Lightning's POV

"Wait! I didn't get your name!" I hear a voice shout from behind.

I pretend I don't hear the blonde's shouts and continue walking, unsure of where I'm going to go now. All of my answers were running after me but after what just happened with the thief, my pride won't let me turn around. Maybe it's not my pride. Am I scared to find out what I really am? I ponder some more until the panting blonde finally reaches me and blocks my path.

"You said you walked across half a continent to see me.. You really gonna walk away now?" He asks, destroying my reasoning for leaving.

"Don't flatter yourself.." I fire back, not wanting to show any weakness for the man.

"If you want to leave, I won't stop you.. But please be safe.." He says with a genuine warmness in his tone.

I turn and take a few steps, hearing a faint sigh as I do but my heart is begging me to stop and I listen.

"What happened to me?..."

"I found you in a laboratory in Shinra's headquarters.. In a tank full of mako... I just couldn't leave you there.." He replies.

"Do you know me?" I ask only to get a puzzled look. "...I've lost most of my memory..."

"No. Or at least I don't think so.. Something made me break you free, but I don't know what."

"Oh.." Is all I can muster, knowing my best chance to find out who I really was had no clue.

"What's your name?" He asks me, making me realize I never answered him the first time.

"Lightning."

"So, Lightning.. Are you going to go home?"

"I don't know how to get there.. I can't even see Cocoon from here.." I sigh looking to the sky.

"Cocoon?" I asks, again looking at me puzzled. "Where's that?"

"If this is Pulse, then it should be up there?" I say, pointing to the sky. "But I don't see it.."

"Pulse? The planet is called Gaia.." The blonde says, now looking at me like I'm insane.

My eyes fill up with rare tears as I'm forced to question what little I know. Am I mad? have I dreamed up a make believe world to fill in the gaps in my memory? I thought it was all coming back to me, but every time I think I'm getting answers, I learn less and less about myself and it's all become too much. I bury my face in my hands to hide my watering eyes, but I feel the man's hands wrap around my wrists and gently pull my hands away. He looks at me with his strange, piercing eyes, like he understands and gives me a small smile before finally speaking.

"When I'm done with my mission, I'll come back to you and we'll work out your past and we'll find your home.. I promise.." Cloud says in the most sincere tone that I've ever heard, before placing a hand on my shoulder. "Goodbye Lightning.."

"Wait!" I shout as he starts to walk away. "I want to come with you!"

"I can't ask you to do that.. We're after Sephiroth. The whole world is against us.."

"You didn't ask, I did. Besides, if you die, I won't get any answers." I reply, with a lie. The truth was, the man that stood in front of me was the only person in the world that I trusted right now.

He lets out a defeated sigh, knowing I won't take no for an answer, and leads us back to the village, to the old lady's house.

"I promise not to kill your friend." I say in mono tone as he pauses at the door but lets a small grin out.

We go inside and nobody seems to be shocked by my presence. My eyes fall upon the young thief, who walks towards me, holding my sword. She doesn't dare look at me and offers the sword to me to which I take and hold out my arm to shake her hand. The young girl looks shocked but happy and shakes my hand vigorously, before retreating to the nearest seat. It's then when I notice all eyes were on me. Sensing my discomfort, Cloud takes center stage and introduces me to the group, who take it in turns to greet me.

"I'm Aeris! Nice to meet you!" The brunette in the pink dress says as she hugs me like we're the best of friends. "I love your hair colour. Where do you buy your dye?"

"Hi.. Er.. I don't dye my hair.. At least I don't think so.." I answer her strange question.

"It's getting dark out.. We better get moving.." Cloud says, staring out of the window.

"Stay here for the night, my dear. If you're planning to get into Junon there's no way you could get up there at night. Even if you could get into the lift, it is powered down at night." The old lady explains.

"Are you sure?"

"You saved Priscilla from that monster. The least I can do is let you rest."

Cloud's POV

I sit on the floor of the dark and cramped house that's nearly silent, other than the gentle sound of the waves outside and the light breathing of my friends. Even Barret isn't storing tonight, giving us much needed peace. I open a single eye and watch Lightning, who is fighting sleep with every bit of will power she had left, but eventually succumbing to it's call. Once I know she's fell asleep and she wasn't going to take off in the middle of the night, I relaxed and drifted off myself.

.. That reminds me..

You again?.. Who are you?

.You'll find out soon... But more importantly, 5 years ago...

5 years ago... Nibelheim?

When you went to Mt. Nibel, Tifa was your guide, right?

..Yeah,.. Surprised me..

But where was Tifa other than that?

...I dunno.

It was a great chance for you two to see each other again.

...You're right..

Why couldn't you see each other alone?

...I don't know... I don't remember clearly...

Why don't you try asking Tifa?

Yeah..

Then, get up!

"Hey, wake up. Wake up, Cloud!" I hear Tifa's voice command softly, bringing me around slowly.

I slowly stand up, stiff from sleeping on the floor and stretch out wide, cracking my back as I do. Everyone slowly leaves the house but I hang back and wait until it's just me and Tifa. With last night's dreams still fresh in my mind, I need to ask her before we continue.

"Tifa..." I say, getting her attention. "When Sephiroth and I went to Nibelheim, where were you?"

"...We saw each other, right?" She answers but looks away and adjusts her hair, making me feel uneasy.

"The other time.."

"No.. It was 5 years ago.. I don't remember.." My oldest friend answers, but something doesn't feel right. "But, something seems strange outside. Cloud, come quick." She adds before bolting outside, ending any possibility to question her more.

