September 26, 19XX

I was given this journal to write about my nightmares. See if that helps them. I don't see how? But what's the harm in trying.

It all started after my first mission with Zack. I began to have weird dreams. I see him all bloodied up, lying on the ground. Bullet holes everywhere.

I couldn't be of any help.

I crawled to him. He told me I'm his living legacy. Handed me his sword. It looks different than what he currently carries now. Bigger, and heavier. It sure felt like it carried the hopes and dreams of a few people.

He stopped moving.

And then I scream into the heavens as the rain poured down. I wake up.

September 30, 19XX

Am I crazy? It feels like I've done this all before. Everything is familiar. I shouldn't know how to get to certain floors. Or how to disarm bombs.

And yet I can't shake this feeling? This sense that this all happened? Like a movie on repeat.

The dreams get weird again. I can't make sense of them. I dream of flowers. A field of them. They calm me, even though I have no idea why.

But then those dreams became scarce. I think it started after I seen Sephiroth in an interview. I began to hear strange words in his voice.

Puppet. On your knees. I want you to beg for forgiveness. What do you cherish most? Give me the pleasure of taking it away.

Then I see him standing in the middle of Nibelheim. Everything is on fire. I feel the heat on my skin. The smoke burning my throat, my lungs, my eyes. And yet I can't tear my gaze away from him.

Just standing there. Like the fire wasn't there.

He slowly raised his head. And our eyes met. So much malice. So much madness. So much hatred.

It made my heart stop.

And then I hear his voice again.

Puppet. Empty puppet. Puppet. PUPPET PUPPET PUPPET PUPPET

The next page was torn.

November 27, 19XX

I thought about throwing this away. I almost did once. Strangely, I couldn't bring myself to. I don't understand why.

I keep seeing Sephiroth stabbing me.

All of these dreams are so vivid. And my outfit changes often, so these must be separate fights. And yet the dreams flow like it's all happening at once.

The first was when I was in recruit uniform. I charge at him with his own sword he left forgotten. I manage to stab him, and he seems more confused.

Then he takes hold of Masamune and turns it on me. He impaled me through my middle. I'm thrown down.

Suddenly I'm wearing a Soldier's uniform. Subtle differences, such as one shoulder guard instead of two. One of my gloves had metal. I'm carrying the sword Zack gave me.

I'm surrounded by strange people. I recognize Tifa. She's older. Stronger.

I don't know who the others are.

A man with a gun for an arm. A red cat or dog creature that talks. A girl in a pink dress. She looks weak but she's exceptional in magic.

Then there's a young girl who looks like a ninja carrying a star. A dark haired gunslinger with a golden claw and red cape. He used a three barreled gun.

An older gentleman with blond hair, curses a lot and uses a spear. A talking robotic cat. He's carried around on a fat moogle.

All of us, fighting Sephiroth.

Then the scene changes again. I'm alone. My outfit is all black. My sword is different. It can separate into different pieces.

He stabs me through the same spot he did the first fight. I'm writhing in pain as he held me up high above the ground.

And suddenly a black wing springs out of his right shoulder.

I gasped. I don't know if it's fear, admiration, or a mix of both.

He sends me up high. Then he flies after as I continue to rise up. I try to deflect or block his strikes. But he pierces through me easily. All over I'm cut or stabbed. One impale went through my leg and the tip of Masamune cut my cheek. I grasped the sword to keep it from hurting my face.

He smirked up at me.

Those eyes. Those damn eyes glowing with pure malice. And pleasure. As if he enjoyed doing this to me.

Then he sends me crashing down.

I wake up.

December 5, 19XX

I dream of Zack again. He's telling me to protect my honor as Soldier and follow my dreams.

I woke up crying.

December 12, 19XX

I dream of the girl in the pink dress. We're talking. In a field of flowers.

"You came. Even though you're about to break. That's a good sign." She touches my left arm.

"So, why did you come?"

"I think, I want to be forgiven." I nod at my own words. "More than anything."

I sense her smile.

"By who?" She asked.

I glance over my shoulder and then I wake up.

December 29, 19XX

I don't know what to make of this. I dream of fighting my way up a pillar.

Something was going go happen to the plate.

I see the deaths of two people I don't recognize, but I had a sense that I knew them.

I'm eventually joined with Tifa. We make it to the top to the man with a gun for an arm fighting off the Turks.

A bald man and his partner with red hair.

They put up a good fight.

But in the end, they still made the pillar deactivate. To send the plate down.

They make their getaway in an emergency helicopter. The man with a gun for an arm found a zip line. Tifa and I cling onto him as we make our way out. Everything is crumbling around us. Fire and explosions everywhere.

So many screams.

Then we land as rock falls on top of us.

I wake up heart racing.

January 3, 19XX

For once this was a peaceful dream.

I'm back at home. Mom is doing the dishes.

I'm laying on my bed, enjoying the warmth of the sun. Listening to her humming. I briefly thought if I should get up to help. But I was so content, so at peace at the moment that I didn't want to ruin it.

I woke up and made sure to call her.

March 13, 19XX

I'm standing on the hill Zack died. I know it is because his sword is sticking on the ground where he had his dying breath.

