A/N: Ohmigosh reviews! and Favorites/Followers *insert crying happy meme here* I'm so happy you guys are enjoying this. Specifically shout out to zazie and random anon, believe me I will be updating as often as I can. Which will be pretty often. I have too much free time at work. Also, this chapter is a little shorter, sorry, but it was a good place to stop. Next next chapter will be a fun one, I promise :)
again, I do not own anything FF7, I only own Sam, Kyo, and any earthlings that may appear (though I don't think anymore will show up from here on. But we'll see. This story is kinda writing itself)
P.s. if you have any questions or concerns, ask away and I will answer! or if you spot any inconsistencies that I may have missed, please please please let me know so I can update it for future readers.
P.P.S. I am staying as close to the canon story as possible for now, (changes will be made, however, as you will soon find out in this story, just haven't figured out where yet) there is only one detail about the canon that I am purposefully straying away from right off the bat however, and that's the fact that this whole game is supposed to take place in one month's time (yeah okay. It took months(plural) for Zack and Sephiroth to travel to Nibelheim from Midgar in Crisis Core, but it only took days for Cloud and Co. to make it there on foot? I'm calling shenanigans on you Square) Anywho, back to story! :)
I don't know how long I was out, I have only vague recollections of what happened before waking. I remember the sea green without problems, having experienced it before in past dreams, but when it faded my mind's eye filled with a strange collection of images and sounds. It was like a barrage of emotions and sensations, flickering by like a very old slideshow, only each image lasted for less than the blink of an eye. I could try to give you a description of at least one of these images, but they never repeated it seemed, and none stayed in my memory for long after seeing it. I just remember the whispers, though what they were saying I could not say, but it sounded malevolent, and yet...inviting. It filled me with a sense of dread, and suffering, but I couldn't tune it out...I didn't want to. My heart began racing as it ate away at me, tightening its grip on my sanity. Bright lights would flash, pain began wracking my brain and as I was about to scream at the top of my lungs...I woke up.
My lungs filled with air almost instantly, heart pounding in my ears, a tingling on the back of my neck. I bolted upright as if I were woken up by a nightmare. That might not be far from the truth. I looked around at my surroundings. I was on a bed, more similar to a cot, in a fairly dank room with other cots around. It was somewhat dark, save for the light coming through the windows and front door. It felt like I was in some sort of cottage or cabin. I moved my legs to get up out of the bed, but the moment my feet hit the floor I felt a searing pain start from my ankle and shoot right up my leg. I let out a small whine from the pain, blinking back tears. I'd never broken a bone before, yet there it was, bandaged up with a splint, was my newly broken ankle. How did-
"Oh good, you're awake." A voice came from the doorway, interrupting my thoughts. It was a woman, about middle-aged, with black hair and some strands of gray, giving away her age. "I was wondering if you'd rejoin the living." She gave a small laugh, her eyes crinkled around the edges showing that she had done much of this laughing through her life.
I wiped at my eyes before asking her, "How long was I out?"
"Not long, maybe a few hours. The boys found you passed out in the forest nearby in the middle of the night. I nearly had a heart attack when they brought you back here so late, you were so beaten up." I examined the rest of my body, and sure enough there were plenty of bruises and bloodied bandages covering what no doubt were scratches of sorts. "I was able to give you some medicine to help numb some of the pain, though it was difficult what with you being so dazed and out of sorts."
"Dazed?"
"You looked as if you had no emotion. By the time you were brought here you were awake...if you could call it that." Her lips formed a tight line, her eyebrows giving away her worry. "Either way, unless somebody comes around equipped with a Cure, you're going to be bed-ridden here for a few days until that ankle heals up."
"Cure?..." I wasn't sure how to take her words in, my mind had difficulty processing anything. "Where am I?" If I was to be here for a while, I may as well know where here is.
"Bone Village." She answered curtly.
"Bone...village? Where is that?" I asked more to myself than to her.
"Oh dear, you must have had a lot taken out of you." She grabbed a towel from the wash basin in the corner and wiped my brow with it, settling down next to me on the cot. "You're on the Northern Continent, dear." She answered as slowly as she could, as if she were talking to a child. "Do you remember your name, or why you would be in the Sleeping Forest?"
