Hello again

Hello again! I'm glad I got so many reviews so fast for the last chapter. Sadly I found some mistakes and I had to re-edit and delete the first version. No major changes, just a few minor details. Anyways! To clear up some confusion, I made a mistake about the plate hitting sector seven. I should have clarified in the last chapter…I'll try to make sense of it in this one! (Please don't hate me… ). Alrighty…next chapter coming up! -Annubis

Disclaimer: I do not own final fantasy VII, Squaresoft does.

Chapter Four

The noise from the roof sent Zack spinning. The crackling, static sound was drawing near along with the flash of red and blue. With fierce speed, Zack pulled out his sword and swung it towards the intruder. It was all over instantly. The form fell to the ground with a hard 'thump'. The only sound between the two men came from the intruder who was panting and moaning from the pain of his wound.

"Yo…did you have…to hit me so…hard?" The man said in-between breaths. He was on his knees, hunched over. One hand was gripping his side where his blood was gushing out.

"What about you? Was I supposed to let you attack me? For all I know, you could have been one of those monsters." Zack folded his arms across his chest. He looked over the man. Zack knew that blue suit, that cocky look. "You're a Turk."

"Reno…at your service…" Reno glared at Zack. He repositioned himself so he could sit down. He did not look to good. "Do you mind?" He held a green orb in front of Zack's face.

"Why the hell should I help you? You work for Shinra." Zack stared at the green orb, cure materia.

"So did you…besides…If you let me die…I can't answer your many questions…" Reno smirked, he knew he had him. Zack snatched up the materia.

"Fine, but only enough to stop the bleeding…I'm not letting you walk away." Zack cast a level two spell, providing enough energy so Reno wouldn't bleed to death.

"Doesn't matter…back up will be here any minute, yo." Reno laughed to himself. "Knew I should've brought Rude…Damn Hojo."

"Ok start answering…" Zack leaned against the fence to the garden.

"Start asking." Reno ran a hand through his fiery red ponytail. He hated it when he got blood in his hair. It was so distasteful.

"What does Hojo want with me?" Zack never lost eye contact with the Turk.

"Ha! That crazy son-of-a-bitch wants another Sephiroth…pardon my language." He smiled to himself. He never said that unless he was in the presence of women. That made him chuckle.

"Sephiroth? Why?" Zack eyes were wide with fear. He knew where this was going.

"Oh that old bastard is mad cause his creation isn't listenin' to him anymore, jes' Jenova. So he plans to turn you into Sephiroth so he can carry out his plans with you." Reno leaned back, he was feeling much better.

"What? Sephiroth's dead…wait. When I was in the Shinra building someone said he. Who was that?" Zack walked over to Reno never losing sight of his icy eyes.

"Yeah…That is the word those sissy SOLDIER's use. That he is the Great Sephiroth himself." Reno smirked. He could tell that it was going to hit Zack hard.

"Im-Impossible!" Zack felt like he was going to be sick.

"Last night Sephiroth, in the flesh, paid President Shinra a visit. Lets jes' say the President is out of commission permanently. His son Rufus is in charge now. Right after the visit with the president, he decided to make it a family reunion. He went to Jenova's cell and stole her head." Reno pulled out a cigarette.

"Her head?" Zack raised an eyebrow.

"Uh huh. Broke right through the glass and cut of her head. Then he left…but not after killing a few SOLDIERs. So that's he. Next question." Reno took a drag and slowly exhaled. He loved the taste of tobacco after being brutally beaten.

"I don't understand. How am I going to be the next Sephiroth? I don't look any different or feel any different and I definitely know I'm not psychotic." Zack rubbed his eyes. Everything was like a dream.

"Yo! Don't you get it!? How do you think you broke out!? How do you think you killed those men so easily!? Not to mention, your speed is way off the charts." Reno hit himself in the forehead.

"I thought that Shinra just went downhill, that's all. Cheap equipment and lazy SOLDIER's." Zack sat down next to Reno who started laughing out loud. He handed back the materia.

"Yeah! That's true, Shinra is going downhill but the SOLDIERs haven't changed and neither has the strength of the cells. You broke through six-inch, bulletproof glass! No ordinary human can do that! Only you and the Great Sephiroth." Reno continued smoking. He did feel better but he did not know how much longer he could remain conscious. "You are a superhuman soldier now. Congratulations. Now, can we move on?"