"I promised I would live out both our lives. Easy to make that promise." I hear myself say.

Then I hear his voice.

Don't pretend you're sad. Why even feel anything when it's not even there?

I'm gasping in pain. My left shoulder hurts. I'm reduced to my knees. I feel his mind, a heavy weight trying to crush me physically.

Face it Cloud. All you are, is an empty puppet.

March 16, 19XX

Are all of these events of the future? These dreams, of what's meant to happen?

But why? Why so much pain? So much suffering? I don't understand how I could be strong enough to face it all.

The thought of losing Zack...

It's not fair.

And facing Sephiroth, I can't even look at his photos anymore without feeling like he's after me. I can't stand to hear his voice during interviews.

And yet I can't escape from him when he's everywhere. It's as if he's haunting me even now when nothing has happened yet.

Yet. Is it even possible that any of my dreams come true? I don't know.

I can't shake this feeling that this has all happened before.

And that was the last journal entry. Tseng was a total loss. With a frown he called in Rude and Reno.

"What's up, boss?" Reno greeted upon entry.

"Cloud Strife. Did either of you ever meet him?" Tseng watched their reactions.

"Nah. We heard Zack talk about a cutie chocobo though." Reno shook his head.

"He stands out. I would have remembered him. Why are you asking us this?" Rude raised an eyebrow over the sunglasses.

Tseng opened the journal. He turned the pages until he found the one he wanted. He laid it out for them to read over. Curiously they scanned the entry, and horror spread on their faces.

"What the hell?" Reno frowned.

"A vague description. But he mentioned Turks. And no one else fits our description." Rude went stiff.

"And we made a plate fall? What the hell for? By the sound of it, there was no evacuation either."

"In an earlier entry, he wonders why he knows how to reach certain floors or how to disable a bomb. Most of the other entries center around Zack, Sephiroth, and a girl in a pink dress. This Tifa is mentioned a few times, but she wasn't a big focus." Tseng explained.

"So...what do we do? How are we going to hunt him down?" Reno asked.

"I'm not sure. Either we can lure him, or we can corner him. But if we corner him, he might act out."

"How do we lure him?"

"We either use Zack or Sephiroth." Tseng decided that maybe they should both see this journal. He dismissed the two partners to arrange for a meeting with the two Firsts.

"What's this about?" Zack asked, tilting his head that Sephiroth was here too.

"Cloud Strife. Now going by the name of Fenrir." Tseng presented the blurred photograph.

"But he never made it into Soldier." Sephiroth narrowed his eyes.

But even he couldn't deny the hair.

"I made copies of his journal for both of you to read. I was careless and didn't immediately look into his personal belongings he left behind. I believe you both deserve to read this." Tseng handed them both a copy.

"I'll wait until you're both done." He sat back at his desk.

Several minutes later.

"...WHAT!?" Zack dropped his copy and began pacing.

"Did you finish as well?" Tseng glanced at the general. He had been busy with his computer.

"This is a lot to take in." He admitted.

Sephiroth was equally as disturbed as the lieutenant. And rightfully so. Tseng glanced at Zack, who was still pacing. He had his hands in his hair.

"I don't understand! He's had dreams like these? And yet he never once talked to me about them? Why?"

"Perhaps he didn't want to burden you with them. They're vivid, and obviously scarred him. I suppose that chance passing meeting was the last straw." Sephiroth theorized.

"Explain this photo." Zack pointed at it, still on the desk.

"Reno got lucky. He told me he was waiting in his hiding spot for nearly two days. His patience paid off. He was so excited he couldn't hold the camera properly. Then soon as he took the shot, Fenrir, or Cloud, took notice and Reno had to bolt out of there."

"Where was this taken?" Sephiroth inquired.

"Sector 7 Slums. I imagine he will make himself scarce from that area for a long while now, though."

"Okay, so what do we do? I imagine you called us in for a reason." Zack caught on.

"I want one of you to openly challenge Fenrir to a duel. Make it interesting, encourage Genesis or Angeal to show interest. They can even challenge him if they wish. With the media gaining popularity on this, then the pressure will build."

"He will suspect a trap." Sephiroth crossed his arms.

"And should General Sephiroth decide to step into the challenge when Zack gets no shows?" Tseng smirked as they caught on.

"He will be itching for a fight. Especially with these dreams he's had. He will want to see how good he is against me." Sephiroth smirked.

"Zack, make your way downside. I will have someone tail you for security measures. Walk around and make sure everyone hears you openly challenging him to a fight. If you're met with silence, then I will arrange for you to make an interview to declare all of Midgar." Tseng instructed.

He smirked. The idea brought bubbling excitement all because there was the slightest chance he will meet Cloud again. Missing that boy brought a hole in his heart.

"Hell yeah! Anything for Spike! Just, what are your plans once he's back with us?"

"He will be placed within Soldier and under your watchful eye. Sephiroth will be allowed to watch him as well, but only if he shows he won't be openly hostile." Tseng knew it would be a stretch, but it was the best outcome he could think of.

After all putting a leash on Fenrir will bring the company's popularity back up. For as long as the war had been going, not even Sephiroth could lift spirits up as of late.