Author's notes: What, another story? I can hear the yelling now, but this has been sitting on the old hard drive for a while, and I finally have the courage to post it. No, it's not finished, so updates may be far between, but I rarely abandon a story… completely…

Anyways, I just want to add that the events of DOC haven't happened in this story, only because I haven't played it myself, I feel uncomfortable writing about what I don't know completely. So, no Deep Ground or anything in this story. At the moment.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, or any of the characters from the multiple games, movies, and OVAs.

Chapter One: Taking the first step

I could hear the rain falling, though all I could see was darkness. Slowly, my eyes adjusted to the blackness, but instead of anything familiar, all that was visible was small pinpoints of lights…

Stars, I realized, astonished. Not just in the sky, but all around me, I twisted in space, falling slowly. It was so beautiful, more mesmerizing than Nanaki's planetarium. I wasn't just watching it from a small room, I was in space! I didn't care how, or why, I was too engrossed in watching the stars spin around me.

Watch!

I frowned at the familiar voice, but turned to see a star rush past me, close enough I could feel stardust brushing my skin. No, it wasn't a star I realized, a comet, a meteor.

Suddenly the bright white comet turned a malicious dark red as a planet appeared. I could only watch in fear as the meteor broke into three different pieces. One slowly turned back into a beautiful comet, but faded before reaching the planet. The second piece hit the planet, but instead of causing any destruction, I could see the planet taking it and absorbing it. The last piece, however was growing even darker, bigger than the original meteor.

I wanted to close my eyes as the Planet's Lifestream appeared, my memories overwhelming me. Meteor destroying Midgar, all the death and destruction that followed afterwards. However, I had to watch as the pitch-black meteor pushed through the Lifestream and plowed into the planet's surface. Great crevasses appeared on the planet's surface like a spider web. Right before my eyes, the planet slowly died, turning black as it fell to pieces.

You understand this?

I shook my head, "No… No! That didn't happen!"

Not as fast, but it is happening. Soon, he will win! If you don't stop it, all it will be lost.

"How can I do anything!" I yelled, looking around for the owner of the voice. "I'm not like Cloud or Tifa! I'm not like daddy! I'm not a hero!"

"You're stronger than you think, Marlene." I was no longer floating among the stars, but standing in a moonlit field of flowers. Aerith was standing before me, just as I remembered her. It only took a moment before I was in her arms, hugging her tightly, once more a six year old girl. She returned the hug before taking a step back and stooping to my level. "We need your help."

I shook my head again, guilt and fear bothering my stomach. "I can't do anything, Aerith. I'm just a kid!"

Aerith smiled gently as she brushed back my bangs, "You're stronger than you realize. You can do it; you just need to try…"

"Now will you tell me what's going on?" Denzel asked as he pulled to a stop outside of the deserted Church. Before he deployed the kickstand, I jumped off the old motorcycle happily removing the stifling helmet everyone insisted I wore.

"Nope!" I turned back to Denzel with a grin on my face. I wasn't even sure why I was here, but ever since that weird dream two weeks ago, I had this strong urge to visit Aerith's church. Over ten years ago, this is where Denzel and the other children found a cure for Geostigma, and when Cloud stopped 'dilly-dallying' as Tifa put it. We all visited once in a while, some times as a group, sometimes by ourselves. But, this is the first time Denzel and I came without one of the Avalanche members with us.

Denzel frowned as he took off his own helmet, looking up at the church nostalgically, probably remembering his fight with Geostigma. "Could…" I started out nervous, knowing he was probably object to my request. After all, it took all the begging and pleading I could before Tifa and Cloud let us visit here without supervision. "Could you wait out here?"

Denzel's blue eyes instantly snapped to mine, a frown crossing his face. "No! I promised Cloud that I'd look after you!"

"And you did!" I instantly added, "I'm really thankful that you came to Midgar with me, but… I need some time to myself. I promise I'll yell if I need help!" I clasped my hands together and gave him the best puppy-eye expression I could. Just like his role model, it didn't take long before he caved in with a sigh, and mimicked Cloud by running his fingers through his hair.

"Fine," he conceded, before hastily adding: "but if you take longer than ten minutes, I'm coming in!"

"Thank you Denzel!" I gave him a quick hug before rushing into the church, pushing the old doors with barely any problem.

Instantly, the smell of flowers and the calm lake soothed any worries away. There was that familiar feeling of coming home as I walked down the aisle of benches towards the small lake surrounded by yellow and white flowers. The child in me urged me to rush to the flowers, but I restrained myself to a quick walk before gently kneeling down at the flower bed edge.

Now what? My mind wandered as I traced the flower petals. Was that strong need for me to visit just to keep Aerith's memory alive, as Tifa had suggested when I confided in her? But that dream felt so real, but maybe I was right. Maybe I wasn't special.

It was a thought that had saddened me on and off over the last couple years. I was only sixteen, but I felt like maybe nothing special would ever happen to me. Had my childhood been the most interesting part of my life? Even then, I hadn't done anything; I was just… there, as everyone around me became heroes. Was it silly that I wanted to be just like them?

"You are prepared?" I looked up, surprised when I saw a woman standing by the Buster Sword, stuck in the ground among the flowers. Slowly, I stood up, studying the woman. I'd never seen her before, she had long, fine golden hair, and a white flowing dress. She looked up from the sword, revealing bright blue eyes and a golden tiara holding back her bangs.

"Prepared for what?" I asked, even though I really meant to ask, "who are you? "

"Aerith informed you already of our plea," she said, slowly walking towards me. "Avalanche has stopped Sephiroth time and again. However, they only won the battles and not the war that grips us."