"Where's Aeris!?" Zack stared at the flowers around him.

"Oh! Yeah, her. Well she was in the Shinra building…funny, she was on the same floor as you last night!" Reno poked Zack in the shoulder.

"What!! You've got to be kidding me!" Zack covered his face. "I have to go back!" He grabbed Reno's collar of his white dress shirt. "And you're coming with me!"

"Whoa! Hey! Sorry bud! There's nothing I can do now!" Reno threw Zack's hands off his shirt. "AVALANCHE came and stole her last night. Also took that damn mutt with 'em too." Reno laughed again. "Hojo got what he deserved. He lost Aeris, the dog, you, and Jenova! Not to mention, he can't do anything to control Sephiroth anymore!" Reno slapped his knee and threw his head back.

"I'm glad this is so amusing." Zack frowned at Reno. "Can you please tell me who this AVALANCHE is?" Zack tried to remain patient.

"Oooohhhh…They're some rebel group who's against the use of mako. They want nothing more than the fall of Shinra. That damn Cloud is a pain in the ass too. Hojo has a real infatuation with him also." Reno thought long and hard.

"Cloud? Cloud who!?" Zack stood up.

"Cloud Strife. Some ex-SOLDIER mercenary. Weirdo if you ask me. Wait…you should know him! Weren't you the two who escaped from Hojo's lab?" Reno's eyes were about to pop out of his head.

"Yeah…seems like I'll have to pay him a little visit." Zack clenched his fists. 'What the hell is going on? Cloud wasn't in SOLDIER. What has he got to do with Aeris and since when was he a mercenary? He's trying to live my life!!'

"I sense some tension about this Cloud character." Reno leaned back. He looked down at his cigarette and flicked it to the ground.

"Where are they?" Zack managed to get out.

"Hell if I know…Following Sephiroth. If you want to find the girl, look for Cloud, if you want to find Cloud, look for Sephiroth. I'm sure you can sense that freak somehow. Besides, you sir are officially an Ancient." Reno smiled at Zack like a child.

"What!?" Everything was so confusing.

"You were injected with Jenova's cells. Sephiroth is loaded with her cells. That's why I say you were lucky to get out when you did. One needle missed ya didn't it?" Zack nodded his head. "Well if that last one would've got you, you would've been done for. Knocked out cold. Then you would've been prepared for the final experiment. Way to go, you officially pissed off Professor Hojo! But don't think that it's over yet. I'm sure he'll find a way to get you. Now, anymore questions? I dunno how much longer we have." Reno looked at his watch.

"Yeah one more, what happened to this place!? It's a dump. Especially Sector Seven. It's a lot different."

"Oh, you rode the train didn't you? Heh…Lets just say that you didn't get off exactly in Sector Seven." Reno took out another cigarette.

"What do you mean?" Zack looked down at Reno who was puffing little rings of smoke at the neighboring flowers.

"A couple days ago, the plate above Sector Seven came crashing down. Lots of people dead. All that damn AVALANCHE's fault if you ask me. You mess with Shinra, you will get hurt. So that's what happened to Sector Seven. Now as for the train, there are still lots of houses that made it through. Some people also refuse to leave. Say they grew up there, they're going to stay. Mostly, jes' old, crazy people." Zack knew of an old woman that could fit in that category. Reno continued. "So the train is still up and running but doesn't go all the way to Sector Seven. It goes as far as it can before hitting the rubble. Technically, you got off at Sector Six and a Half. So that explains the destruction and chaos." Reno closed his eyes.

"I see…" Zack ran a hand through his hair.

"I know it is a lot to take in but I'm not one to get into too many details. That information will jes' hafta do." Reno tilted his head as if listening for something. He glanced at his watch. "Times up, Yo." Reno slowly stood up. "You better get out of here. At least hide in the house. I'll let you go this time." The sound of a helicopter was nearing. Zack ran to the front door of the house.

"Yo!! What are you gonna do!?" Reno shouted over the sound of the helicopter's blades.

"Find her, of course! And Sephiroth, I owe him!" Zack winked at Reno.