"Uhh...Sam." I answered, sounding unsure, but I knew that was my name. My mind was preoccupied with these other names she's telling me. Bone Village, Northern Continent, Sleeping Forest...Cure...Lifestream. "Oh my god." Everything came to me so suddenly as my eyes widened, staring at nothing in particular, just letting the memories flood my mind. The last dream I had, the broken window, the Lifestream. What happened between then and now?
"Did you remember something?" The woman asked me, probably noticing the look of realization that crossed my face. She brought the towel away from my head, putting her other hand on my shoulder. It was a touch meant to comfort me, but I was far from comfortable. "Do you remember how you got here?"
Here meaning the Sleeping Forest. Should I tell her the truth, that I came from another world...she'd look at me as if I were crazy. No, I'll have to lie. I know this world well enough, I should be able to do that, right? "Uhm, I was at Icicle Inn, with some friends. We were on vacation there."
"Icicle Inn? That's pretty far from here. How did you get all this way without a car?" She's not believing me.
"I did have one, but I ran out of gas on the way south. When I got out to fill it back up with the jug I kept in the back, some monsters attacked me. I ran as fast as I could to get away, but...I'm not sure I remember what happened after that. I think something hit me." I made sure to look as confused as possible, which really shouldn't be all that hard, I was fairly confused to start with. She was buying it though as I watched her expression turn to that of one with fear. Oh what a tangled web we weave. I could feel the guilt in me already, but what could I do?
"Where were your friends? Weren't they with you when you left?"
"No, they stayed behind. We got into an argument and I told them I was going to head back home ahead of them." Liar... "They've got their own car." I added quickly before I made myself out to be a terrible person, leaving my imaginary friends stranded in the cold.
I could see her breathe a small sigh of relief, but the judgments were still plastered on her face. I wasn't sure if she believed me or not, but she played along either way. "That was a very careless thing you did. Didn't your parents teach you not to go out on your own anywhere. The monsters out in the world are ruthless and uncaring creatures," she lectured as I felt the guilt pile up on me, "Where is your home?"
"Midgar." I blurted out without thinking. It was the first place that came to mind when I thought of this world.
She let out a loud groan, "Oh no wonder!" I could almost feel the frustration billow off of her, "Midgar, that city is filled with terrible morals. Well, I hope you learned your lesson!" She got up from the bed and briskly walked out of the cabin, no doubt fuming. I just held my head in my hands. What am I going to do? Before I could think up a plan for myself she came back inside with a long stick in hand. She walked over and pushed it onto my lap. It was about as long as I was tall, and upon closer inspection, it was beautiful. A hand carved piece of wood that tapered into a point at the bottom, no doubt to stick into the ground below for better balance. I need to make sure not to impale my foot with this thing. The top end was a delicately sculpted dragon's head, shaped in such a way that allowed my hand to rest atop it comfortably. I'm not that tall though. "My husband carved that out for you so that you could stand when you woke up. Here's another potion to numb the pain some as I'm sure the last one had worn off." I took the bottle she handed me and stared at it, not sure what to do. "Well go on, drink up!" She said with such a stern voice that reminded me of my mother. I gulped it down and could feel the warmth spread through my body almost instantly. I still couldn't move my foot, but I could put some weight on it, the pain a little more bearable now.
"Thank you," I said sincerely as I rested my weight on my new walking stick. I followed her out of the cabin to find men and women digging at the ground, bones lie everywhere. This place certainly fits its name.
"There's a van that just arrived here from Midgar. You're lucky you woke up when you did, otherwise you'd have to stay here for another two weeks before another supply van came through here." The woman explained as she led me over to the van she was talking about. There were some workers carrying supplies to and from the van, filling other cabins and small houses nearby with boxes of who knows what. "These guys bring us supplies to help with our dig, and also to bottle up any resources we come across to bring back to the city, which helps fund our research here." She explained, noticing my wonder.
I just nod in her direction as I look over to see two men in Shinra soldier uniforms. "Are they from SOLDIER?" I muttered to myself. She heard me though and answered, "No, just regular Shinra guards. They're here to oversee the workers on their journey here, to protect them from any monsters that may catch up with their van. Though that rarely happens."