I held my breath as she stepped onto the water, easily walking atop it as if it were glass. I took a few steps back, much more wary of her. "Who are you?" I finally asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

"I am Minerva," she answered, her cold expression warming slightly. "And you, Marlene, are to be our champion, just like Aerith before you." She stopped a few feet in front of me, the mako glow of her deep blue eyes apparent this close. "We've given you the gift of the Cetra. Do you promise to use it to save Gaia?"

I wasn't entirely sure why, but I nodded my head. Was this real, I questioned internally. Or was I having another vivid dream?

Either way, I still wanted to be a hero.

Minerva's smile grew as she took off her tiara, holding it in one had before popping out the large sapphire jewel in the middle. The jewel glowed brightly before a silver chain grew from it, turning it into a pendent on a fine necklace. She held out the necklace after replacing her now jewel-less crown. "Take this; it will guide and connect you to Gaia as if you were her child."

Warily, I took the gem, surprised by how warm it was. There was a sudden rush of bravery and fearlessness that flooded my veins, assuring me that I could achieve my dream. I carefully hung it around my neck, the gem providing warmth as it hung above the neckline of my white shirt. I looked back at Minerva, a courageous smile on my face. "What do you need me to do?"

The smile on her face dimmed slightly. "You saw how the meteor, the Crisis, split into three, correct?"

I remembered my dream, the beautiful white comet, the one absorbed by the planet, and then the dark meteor that still made me shiver. "The Crisis, do you mean Jenova?"

She nodded her head, "That is the name given to it, correct. The three meteors are its Children, and Sephiroth is the one that was greater than the Crisis ever was."

"What about the other two?" I didn't know Sephiroth had any siblings, not that I knew much about the silver haired man besides Nibelheim, Meteor, Geostigma, and of course, Aerith.

Minerva's smile turned wistful, "The white one was the one known as Angeal, who meant no harm. His story ended before he could overcome the Crisis' control. Genesis… He has become my own personal champion, and fights now with his brother in the Lifestream. Your mission, Marlene, is to prevent the Crisis from influencing these three, and not let Sephiroth descend into insanity."

My bravery wavered, "Sephiroth?" I squeaked. I had never actually seen him outside of old photos, but I was tightly knit into the pain and destruction he caused. "How am I supposed to do that?"

Minerva took a step closer and cupped my cheek. "Be yourself. Even as a child, you have possessed a trait common to all Cetra, the ability to care and love all. You see someone hurting, and you want to heal them. Use this trait to overcome the Crisis."

I stole myself and nodded my head. I could do this. Whatever this was, I could…

"Wallace, Marlene!" My eyes snapped open at the unfamiliar voice shouted. Minerva was no longer standing in front of me, but a tall, wide man dressed in a green uniform with a bushy black beard. I took a step back and gasped when I realized I was no longer in Aerith's church, but a large metal room filled with…

SOLDIERs?

"Wallace!" My attention snapped back to the man, who was obviously starting to lose his temper.

"Um, yes sir?" I asked quietly. What in the world was going on? SOLDIER disbanded, so why was I in a room full of them, and who was this guy in front of me?

More importantly, how in Gaia's name did I get here?

The man seemed to grow more irate, "Are you not paying attention, girl? I called your name, get to the 67th floor now!"

I jumped slightly when I felt someone's hand wrap around mine and tug slightly. "Come on," the SOLDIER beside me whispered. Not knowing what else to do, I followed him as he lead me towards a pair of doors. My heart jumped to my throat as I read the plaque on the metal wall- SHINRA TRAINING ROOM 5. Shinra? Shinra was no more!

"Don't tell me you went partying last night with the others," the SOLDIER said as soon as we were outside the training room, and in a brightly lit hall with a marble floor and richly painted walls. "Don't you remember the last time you went out with Luxiere and Zack?"

"No," I answered truthfully as I followed him down the hallway, my mind racing for answers as I tried not to panic. Instead, I tried to focus on the man leading me, though since he was dressed in the maroon colored uniform with the SOLDIER helmet on his head there wasn't much to see besides a little bit of brown hair sticking out from beneath his helmet, and the ridiculous muscles of his arms.

He glanced back at me, "Exactly! Before I met you, I didn't think that alcohol related amnesia was anything but a myth."

I stopped and put my hands on my hips, "I don't drink!" I defended. I grew up in the bar, and I never wanted to become drunk and make a fool out of myself. He scoffed and copied my pose.

"Really? I suppose that was some other Marlene Wallace who was banned from the Goblin Bar for starting a fight after some guy got a little too friendly."

"Yes!" It had to be, because the only bar I had ever been to was 7th Heaven. The man shook his head and continued his way down the hall. I hesitated for a moment before jogging to catch up with him. He was my only way to get out of here, and hopefully figure out what happened. "Um, so… What's your name?" I started out, making him suddenly stop and sigh.

"Really Marlene. I know you're against the helmets, but its mandatory. You should be able to recognize my voice." I was sure he was glaring at me behind the helmet, so I just offered a sheepish smile. "Oh for Gaia's sake, I'm Kunsel. The next time you do that I'm going to start making up names," he shook his finger at me. "Now come on, Hojo will get upset if you're late for your Mako treatment. The last SOLDIER Candidate who was late…"

"SOLDIER Candidate?" I interrupted, my eyes large with surprise and fear. "What, but, I…"

"What? You've been working on this for over a year now." Kunsel grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hallway. "You are not turning tail after finally being transferred from the Infantry. Not after all the work Zack, Luxiere, and I did to train you. Besides, Lezi would kill you if you passed this up. " I wanted to ask who they were, where I was, and what was going on, but strangely the words wouldn't pass from my lips. I felt warmth seep through my shirt, and my free hand went to the sapphire pendent around my neck. The warm stone was comforting, and just touching it caused my courage to swell. If this was real, and not a very strange dream, then this was my path to becoming a hero.