"Well if you're gonna see the girl, fix yourself up!! You look like shit!!" Reno smiled and ran towards the direction of the helicopter. Zack ran inside Aeris' house and looked out the window. The copter was full of Turks, helping Reno as he clumsily tried to get inside. Reno slipped and grabbed the rear side of a young, blonde female Turk. He was then met with a slap to the face. After a minute they finally got him in and lifted off. Zack owed Reno. If it was not for him, Zack would be completely lost as of what to do next.

"Well…I guess I should take Reno's advice." Zack looked in the hallway mirror. His hair was longer than Aeris' and he could use a shave. "A shower and some rest wouldn't hurt either." Zack made up his mind. He would take some time cleaning up and regaining his strength. There was not much he could do. He still had no idea where Sephiroth was heading. He decided he'd ask questions later. Zack walked into the bathroom to get cleaned up.

"That was refreshing!" Sighing with relief, Zack wiped the condensation off of the mirror in the bathroom. "Just wish I had some better clothes…and maybe a haircut. This long hair will only get in the way in battle. Besides, I may now be like Sephiroth, but I sure as hell don't wanna look like him." Zack thought about what he just said. He always wanted to be like the Great Sephiroth, but never imagined it to occur literally. "I'm nothing but a clone to fill his shoes and fix his mistakes." Zack stared at his eyes. "Those…those are mine. At least I have that. No one can steal my eyes…or my soul." Zack got dressed in the dirty SOLDIER uniform. "This thing smells like it's never been washed. I can't stand this…I'm going to the store." With that, Zack headed for the door.

"Crap! What about money!? Awww…" Zack slumped to the floor. "I hate this…" Zack slapped his head, trying to think of a way to get money. "Wait! Aeris…she always had a piggy bank she kept hidden. Oh please! Tell me she still has it!" Zack darted up the stairs and into Aeris bedroom. "Where!? Where did she keep it!? I hope she didn't take it with her!" Zack looked under the bed and in her closet. He pulled open all her drawers and searched through all of her things. Defeated, Zack plopped onto her bed.

"Why? Why me?" Zack groaned and covered his head. "I wish she were here…she'd always treat me like a baby when I was tired…" Whining Zack sank off the edge of the bed and onto the floor. He hit his head on the rug by Aeris' nightstand, making a loud thump.

"Wha-?" Zack quickly pulled away the rug to find a small sliding door in the floor. "Well I'll be…that creative little thing!" Zack laughed to himself remembering the day he was first in Aeris' room. He had been showing off with the new bowling ball he had just bought, twirling it on his fingers like it were a basketball when it slipped and came crashing to the floor. It made a vast hole. He knew that Aeris bought the rug to cover up the hole from her mother's sight, but never knew she used it to her advantage, making a sliding door for it to hide her precious things in.

Zack slid the door open to find a small container. "Please! Please let there be some cash!" He opened it to find all of Aeris' hidden riches. "Holy-! I can't believe how much there is! It must be week's worth of work! Thank you Aeris!" Zack grabbed what seemed to be one-thousand gil and placed all of it in his pocket, but not without feeling a little guilty.

"Sorry, I'll pay you back, I promise." Zack darted down the stairs. With this kind of cash he could by anything he wanted. "I'm off to Wall Market!" Grinning like he won the lottery, Zack rushed out the door.

"Cloud, you're late!" Aeris was sitting on one of the beds at the inn in Kalm.

"Yo man, you're late!" Barret pounded on the table next to him.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Cloud ascended the stairs that brought him into the room. His spiky blonde hair bouncing with each step he took. He reached the top stair, glancing at Aeris' with his Mako blue eyes. A smile crossed his lips.

"Guess everyone's here now." Aeris said as she took a look around the room.

"So lets hear you're story…you know the one about Sephiroth and the crisis facing the planet. Let's hear it all." Barret folded his arms, glaring a Cloud. Seeing Barret's impatience, Cloud started as quickly as he could. He began his story about his mission to Nibelheim with Sephiroth and all the disaster that occurred. He was talking about how Sephiroth fought and his amazing battle skills when Aeris interrupted.

"So…where do you come in?" She started giggling.

