. But then suddenly she reached over and pinched Cloud on the shoulder.

"Ow!"

"And he says to stop brooding so much! He says if you brood anymore than you already are he expects to find you sitting on an egg and covered in feathers!"

"Zaaaack.." Cloud groaned softly and Aerith's laughter sounded like bells. Even in the Lifestream the ex-SOLDIER still couldn't stop referring Cloud to those damn birds. It was good to see some things remain unchanging.

As the laughter faded and the vast field of flowers became silent, Cloud truly struggled not to disappoint his friend. He honestly did.

Thankfully, Aerith could see this and seemed more than willing to help him. Here in the Sleeping Forest, so close to the Forgotten City it was easy to speak with him. There wasn't necessarily a time limit, though for the Lifestream, a collective of thoughts and memories, it was like getting a hyperactive child full of sugar and asking them to remain still for several hours afterwards. There was so much to see and do and understand, to comprehend and learn. No matter how old the Planet was, it was still learning, always thriving and growing. To sit still was simply unacceptable. But it was making an honest effort.

"Cloud.. We have an idea." She began quietly, looking down as she fidgeted with a flower between her fingers. "That is, the planet.. Gaia is truly grateful for all you've done. She wants to welcome you back to her. But she can't. Not.. not while you.." Aerith trailed, motioning a little helplessly with her free hand.

Cloud nodded a little, looking away from her and at his feet. "I know." His voice was soft, eyes half-lidded as he considered what would happen now. He had his answer. He couldn't go to the Lifestream, even when he died. He was tainted. No longer pure, possibly no longer even a part of the planet..

"Ow!"

Aerith pulled her hand back, rubbing her two fingers together threateningly. "What did we just tell you? Stop that!" She huffed, tsking at him softly. "Would you listen to me, before you make your assumptions?" She waited for him to acknowledge, only then continuing. "The Jenova Cells inside of you have become a part of you." She watched Cloud as he tensed, his chest holding a breath in. He refused to look at her, and Aerith bit her lip. "I'm sorry." She whispered, resting her hand over his shoulder carefully. She could feel his body vibrating beneath her palm, and her eyes glistened with sympathy. "But listen.. we've thought of a way to help you."

Cloud listened with a continuing sense of dread. What could possibly be done? Short of bleaching out his entire body, he thought sarcastically.

Aerith reached forward with her free hand, touching his own that rested off the angle of his elbow on his knee. He felt a small spark of energy, a soft cooling effect soothing its way through his body. Aerith kept her eyes even with his and he didn't look away, immersing himself in the comfort she provided. "Listen carefully, Cloud. Jenova was defeated. She can do no more harm. The only parts of her that remain are safely inside of you, they're harmless. They can do nothing, because there is nothing else of her. Do you understand?"

Cloud continued looking into her eyes for a few moments, before finally he had to turn his own gaze away. Instead, he stared at a flower by his feet, his blue eyes glazing over slightly. Aerith just barely heard his words as he spoke them. "The Reunion Theory. Pieces of Jenova joining the whole. But.. what's left of her is in me. All of it. I… I'm all that's left." And they're a part of me now. Does that mean..? Am I..? It was a terrifying realization, something he had, surprisingly, never considered before. And now that the idea had occurred, Cloud was horrified.

Aerith bit her lip again. "It's not what you think. Those cells are dormant, Cloud. They can't do anything-"

"What do you think is keeping me alive?!" He responded sharply, turning back towards her with a sudden, unexpected fierceness in his eyes. Aerith flinched and Cloud immediately regretted his reaction, his expression softening. His voice remained hard, though, cold and quiet. "They're not dormant, Aerith. They just have nowhere to go. I'm still alive because of them, and there's a chance they're just waiting for something to happen. What if they're just waiting for something to.. to call them.. A catalyst." Cloud's voice broke and he looked away, his weight shifting uncomfortably. It took only a moment for him to compose himself, but Aerith was already speaking before he could apologize again.

"Cloud," She said quietly, a little quickly. She had to stop his train of thought. "The planet can only completely heal when all of Jenova's presence is removed. Two thousand years ago, the Cetra managed to seal Jenova away and the planet had been able to begin the process. Gaia wants to seal her away again."

Being a little disbelieving, Cloud muttered, "How could it possibly do that?" And then it struck him. He blinked, startled, and looked over at her with a look of apprehension and disbelief.

