I rewrote this chapter a billion times, and no matter how I wrote it, I was unhappy, so hopefully the next one will be better.

Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy Chapter Sixteen, Fragmented Dreams.

"C'mon Spike, up we go." Zack said, hoisting his friend into the saddle. They had travelled all night, and had just taken another break to ease their sore backs from the leather saddles

they were forced to sit in for hours. Luckily, as they were on their way to North Corel, they would be able to get more food, as 'That damned son of a %#&!' Chocobo, as Flint called him,

had eaten all of it. Zack looked out to the skies as he mounted Fenrir, settling himself behind Cloud on the big Black Chocobo. The sun was slowly climbing, bringing Gaia out of the

darkness. The ashen clouds that had previously crowded the skies were slowly parting to reveal patches of dusty blue, the sun warming their backs as they carried on through the frosty

morning. They would just have to finish the trek through the mountain pass, and then, they would reach North Corel.

The snow began to thin as they got nearer to Corel, and soon became a dusty dirt landscape as they travelled through the mountains. The Chocobos warked happily when they saw the

town in the distance, just past the two mountain walls they were soon to reach. Both riders sped up to a fast paced jog, dust flying behind the Chocobo's feet, leaving large ruts in their

wake. Zack pulled down Cloud's hood, looking over his head. "Look Cloud, we're almost there." He said, pointing at the growing silhouette in the distance. "We should be there in about

an hour." Flint said, squinting at the shape. Fifer suddenly warked, stopping so abruptly he nearly threw Flint over his head. "Whoa Fifer." Flint said, patting the bird's neck as he warked

and threw up his head, shifting nervously. Flint gently scratched the Chocobo's neck, holding him steady as he looked around. Zack's eyes flashed. "Quiet- I think someone's here." He

said, holding Fenrir as he too gave a frightened wark. He drew his Buster Sword. "Zack, whatever you do, remember our promise." Flint said. Zack hesitated, looking at Flint's cautious

eyes, but nodded. Flint drew his own sword, waiting. There was a sharp yell, and six men emerged from a small mountainside cave, two wielding iron short swords, one wielding a

claymore, and the other three holding what looked like modified cutlasses. Good. No guns. Zack looked towards Flint. "You know, if they do pose a threat I can take them. They're second

class, and they don't have any guns." Flint nodded slowly. "Fine, but make sure Cloud stays near. And for Gaia's sake, be careful Zack. If you and Cloud are in any real danger, run for it."

Zack gave a small nod, waiting as the SOLDIERS made their way towards them. "Halt!" one shouted, eyeing the two travelers and Cloud as he stepped forward. "We are SOLDIERS,

second class, and we demand you surrender immediately." He said, his voice wavering as Zack's eyes met his. "Who sent you? Not Hojo was it?" The SOLDIER's eyes remained calm as he

stared at the First Class SOLDIER before him. "Thomas Hojo is an enemy to Shinra. We were sent by President Shinra himself, to take back what is rightfully his, and to put all of you under

arrest for being found in possession of Experiment BM." Zack smirked. "Look, if you think you're going to take us without a fight, you're very wrong." Zack said, holding up his Buster

Sword. The SOLDIERS lifted their own weapons, fear in their eyes. "There are six of us, and two of you." One said, defiance in his voice. "You're right, that is unfair for you. Good luck then.

You'll need it." Zack said, dismounting Fenrir. He picked up Cloud, placing him in a small crevice in the rock, and stabbing his Buster Sword into the ground in front of him, blocking him from

view. He then turned back towards the SOLDIERS. "Alright, I'm ready." He said, holding up to gloved fists. "Let's play."

Cloud frequently heard familiar voices from the dark void of his poisoned mind, prodding him impatiently.

"Cloud, wake up!"

He was unable to answer them.

"I'll protect you Cloud."

As much as he wanted to.

"Cloud? Where's Cloud?"

To know who he was.

"Good job Spike, mind if I have the rest?"

To ask him questions.

"C'mon Spike, up we go."

To know where he was.

"Look Cloud, we're almost there."

To know where he was going.

Through the brief periods of consciousness, whenever he felt someone putting a cup to his lips, or a cloth to his forehead, he could see blurred and twisted images of a boy. He could not tell who he

was, or if he knew him. He had black hair, bright bluish green eyes, and a friendly smile, but the rest of him was morphed, his features slightly askew. He watched the boy from between his

eyelashes while he lay in his waking dreams, wondering why he was helping him, wondering if perhaps, he had met this boy before. All he knew, was that the boy was not an enemy. He was a f

riend, and was helping him. He could feel the boy's eyes in the darkness, while he watched him sleep, he could see the boy carefully pouring warm soup down his throat, see him as he wrapped his

blanket around him while he slept, and talked to him while they traveled. He wanted more than anything to answer him as he talked. As he asked him things. Sometimes he wondered if he

somehow did answer him, as the boy would continue talking as if he had. But he never felt his lips move, and never heard a sound leave them. Occasionally, he was able to utter a moan or a grunt

to signify that he was listening, or that he was hungry or tired, but nothing more than that. He wanted more than anything to move, to jump up and run as far as he could, until he dropped dead

from exhaustion. To feel his body working for him, obeying his every command, to speak and scream and laugh like he so often heard the raven-haired boy do. Though even through the twisted

images he was able to view, he sensed a wave of familiarity whenever the boy came near. As the boy's image began to come clearer, he was almost sure he had met him somewhere before. It was

like having a dream, and forgetting it when you wake up. And so, he spent his hours, stuck in his darkened asylum, piecing together the scattered fragments of his mind, slowly but surely,

remembering.

~Well, hope you enjoyed Fragmented Dreams~ Another Chapter up as soon as I can.

Hopefully poor Cloud will find himself, and be able to return to the land of the living.

Thanks for reading, and thank you also to all my reviewers, much appreciated.

Lucifer