"Me? I was mesmerized by the way Sephiroth fought." Cloud shrugged his shoulders. Tifa was silent during the whole story. She saw how Cloud looked at Aeris and, for some strange reason, it bothered her.

'Oh stop it Tifa! What does it matter!?' Tifa mentally hit herself. She listened to Cloud's story and as he got into details about Nibelheim, something inside her felt differently about the things he was saying. 'That's not right…Cloud wasn't a SOLDIER. There was another man…with black hair. He was the man by Sephiroth's side. After all, I was in the picture with them. Why is Cloud doing this? I don't understand.' Everything was wrong. Nothing fit into place. Cloud's story left everyone confused.

"…and that's the end of my story." Cloud rubbed the back of his head, looking up at everyone. Every face had a look of astonishment and confusion.

"Wait a damn minute, ain't there more!?" Barret raised his arms in the air.

"I don't remember…" Cloud looked at the ground. His eyes seemed to scan the floor for answers. The group continued to make sense of the story and try to fill in the gaps but nothing worked. Cloud sat on the bed. The next plan was to move out and head towards the Mythril Mine. The group slowly left to go check out the town before checking in to rest for the night. Tifa walked up to Cloud.

"Cloud…? How bad was I when Sephiroth cut me?" Tifa held her hands on her chest.

"I thought you were a gonner…I was really sad." Cloud glanced over in Aeris direction. Tifa kept quiet, staring at her scar.

"I…The Ancients…Cetra…Jenova…Sephiroth and myself…" Aeris shook her head trying to make sense of everything. She knew there was a connection. She had a bad feeling about the situation. 'Nothing makes sense. What about him…he was in SOLDIER. And that was about the same time he left on his final mission.' Aeris lowered her head.

"Let's go, Barret's waiting." Tifa left in a hurry. She was not sure if she wanted to know the truth.

"You ok?" Cloud stood at the top of the stairs, looking at Aeris.

"Hmm? Oh! Yes. I was…was just thinking about things." She looked up to meet Cloud's beautiful eyes. 'They look just like his…I could get lost in those eyes for hours.' Cloud swiped a blonde bang out of his face, smiling at Aeris. His mannerisms were just like his.

"Just making sure. You looked upset there for a minute. You want to check out the town?" Cloud held a hand out to her.

"Ummm…I'm really tired right now. I'd like to just stay here and rest if that's okay." Aeris smiled at him.

"Yeah sure! You must be tired! Get some rest, we gotta leave early tomorrow." Cloud gave Aeris a wave and headed down the stairs. He held his hands behind his head and glanced to see if Aeris was still watching him, and she was. That made Cloud smile.

'What a beautiful girl. She's so innocent! And that smile is just amazing.' Cloud left the inn to catch up with his group.

"Oh, Cloud. You remind me so much of him. Why is that? Do I miss him that much?" Aeris looked out the window. She watched Cloud run up to the gang. 'He is such a child.' Aeris smiled at the thought. 'He's so lively and so…cute.' Aeris fell backwards onto the mattress.

"Oh Zack! Where are you? Why did you leave me? Did I not make you happy? Everything seemed so perfect!" Aeris held her face in her hands as the tears slid down her pink cheeks. "What am I going to do!? Why…W-Why!?" She gasped, trying to catch her breath. She rolled over, placing her face into the pillow and sobbed even harder. "Y- you promised! You promised me! Everything was going fine. And then I-I meet him!! And you come back, but it's not you! It's him! Why do you haunt me!?" She cried harder than she ever had in her life. "I…I hate you…"

Aeris laid her head down, concentrating on getting to sleep.

"Higher!!" Aeris giggled as she was pushed as high as possible in the swing.

"You wear me out!" Zack puffed for air as he pushed her with all his might.

"Oh Come on! I thought you were in SOLDIER!" Aeris looked over her shoulder to see Zack backup, his arms falling to his sides in fatigue. He looked up at her with his mouth gapping open, gasping for air. His eyes glossed over and he stuck out his lower lip.

"You're so mean to me!" Zack whined. Immediately, Aeris jumped from the swing and ran up to Zack, hugging his head.

"Oh! My poor baby! Here, love the bosom!" Aeris pulled Zack's head into her chest. Her laugh echoed throughout the playground.

