He was a wanderer, and he really couldn't complain about the lifestyle. It suited him. Get to see the world, learn different cultures, help out where it mattered.

Thrashing the baddies was still a novelty 50 years later.

The guys hadn't needed him for a rather long time now and he let himself be pushed out towards a 'normal' life.

Normal life for a SOLDIER was quite nice, thanks.

Sighing contentedly he settled his head on his pack, sword lain at his side and let himself slip off to sleep.

~*~dreamscape~*~

'Hey buddy, ready to move out?'

'Time to go? What's Choco-butt up to?'

There was an entertained snicker that was cut short.

'You really should be more nice to him, considering you're going to be with him for a while.'

'Aerith I presume?'

'Yes.'

'Dang man, you go so lucky.'

'Don't I know it.'

'Flatterers.'

'Darn tootin'. I'm the branch president, personally. Always happy to oblige a pretty customer.'

The giggle reminded him of fresh water streams and sunlight. Huh, neat.

'All right then, scoot!'

There was a dropping sensation in his stomach, a twist and suddenly he was elsewhere.


"Cloud?"

"Yes Nanaki?"

"I need you to visit please. Something came out of the Lifestream."

"A Remnant?"

"No but… it's not evil, but there's a sense of something odd. Please come."

"As soon as I can. I'll call Cid and the others too."

"Thank you Cloud, see you soon."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Cloud Strife, Savior of the Planet, did not know what to make of things as he first walked into the halls of Bugenhagen's planetarium, Vincent right behind him. The two fighters took in the scene and tried hard to decipher just what was going on.

Nanaki, the regal Guardian Beast, was plopped out on a cushion, his head in a strange male's lap, getting his ears scratched to such an extent it sounded like Fenrir was gunning full throttle without the benefits of mufflers.

"Hey big guy, I think you've got company."

The scritches stopped for and a moment the big cat grumbled before opening bleery eyes to look at his two newest guests.

Abruptly he was on his feet, regal persona back on, looking serene and confident and a little mysterious.

Only the snickering stranger gave clue to the fact it was a front.

"Vincent, Cloud, good to see both of you."

"You too Nanaki." Still a bit stunned the two entered the room.

"Huh, you were right."

For some reason the others in the room didn't think the new man was talking to any of them.

"Nanaki?"

"He says his name is Xander, and he was transported here after his time on his world was up."

Cloud nearly had a heart attack when he saw the sword strapped to the man's back.

The bright, shiny, well-cared for sword that he had visited on the cliffs outside of Midgar not a day before.

"Who the hell are you?"

"SOLDIER First Class, Xander Fair. Been a while Choco-butt."

For just a moment all three of them could see a ghostly apparition next to Xander.

Then Vincent fell over laughing.

"Choco-butt!?"