I just stood there as she walked away, holding myself up by wrapping both my hands around the walking stick. One of the men in uniform looked at me, at least I think he did. I could barely tell where either of them were looking with those helmets on. The other one was having a conversation with the woman. As I was about to say something to the man staring at me, this guy is really starting to creep me out, she walked back over and told me that they were willing to give me a ride back to Midgar. "You'll also be able to find someone with a Cure I'm sure once you get there."
Why did I have to say Midgar? That place really is as she said. I sighed inwardly and nodded. I made my choice, I have to commit. "Thank you, again. Really." I said sincerely to her once more. Here was a perfect stranger, lost and hurt, and she'd helped that person, no questions asked. Well, a few were asked, but nothing too probing. I couldn't help but smile and give her a hug, practically falling into her as I was still unable to carry my weight just yet. She just laughed as she caught me, patting me on the back, and I could see the crinkle at the corners of her eyes again.
It was a long ride to Midgar. I sat in the back of the van on some boxes with the workers while the guards took the front seats. Most of the workers were sleeping sitting up or lying on the floor of the van, tired after a long day. I would catch one of guards up front glancing behind at us, or at me. Same one who was staring at me earlier. Yep, still creepy. Finally, after a few hours, he opened his mouth and said something to me. "So, you're from Midgar, too, huh?" I just nodded in response. "Me, too. I'm from Sector 4. What Sector you from?"
What sector should I be from? 6? No, that would probably make me seem like someone with loose morals. Maybe 5, though I don't really know too much about Sector 5 except for Aerith. "The Sector 7 Slums" I responded. There was a stunned silence from him, the only sound I could hear for a few minutes was the light snoring from the sleeping workers.
"oh..." was all he could say before he concluded with, "I'm so sorry. Did you have family there?"
"Did?" feigning ignorance. The silence had told me exactly where I was now. I wish I didn't know, actually existing in this world just made the whole ordeal with the Sector 7 plate seem so much more tragic.
"The plate above the slums...it...it fell." He took his helmet off, giving me the most sincere look of condolences. He had straight, shoulder length brown hair and golden eyes. His cheekbones were pronounced with little to no fat in his cheeks. Whoah...he's gorgeous. Why do everybody in this world look like models? He continued on to explain, "It was AVALANCHE. That bloody terrorist group. Have they no remorse for what they did?" He sat there fuming. Did he not know? I guess only the higher ups and the Turks knew that the plate falling was Shinra's doing. "I'm so very sorry, I don't understand how anybody could hurt so many innocent people." Neither could I, but people do it. I thought, thinking about the problems on Earth...our two worlds aren't very different.
My face betrayed me as my eyes drooped a touch, thinking about all of the problems on Earth, and how many people insist on turning a blind eye to it all. The same was happening in Midgar and the rest of Gaia. If it weren't for the differing laws of physics, our two worlds would have paralleled almost perfectly. "I'll avenge you."
"What?" I was taken aback as I looked back up at him, his face filled with determination.
"I sent my application in for SOLDIER. They'll be announcing the testing for new recruits in a few days. I'll make sure I'm on the front lines against AVALANCHE." He was serious. Doesn't he know that AVALANCHE is just a rag tag group of only a few people, that it wasn't going to be an all out war if he were to face them?
Nonetheless I just gave him a small smile. "Thanks, but you don't have to go risking your life for me. I'm a total stranger to you."
He responded by holding out his hand to me, a big smile on his face. I took hold of it, shaking, "I'm Kyo."
"Sam." I answered.
"There, now we're not strangers." His grin widened. Oh god, now I really couldn't tell him what was wrong with this dream of his. I just nodded and mimicked his grin, though not with as much enthusiasm. Why crush him? He has the best of intentions. Even if he is a little bit of a creeper. "You should get some rest. It'll still be a short while before we get to port, and then some time after that before we reach the wastelands surrounding Midgar."
I agreed to the suggestion as I leaned back up against the wall of the van and shut my eyes. I didn't allow myself to sleep, however. I wasn't sure if I trusted Kyo. He seemed nice enough, but something about the way he made eye contact just didn't seem to sit well with me. Not that eye contact was bad, just the way he did seemed a little...off.