"Ahh!!" Laughing Zack tried with all his might to escape her death grip. "As much as I love the view…I can't breathe!" Zack pulled his head out of reach from Aeris' arms. "Ow…" Wincing, he rubbed the back or his head.

"Sorry. I thought you would like that." Aeris giggled and hugged her companion. She slid her hands around his waist.

"Oh…don't get me wrong, I did. I just wanted to stay alive to enjoy it." He wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "No more swing?" Zack asked with a look of hope.

"No more swing. But…that." Aeris darted to the covered slide. She climbed up the ladder and jumped on top of the fat head of the plastic cat exterior.

"Hey…be careful! I wouldn't want you to fall." Zack jumped up and sat next to her.

"Wouldn't you catch me?" Aeris leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Of course. I will always be there to catch you." Zack smiled. They both stared into each other's eyes, hesitating for only a moment.

'What have I got to lose?' Zack leaned in first.

'Oh boy…' Aeris brought her face closer to meet his kiss. It lasted only a moment before it was broken. They looked at each other a second longer and were brought together again. This time more passionately and without hesitation.

'What was I waiting for?' Zack thought to himself.

'I need this…I need him.' Aeris thought to herself.

Everything ended abruptly and Aeris, suddenly, was all alone in her church.

"Zack? Where are you?" Aeris ran throughout the main room. Something felt wrong. She did not know what though.

"Zack!! Zack!?" Desperation set in. Tears were sliding down Aeris' face. She came upon a figure with blonde hair.

"Cloud?" She approached him slowly. He was looking in a mirror and began to speak.

"He's dead…He's not here anymore. How could he? Dead, dead, dead…" Cloud turned to face Aeris. He had the look of a crazed lunatic and the mirror still held his reflection. 'No…not his reflection...' Aeris looked in disbelief. The reflection was Zack's.

Aeris woke up. She was in the inn at Kalm. Everyone was already awake and packing their things, getting ready to head out for their next location.

'It was only a dream…so strange.' Aeris quickly stood up. She had to get a move on. She did not want people to think that she was slacking.

"Mormin!!" Cloud walked up to her with a bagel in his mouth and another in his right hand and two cartons of orange juice in his left. He held both hands up. "Mant unn?" He mumbled.

"Yeah…sure!" Aeris held her hand over her mouth as she giggled. She reached and grabbed one bagel and juice. Cloud quickly took a bite from the bagel in his mouth. Swallowing quickly, he fumbled his juice.

"Sheesh! You act like you've never eaten!" Aeris helped him with opening the carton. Cloud stopped and stared at her seriously. It almost scared Aeris.

"I…am…a growing boy!" Cloud smiled as he shoved half the bagel in his mouth, smiling like a child in a candy store.

"You act like one!" Aeris poked him on the nose.

"Yeah…" He smiled at her

"Come on!! What's taking so damn long!?" Barret yelled up the stairs. Everyone hurriedly grabbed everything and headed down the stairs.

'Hope I don't slow them down…' Aeris followed Cloud down the stairs.

By the time Zack made his way to Wall Market, it was already dark. He looked at the huge clock hanging above one of the shops.

"9:30…man when I blacked out this morning, I must've been out for hours. What a waste of time! I better hurry and head out. Maybe, I should rest for the night." Zack made his way through the streets, looking at all the neon lights and signs. He made his way to a shop with a cardboard cut-out of a pair of scissors. "Must be the hair salon. Might as well…" Zack entered the building.

"Well hey there cutie! You need a haircut?" A voluptuous woman dressed in a red skirt and white blouse walked up to him. Zack just looked at his reflection and nodded his head.

"Whoa…I'll say so!" The woman quickly grabbed him and sat him in a chair. "So what kinda look you going for?" Zack shrugged his shoulders.

"Nothing too plain, but nothing…weird." Zack raised an eyebrow as he saw a man walk out with a mohawk and long sideburns.

"I gotcha sweetie…I know just the look. With features like yours…you have to show 'em! Shorter hair would suit you fine." Before Zack could say a thing the woman started cutting.