Aerith answered with a small nod, her green eyes wide with worry.

There was a heavy silence between them then, and Cloud found himself conflicted. Moments ago, he'd been eager to find a way to die, to settle his debt and rest. But now, suddenly, he found himself full of apprehension and he found himself.. cautious. Weary, cautious and unsure, but surprisingly not afraid. He wasn't sure exactly what she'd meant by that, and was more than hesitant to ask. "What do you mean?" His voice sounded so small, he could barely hear it.

She tried to explain it the best way she knew how. "The planet can separate you and the Jenova cells you carry from herself," She thought carefully, "To keep you, everyone, and herself safe from the off chance of becoming reinfected as she heals. Once she's finished, Gaia thinks she can heal you after that, after she's rested from everything that's happened."

Cloud snorted briefly, unable to ignore the fact that there was still an off chance of reinfection. He was a Gaia-damned contagion. He allowed himself to be bitter. "How long?" He choked down a breath of air.

"..We don't know."

"What will happen? ..I mean.. If I'm.. sealed away. What happens to me?"

Aerith's eyes softened. "You'll just go to sleep. When you wake up, you'll probably feel like you just closed your eyes."

"And everything else?"

"It will go on like normal."

Cloud inhaled deeply, considering the option presented to him. He still felt bitterness, and thought of how ironic it was he was being presented with such an alternative. The solution to death, apparently, was to sleep. To be honest, he thought, he wasn't really all that upset about the offer. He'd get what he wanted, kind of. Sure, he'd still wake up, and who knows how long it will be before then and how things would have changed. If he ever woke up.

Gently, he leaned back until he lay in the field of flowers beneath him, arms folding beneath his head. He felt relaxed, suddenly, staring into the expanse of bright white sky as all traces of bitter resentment faded. There was silence surrounding them, and the field rustled and weaved softly in the unfelt breeze, whispers gently threading around the flowers.

He already knew his answer. He would do anything for her, anything she would ever ask of him. He knew the Planet needed him, and he would do what it asked of him also. Even if Aerith might think otherwise, Cloud owed everyone so much. It was the least he could do. And at least then, maybe, he could just age and die like everyone else. Maybe then, he could rejoin the Lifestream and be with his friends again. Everything would go back to normal and all of this would be just another memory.

Quietly, he spoke. "What do I have to do?"

"Sleep."

"Hm?" Cloud's blue eyes flicked her way curiously, half-lidded. Aerith had a gentle smile on her face, and he smiled back. She was always smiling, it was like a permanent fixture on her face. He hoped she never stopped. Her hand reached over, gently hovering over his face before threading softly through his spiky bangs, brushing all the way through his hair. He closed his eyes with a content sigh, feeling a deep warmth spread through his body. He could lay like this forever, he thought suddenly. With Aerith here, in her field of flowers. It was safe here and he felt like he was back at home with his mother. She would be in the kitchen, singing a song as she prepared lunch. He was laying on the couch with a glass jar in his arms, watching a bright blue and green butterfly flicker from top to bottom. Cloud remembered watching the butterfly until his eyelids couldn't stay open, and he drifted to sleep with the sun spilling through the window to keep him warm.

He could hear her singing now, and he noticed that she sounded a lot like someone he knew.. Something about flowers...

His last thought before he slipped into darkness was random.

What about Fenrir?


…..............:`' ~ Author's Notes ~'`:................

Kay, so, this is my first fiction. It's going to be a multi-chapter, not sure how long yet, though I'm pretty sure of decent size. So, I apologize in advance if that's not your cup of tea.

It'll be a crossover between FF7 and FF8, and I hope you guys will enjoy it. Just to give you an idea of what's going to happen in this story, it's going to take place about 500 years after the events of AC. Another threat (new and old) to Gaia brings old heroes back into the fray of things, with the aid of some new friends. Vincent and Nanaki are obviously still around, and Squall will be around also. Keep a sharp eye out, though. Rumor has it there's going to be cameos and guest appearances!

Please review it. :( Tell me if you think I'm doing alright with the characterization, or any sort of canon knowledge. I altered a -few- canon facts, so I guess you might label this slightly AU. So, if whoever reads this can help me keep track of things I'd appreciate it, as well as informing me as to any mistakes they see in my writing, or any improvements.

Hmm. That's it for now. :D Hope you guys like it! Lemme know, kay?