Hi, I'm trying to get everyone POV but the main character will be Lee. As for the others, I am trying to get their basic personalities like Zack and Cloud. They're kinda like opposites to me. Oh! The title, I hate it, I'm horrible at them and I need a new one... suggestions are welcome! If you have any questions regarding to the fanfic, I'll be happy to answer them.

Rhimestone Does not Own FFVII.

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ZACK POV

I loved this girl to death.

Wait, lemme rephrase that. I loved this girl more than I loved my life. She gave meaning to my rapid dead end. Her smile warmed my heart. I no longer cared of the world I left alone cuase I knew Cloud would do something about it, I just hoped he wouldn't have one of his mental break downs in the middle of a war.

Cause that would suck big time.

When I first found Aeris, it was by accident. Lee and I were sent on a mission to a place called the Kalm. I had no clue what the heck that was until I asked Angeas.

He shrugged, "maybe the cetras know, they're usually in charge of portals from other worlds."

So I went there and lo and behold I saw Aeris arguing with some of the cetras. I only cuaght snippets of the argument having to do with Sephiroth and Jenova. She stopped at midsentence as soon as she saw me and well...

Things spiraled for us.

Not including Lee.

Lee knew about the whole fling between me and Aeris and it didn't bother her. Atleast she didn't show that it bothered her. She wasn't too keen on the idea of me at the Promise Land alone. Yeah sometimes I visited there but those cetra people are wierd. Even though Lee warned me, Angeas also told me to keep a close eye on them.

And I did.

It happened that day when I just came from an assignment on Earth. As I was making my way towards the Enigma Corp. building, I saw Aeris walking from the building.

"Aeris!"

She looked up surprised and recovered with a bright smile, "Zack, how are you?"

"Great" I said. "you?"

Aeris shrugged and looked around, "don't be upset."

Confused, I scratched my head, "why?"

"Gaia's gonna meet its last days."

Shock overcame me and a sudden fear if Gaia died out then the Lifestream...

"Don't worry, I think I found a way to save Gaia. The cetras told me how to save it. But you have to promise not to tell anyone what I'm going to do or where I am. Zack, you're the only one I can trust."

I nodded obediently.

She added, "Lee can't know either. Policy rules."

I frowned and crossed my arms and thought. Saving Gaia was one thing, but not telling my Lee was another. Whatever was on Aeris' mind had to be important. Especially from those quirky Cetras.

"I promise" I heard the words echo in my mind as if it would forever remain that way, like I was making the biggest choice in the afterlife.

Aeris told me everything. I was worried cause she was going alone at this and refused any aid I gave her. I wasn't at ease but I trusted Aeris, she knew what she was doing.

Two hours later, I saw her leave the Promise Realm. When she didn't come back for a week and Armageddon for Gaia was only three days away, I issued a missing report.

It was my fault and I felt crushed when they found no traces of her. I suspected the Cetras had something to do with that. I came up to them, yelling at them with all my might until they finally gave in and told me a secret.

Great, more things to carry on my shoulders.

I can't believe I let one of my best friends go with no guarantee of coming back. And now I was sending off another, my Lee that I loved, out there too, just to find another soul mate of mine, Aeris.

How do I know? The Cetras told me.

Why? Like Lee told me, "those Cetras are sociopaths that think they can alter people's destiny."

Now that Lee and Aeris were out, that only left me: I had to choose on who I loved more. The one that was meant for me would come back while the other would remain in Gaia forever.

That was my test:

Lee or Aeris

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LEE POV

I didn't have a chance to get home and say my good-byes to Zack. Time was clicking away and I needed to get Aeris out there fast. The Time zone in Enigma Corp. is much different in worlds. Up here, it is much faster, an hour equals a day down there, so I had to gather the things I needed, leave Zack a note, and be on my way. I wasn't coming alone, I had a partner there coming with me.

Death itself was beside me, the Grim Reaper. I guess it was constant motivation to race against time and find Aeris as soon as possible. Anything to ease Zack and to see that smile of his again. Grim Reaper had a name other than the title.

His name was Bob. And he liked to make jokes, no matter how crummy they were. Ironic for the Grim Reaper himself. He even wore a Disney shirt from Earth and a Micy Mouse Hat on top of that. Weirdo.

I sighed as we stared at the funnel that would lead us to Gaia. I knew I would find some automatically cause one of our scientists was down there investigating the cause of the Lifestream. Apparently no one told him about the Armageddon since he was the only one Enigma scientist that was left.

I heard Bob laugh, "are you scared to die?"

I glared at him and jumped into the depths of the bottom and hit the floor. Bob was just seconds away and breathed in, inhaling the air as if there wasn't enough to go around. "I smell death" he grinned. "Get it? Because I am death!"

I rolled my eyes and scanned the horizon. Nothing but rocks and rubble and sand and more rocks. The heat pounded heavily on top of my head. I pulled my hair back and gazed around. There were no such thing as life here, truly this world was going to be put out of its misery.

"Okay where the heck are we?"

Bob tapped his finger on his chin and looked up, "I would say we're on Gaia."

"You know what I mean, " I snapped.

"I reckon we're near Midgar."

Midgar. I know that place. Aeris' home.

"Okay, lets head out-"

I heard the sudden revv of an engine, slowly approaching. I looked around no longer see Bob where he was a second ago. He probably took off. The tiny pebbles on the dirt ground vibrated to the noise signaling it was coming closer. I turned to get a better view to see what was coming. All I could make out from the wavering heat was the dust of clouds, stirring in the air. I blinked and wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. I looked down at it, a sheet of sweat. I squinted up to try and see what was causing the dust.

I yelped, not noticing how close it was to running me over. The cloud of dust knocked me over, as I waved in front of my face. Coughing, I tasted the sand on my mouth and sneezed. This place was horrible. I closed one eye and left the other squinting, blindingly trying to escape the dust that overpowered me. I stubbed my foot on something hard and groaned in pain. "Bob!"

"Bob?" a masculine voice inquired.

I stopped dead in my tracks, registering the new voice. The smoke cleared finally and I jumped back and gasped. It was like staring into the same eyes like Zack, or someone just like him. My eyes widened and palms suddenly became sweaty.

He gave me a balnk stare, his expression was cold and he looked mad. "Who's Bob?"

"I-uh-no one."

He continued scrutinizing me, as if trying to determine if I was telling the truth or not. His hair stuck at all sorts of odd angles that only a whole jar of gel could hold, his eyes were dangerously close to that of Zacks hues, his arms were toned and lean as if they were used to hard work or trained vigorously. Silent strength practically radiated off this guy but I bet I was stronger . If he wasn't so mad at the moment, I would say he was handsome. HIs eyes flicked away to the direction he was heading, "going to Midgar?"

I nodded stupidly.

"If you walk, you'll make it by nightfall. Wanna ride?"

Without a word, I rushed behind him, lifted my leg over the seat of the motorcycle and sat.

"Hold on tight."

The roar of the engine exploded underneath us causing me jump. My arms automatically constricted around his torse, which was surprisingly hard, and held on tight. He didn't seem fazed, he only slid his black goggles back on.

"My name is Lee" I yelled over the engine.

"Cloud."

Cloud. I made sure I put that in my memory bank. I had a feeling I would use him for something. Or his bike.