I sat there, instead of sleeping, thinking about all my past conversations, putting together my story. So far, I'm from Midgar, Sector 7. I went to Icicle Inn with my friends, but left to go home, only to be stopped by lack of gas, and then monsters. I got hit in the head with something and woke up in Bone Village with a broken ankle. Hitched a ride with Kyo and others. Okay, where should my friends be...under the plate. I winced at that thought, but it was the only way I could safely erase any proof of my lack of existence in this world. All right, at least I have a better idea of when I am. The plate fell. How long has it been since that happened though...As I sat there deliberating, I found myself drifting. My body was healing, so I was drained of energy, no matter how much I tried fighting the sleep, I succumbed to it anyway.
The same flashes from before, began again.
We had just crossed the channel between the Northern and Eastern Continent and we were back in a van. This time Kyo joined me in the back while one of the workers sat up front with the other guard driving again. I really didn't want to talk to this guy, so I feigned sleepiness. Kyo let me rest as I closed my eyes again, though I was far from tired, having gotten enough sleep on the ride in the Northern Continent. Instead I sat there in silence, listening to the people around me, remaining aware of my surroundings.
I listened to Kyo talking to his coworker. "Where should we take her?" He whispered to the other guard. I heard no response from him, but Kyo responded, "Do you think we can find a place for her in the tower?"
"I don't know if she can afford to live there, if she was from the slums."
"You think we could get a favor? At least for something temporary until she can get back on her feet?"
His friend started laughing at his suggestion. "Ok, Kyo, and who would you ask for that favor?"
"Maybe the mayor?"
"C'mon Kyo, you know Domino has no say in anything. He's just a figurehead to give the people a sense of government and structure. He has no more say than you do for renting out apartments for free."
"Then, we go above him?"
"Now you're seriously dreaming," I peaked my eyes open to see the guard shaking his head in frustration, "The President won't even give his own son a place to live without charging him." So the President is still alive...Sephiroth hasn't killed him yet...My eyes shot open as my heart sped as my cheeks flushed. The last dream I had filled my mind. Was it a dream...realizing where I am, was any of it a dream? Before Kyo could look my way again, I quickly shut my eyes, willing my cheeks to cool off. "Hmm...I wonder what you're dreaming about." I could hear Kyo mutter to himself in my direction. My facial expression betraying everything right now. Why do I have to be such an open book?
Night had fallen, and we were driving through Midgar, dropping off the workers at their homes, when Kyo turned on the radio as we started heading towards the Shinra Tower. I looked out the back window and saw it scrape the sky above. It was huge, taller than any of the skyscrapers I'd seen on Earth. With the radio idly buzzing some music, serving for background noise, Kyo turned backed to me. "So, do you have any friends or family in any of the other sectors?" I turned to him and shook my head. I can at least be truthful with that much. "Well, if you want, since you've no place to go, and I would fully understand if you said 'no,' but you're welcome to stay at my place until you can get back on your feet again." The hair on the back of my neck immediately stood on end. My instinctual red flags were being raised.
Before I could give him an answer, however, I heard the music cut out. Interrupted the station was an emergency broadcast signal.
"Attention. Attention. Emergency Broadcast: Midgar 12/9 [ ν ] – εуλ 0007 at 2300 hours, President Shinra is declared dead. I repeat: The President of Shinra Electric Company of Midgar is deceased. All emergency units report to floors 60 thru 70 to guard all entrances and exits and offices throughout the floors. All SOLDIER operatives report to floor 49 for debriefing on the situation. End transmission."
Once the transmission ended, the radio was filled with nothing but dead silence: no music, no disc jockey, no noise. The van was quiet as Kyo and I stared at the radio, a look of dread shared on all of our faces. I look to both guards wondering what was going through their minds as Kyo's coworker kept his focus on the road, now speeding towards the tower. I held on to Kyo's seat as we swerved through traffic, stopping only once we were inside the military garage underneath the lobby of the tower.
As we exited the van, Kyo threw a card in my direction, "Go to floor 30, you'll find my apartment there. Take the emergency elevator over there," He pointed to the back corner of the garage behind me, "lock the door and whatever you do, don't open the door for anybody." He spoke with a tone of authority and turned to run off with the other guard in the opposite direction towards the main elevators. You know, if he wasn't a total creep, he'd be kind of badass.