I head outside, noticing for the first time an upbeat tune that sounded like parade music blurring from above. I walk over to the rest of the group, who are stood in a circle, all talking to Lightning who is still staring at Red in sheer amazement every time he talks. I'm just about to get everyone to move when the door to a house on my right swings open and the little girl who we'd seen on the beach makes her way down the wooden stairs.

"Are you alright now?" I ask her as she makes it down the last step.

"Ummm.. Thanks for helping.." She nods nervously. "I'm sorry I mistook you for one of those Shinra guys.."

"That's alright." I smile.

"I'll give you something SPECIAL!" She shouts, walking over to me and handing an amulet with a large red orb dangling from it. A summon?

"What's that music? It sure sounds lively." Barret asks, humming away to the tune.

"I heard they were rehearsing the reception for the new Shinra president." Priscilla explains.

"Rufus!? I gotta pay my respects.." He says angrily, stroking his deadly limb.

Priscilla tells us the story of what her village used to be like before the Shinra came and cast a shadow over it. This derelict village used to be a thriving fishing port that supplied the continent with fresh fish but now it's not much better than the slums. We discuss our options until scaling the high voltage tower seems to be the only viable way of breaking into the second most secure city in the world. Priscilla say's she knows a way up, but as I look around, it seems like I'll be going on my own.

"High voltage tower... I guess that means Cloud'll have to do it.." Tifa says.

"Yeah, better leave it to Cloud!" Aeris agrees as everyone begins to walk away from me.

"H-Hey!" I Shout, feeling properly stitched up.

Lightning seems hesitant to let me go alone, but Tifa takes her by the arm and walks her over to Aeris as the three of them chat like the best of friends. I look around but nobody is brave enough to make eye contact with me, so I'm forced to follow the young girl back down to the beach on my own.

Lightning's POV

"Don't you think we should go with him?" I ask, shocked at their willingness to sit back and watch him do something potentially deadly.

"Trust me, he'll be alright." Tifa replies with great confidence. "See." She adds, pointing to the blonde who was now scaling the structure.

"But we can't just let him do it on his own!" I shout and run back to the beach and into the water.

"Wait! You're gonna get-!" Was all I heard before I reached up and grabbed the base of the support beam and felt thousands of volts flow through my body like burning needles as soon as my fingertips touched the bare metal. There was a loud bang, and i was launched back into the water, in pain and disorientated. I don't remember much, but I see Tifa's arm pull me out of the water and the next thing I know, I was on the shore, coughing up water once again.

"How did Cloud do it?" I ask, demanding an answer as to why I couldn't

"He has his lightning and elemental materia equipped to his armour. It grounds him from the current. We did try to tell you.." Tifa explains.

"Mr Dolphin helped too!" Priscilla added.

"Someone needs to explain materia to me..." I huff as I stand up.

"You really don't remember anything?" Aeris asks me.

"Everything I thought I knew seems to be a lie.. I thought this planet was called Pulse and that my home was Cocoon.. The floating world.. I don't even know if I have a sister or not.." I mumble, trying not to let it all get to me.

"Damn girl.. You're as messed up as Cloud is." Barret say's, earning himself a frown from the three girls.

"Right.. Go check our supplies. Me and Lightning are going to the store and getting what we need." Aeris commands with her gentle tone as she takes me by the arm and leads me into the a building across the street from the old ladies house.

"You probably think I'm crazy, right?.." I ask Aeris as we brows the shelves.

"Nope." She smiles warmly. "I'm sure you'll find out where you're from. We'll all help.. Hey, do you think I'd suit pink hair?"

"Err.. Maybe... What's wrong with your hair?" I ask, amazed at her ability to change the subject.

"Cloud seems to like pink hair." She answers, blushing. "Soo.. How are we going to get to the city up there?"

"Leave that to me.." I smile, eager to prove myself to the group. "Come on."

We leave the store, having never bought anything due to it's limited stock and meet the others in the center of the village. By now, Cloud is probably deep in the heart of the city above, and after hearing just how heavily fortified it is, I'm concerned. I look around, weighing up my options; ruling out scaling the support pillar or abseiling down the mountain that was cut out to accommodate the busy port due to time. The lone guard at the city lift was all that stood between me and what I wanted. How hard could it be? I walk over to the man, who stiffens his stance as he sees me approach. I notice his finger slip nervously onto the trigger but I'm ready with my materia if I need to fight.

"I want to go up." I say flatly.

"Shinra I.D please.." He replies, knowing I have none.

"I've got no I.D. But if you let me and those guys over there up, I'll make it worth your while." I offer as I point to the horror stricken faces of Cloud's friends in the distance.

"Oh really? Just what do you have in mind." The guard says with a filthy grin, instantly making me realize what I'd said.

"I meant money.." What a creep..

"Fine.." He huffs with a disappointed tone. "10 gil each.."

I wave the others over and we all watch as the blast doors open as I hand the guard his money and enter. We step onto the lift floor that has no rails and press the button and ascend up the damp concrete tunnel. I can only hope Cloud is still alright.

A/N: Another sort one sorry. Not much has happened but The next chapter will be bigger and more interesting. I do love Tifa and I felt mean for making her a little mean in my other story so her warmness will come out in this one. For now anyway. XD You're right about the characters. Vaan is terrible. I liked Fran.. Think it was the voice.. but 12 doesn't feel like a ff game. I enjoyed the scale of the world, and the gameplay I found fun once you got into it properly. There shall be some nice moments in the near future but I want it to be a 'Slow burn' I feel lost when the chase is gone haha.

Soo.. Let me know what you think.. And as always, thanks for reading.