'Oh boy…please let it turn out ok. I've never tried short hair.' Zack thought of the million ways his hair could turn out to be a disaster. He thought of all the hooligans wandering around and their hairstyles. 'Looks are a lot different nowadays.' Zack kept his eyes closed throughout the whole process. He didn't want to see the massacre. 'My poor hairs…'

"Alrighty! All done!" Amazed, Zack opened one eye and looked away from the mirror.

"That was fast…" Zack said out loud. 'A little too fast.' Zack gulped.

"Well open your eyes, silly! I think I did a wonderful job! Now you can see those gorgeous eyes even better!" The woman grabbed a mirror to show Zack the back. Slowly, he opened the other eye and looked at his reflection.

"Whoa…" It was the first time Zack had hair this short. His dark hair was spiked up in little spikes, a few bangs hung in his face and the rest was surprisingly pleasing also. It was not as short as he thought it would be. It was kept a little long, with strands hanging behind the ears, coming to an end right before the top of his spine.

"Here, hon. These been popular lately." The woman handed Zack a pair of sunglasses. "They're lightly tinted so people can still see those eyes of yours. They aren't actually effective against the sun, but they're pretty stylin'." She placed the glasses on Zack's face. "Aren't you a cutie!? You have a lady?" The woman asked Zack.

"Yeah…I guess you could say that." Zack smiled. It was actually refreshing to get away from all that hair.

"Darn! Well she'll fall head over heels for you! I suggest you get a snazzy outfit as well!" The lady met Zack at the register. He paid for the cut and then pointed at the glasses.

"What about these?" He was not sure if he really wanted the glasses.

"Oh! Keep 'em! They look so good on you! You just have to promise to wear them, okay? Trust me, they look good!" The lady winked at him. "You have a nice night and please don't hesitate to come back whenever you need anything!" The woman slapped Zack on the rear and walked to her next customer.

"Uh…Thanks." Blushing, Zack waved and headed out. He needed to get new clothes. He noticed that every woman he passed was staring at him. Every man he walked by glared because their girl was gawking at him. 'Sheesh…how embarrassing. Hope Aeris has the same reaction.'. Zack walked to a clothing shop.

"Hey there, you cutie!" Three girls came running up to Zack, all smiling and offering their help. 'Oh boy…is every employee in this place a girl?' Because of all the help and attention Zack was out of the store quickly.

"Thank you, sir!"

"Come back soon!"

"If you ever need any help, you know where to go!" All three of the girls ran out the door to say their goodbyes as Zack quickly walked down the street. Only one thought ran through his mind.

'You know…I don't think it was an accident when that girl opened the door to my dressing room when I was getting into my pants. I even heard them giggle! Women!' Zack made his way towards the exit. He liked his new outfit. He wore tan pants with pockets on the sides and down the legs. Zack's reasoning, 'You can never have too many pockets when it comes to battle.' He wore a white shirt with black sleeves. Two red stripes decorated each sleeve. He carried a new black jacket with him also. Finally, he now wore athletic shoes. 'Always hated boots. Too heavy and they hurt my feet.'

"Big sale! Big sale!" A man rushed towards Zack. "How much ya got! How much!?" The man pointed towards a shiny, new motorcycle. It was a first-class Shinra bike.

"How much you willing to sell it for?" Zack knew that this was too good of an offer to refuse. Besides, he knew he could get it cheap since it was most likely stolen in the first place.

"Two-thousand! How's that sound?" The man never faltered his smile.

"No way…I came here with a little over one! Besides, I know you stole it." Zack quieted his voice.

"H-how did you know?" The salesmen began to sweat. Zack pulled out his sword.

"I worked for Shinra. I know how things work." He grinned at the salesman.

"Okay! Okay! At least 800! Please! Just Don't tell anyone!" The man pleaded.

"Deal!" Zack handed over the money in cash and ran to the motorcycle.

"Whoo hoo! Thank you, sir! Pleasure doing business with you!" The man skipped out of the town.

'Too easy!' Zack hopped on the bike and revved the engine. "Oh, baby!" He headed towards Aeris house. 'Time to get some rest.'

Okay! Fourth up! This one isn't as action packed. Sorry. Hope it was still enjoyable. I'll try to get the other posted as quickly as possible. Please review! Glad the site is up and running again!Thanks to all those who continue to read and support the fic!