I hobbled to the elevator and did as he said, finding the room that matched the number on his keycard. I slid it through the card reader and holed up in his apartment. I calmed my breathing, rubbing the back of my neck, and gathered my thoughts. Ok, Cloud and co. are no doubt out of the cells, heading towards the top floor now. I got goosebumps thinking about the goings-on on the floors above. I shivered a bit to myself and shook it off. Shinra tower is crawling with Hojo's monsters now, blood stains all over the floors, leading up to Shinra's office at the top floor. They find the president dead, with the Masamune sticking out of his back. My mind went back to Sephiroth again, only this time my face went pale white, everything about me felt cold. "He's started." I whispered to myself. I turned to look up, staring at the ceiling, imagining the sky above filled with red. "Meteor...I can't be here. I can't stay here. I don't know how long it will take." My heart starts racing, blood rushing, hearing the pounding in my ears, and then eventually my head. "I can't be here, I need to leave. I need to go home." I started hyperventilating as I felt a tingle on the back of my neck, my hand still rubbing it. Awkwardly pacing the room now, not even hearing my walking stick fall to the ground, I start babbling to myself like I was mad, "Think Sam, think, you can get through this. You know this story inside and out." You also know how it all ends. "So many dead..." Tears welled up in my eyes. "God I'm going to die here." I crouched down into a ball, holding my head between my knees, trying to calm my breathing, but my headache just gets worse, making my heart race more from the pain alone, blocking out the throbbing pain now doubt I should have felt putting all that pressure on my ankle. My mind flashed with images again, I could hear whispers, and then I was out.
I woke up a small while later, still in Kyo's apartment. It was dark, but my breathing was calmer, but head still throbbed. Feels like a gorilla punched me in the head. I sat back up, holding my head in my hand. I took in a deep breath and assessed my situation. Is there a way I can get home from here? I stood up and hobbled over to the window, wincing at each step, and took a look outside. Smog. I could see the reactors pumping out a gross mixture of mako and black smoke. I suppose I could just jump into a reactor, but that's more like processed Lifestream, if it could even be called that. And there's no guarantee it would take me home. I sighed as I lifted my walking stick from the ground. Well, it's not like I'd get far with my leg like this anyway.
I decided to hobble around the apartment, finding the bathroom and opening the medicine cabinet. Nothing. Looking around for a potion, I find my way into Kyo's bedroom. It's a disaster zone. Clothes hanging off the headboard, an assortment of socks and underwear scattered across the floor. I went to check drawers and closets, finding more clothes, some knick knacks, a few pictures of family How nice and...a magazine? ...oh my. My cheeks went red holding this in my hand, shoving it back in the drawer trying to pretend I didn't see it.
While still clutching onto my stick, I carefully knelt down and looked under the bed. More socks and underwear and clothes, a couple of shoes, and a glowing orb. huh? I grabbed the orb and examined it. "Materia?" I could feel a warmth from it as I held it in my hand. I stood up and looked at my walking stick, "This could count, right?" I said to myself as I brought the green orb close to the carved wood. Nothing happened. I tried pushing it, knocking it repeatedly against the wood. Still nothing. Then I remembered another method, and stuck it to my wrist, gently pushing inwards. It disappeared, my wrist now had an ethereal glow to it.
I stuck my wrist up, and pointed forward, as I felt the warmth emanating through my veins. I could feel the power that was working it's way towards the tips of my fingers, but then I clenched my fist and stopped myself. "Not inside, I don't know which one this is." I hobbled over to his bedroom window, opened it and pointed outside, letting the warmth flow again, and then out it came, like a puff of green sparkles, and then nothing. I raised an eyebrow, "Well that was anticlimactic." I said to myself as I stared at my hand, looking as if nothing happened. Then a thought hit me, as I pointed my hand to my ankle, aiming the energy at my broken bone this time. With the spell cast, I felt the warmth jump from my hand to my foot, similar to the warmth the potion gave me, only now I could move. I hurriedly tore off the bandages and splint, as I sat down on Kyo's bed, examining my ankle. No swelling, not red, no bruises, no cuts. I wiggled my toes and twisted my foot around, laughing in pure bliss. My upper body fell backwards onto the bed as my legs, hanging off the bed, kicked around. I was so excited to feel again and not need that stick anymore.
"If I had known being in my bed would get you that excited, I would have gotten you here sooner."
My heart froze as I heard Kyo's voice by the bedroom door. I quickly bolted upright, nervously pleading, "I-it's not what you think. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to intrude in your personal space. It's just my ankle and-"
"Whoah, whoah!" Kyo started shaking his head and waving his hands back and forth, cutting my apology off, "It's ok, it's ok. I was just joking." He gave a small smile and shrugged, "I guess it wasn't that good." I took in a breath and calmed myself down. I gave him a small sorry, and chuckled it off. "I see you found my Cure materia. I was looking everywhere for that a few days ago. Where was it?"
"Under your bed." I answered. He just cocked an eyebrow.
"What were you doing under my bed?"
"My ankle was driving me crazy so I went looking for a potion. Sorry for snooping." I rubbed the back of my neck and looked towards the floor, feeling somewhat ashamed. Before I could look back up at him, I felt him sit down next to me on the bed, my comfort level now plummeting.
"What would make you think I would have a potion underneath my bed?"
"Well, you had a cure underneath it, didn't you?" I asked back with a small laugh, trying to make light of the situation.
He moved a bit closer to me, "Fair enough." I became way too aware of his presence. "Do you think I could have it back."
"Of course!" A little bit higher pitched than I would have liked, as I jumped up to widen the distance between us. I began fumbling with my wrist, until I stopped and just stared. How the hell does this come out?
"Do you need help?" Kyo asked, as he followed me across the room. He reached for my arm, but I immediately pulled it away out of instinct. His face flashed a hurt expression before going to neutral and looking away from me. Feeling bad for my reaction, I apologized again and held out my wrist. I could feel his fingertips brush my skin, they were coarse, no doubt from years of fighting. It wasn't a pleasant feeling. I just closed my eyes, trying to picture somebody else touching me so gently, when he let go of me. I opened my eyes to see that my wrist was still glowing. I looked up at him confused, "Maybe you should hold on to it. I can always get another one later. I feel like you'll need more than I will." All I could do was nod, and give him a small smile as I put my arm back down to my side. "Although, I'll let you keep it on one condition." Oh no, I knew there had to be a catch. "Could you use it on me?" I looked at him briefly, confused if that was supposed to be some sort of come-on, only to see him pointing at a wound on his back as he turned around to show it to me.
"Oh my god, of course!" The wound was huge. "How did that happen?" I asked as I held my hand up to him, placing my hand just above the wound, being careful not to touch or aggravate it. Letting the power surge through my hand I heard him talk of Hojo's monsters that were released on the floors.
"AVALANCHE is gone, headed to who knows where." He griped as I healed his back. "Those cowards." He sighed once his wound was healed. He took off his shirt before grabbing another one, throwing the torn one into the trash. He definitely hesitated a bit before putting the new one on, hoping I'd noticed. I did, but I wouldn't vocalize it to him. I'm barely comfortable just being in his apartment, let alone in his bedroom with his shirt off. "So, anyway, I'm going to have to leave tomorrow for Junon. The company is holding a parade there for Rufus Shinra's inauguration as the new president." That's right, Cloud and them will be heading there, chasing after Sephiroth. Well, chasing after Jenova, but still Sephiroth in mind and spirit, just the body is Jenova's. "So I was wondering, if you'd like to come with me. I can get you some pretty awesome seats, and you can see me marching in it." He asked me, giving me a hopeful smile. If I'm going to find a way home, I'm going to need some time to do it. I'm not sure how much time I have, so why not try and prolong the inevitable in the meantime? I nodded my head and I could see the excitement flare up in him like a firework. I hope I won't regret this.
Kyo started talking again, rambling on about something about Junon and plans of some kind while there. I stopped listening, trying to figure out how I'm going to take care of all of this. I know where every one will be, so that will be easy enough. If I manage to meet up with Cloud, I could give him the 411 before Sephiroth/Jenova even have a chance to mess his mind up further. Sephiroth...my mind went back to my last night on Earth. If that really happened...that wasn't that long ago. He looked so innocent when I saw him. So full of emotion. But, because of how recently that took place, he was guaranteed to have discovered Jenova already. So then why...? "And you can sleep in my bed with me so you don't have to cramp up on that tiny couch, and - " That took me out of my thoughts.
"Whoah! Wait up! Hold it!" I responded with assertion. He gave me a dejected look, but I had stood my ground. "I'll sleep in the bed. You're sleeping on the couch."
