It was a dark and cold race to Rocket Town. Several hours of driving non stop through harsh winds, battling against fatigue, and the unmistakable guilt washing over me every now and then. And to top it all off, I was ambushed by the local fiends. I could've only hope for some sort of clue or miracle that would help me find Tifa. Wait... What's that? I spotted something peculiar on the side of the road. I parked Fenrir to find a pink ribbon lying in the grass. I picked it up and observed it. Was it Tifa's? It looks just liek it.

'Here. So now we'll never forget her.' That's what she said when she tied the ribbon to my left arm. I rolled up my single sleeve and compared it to mine.

Same shade of pink, same smooth texture. It can't be... Yet it must. Unless, one of our friends lost it. No... The discarded theirs after Aerith's holy rain, except for Tifa, Marlene, and I. And, Marlene had hers on when we departed.

I strided back to fenrir with the ribbon clutched in my fist. I kicked Fenrir into full throttle and headed towards Cid's once again.

"So whatcha sayin' it, you woke me up at freakin' 5:30 AM hus' cuz ya found a damn random pink ribbon on the ground that jes' so happens to be maybe Tifa's?" I glare and nod at Cids statement. "Good enough fer me! I'll wake erryone up. Shera! Get somewhere fer spiky-ass to sleep ready!" he shouted across the house, and lit a cigarette. I popped down onto a kitchen chair and clutched the ribbon tighter in my hand. I haven't slept, or eaten in hours, but that isn't gonna stop me. I hold the ribbon even tighter, hoping that it'll save me from this nightmare...What should I do?"

' Do what you always do.'

'And what's that exactly, Zack?'

'Embrace your dreams, and whatever happens, protect your honor.' I sighed.

' And what is the dream I have to protect exactly?'

'THAT, you have to figure out on your own.' what are my dreams?

'I don't think that helps here, Zack.'

'Yeah, It does. You'll find out eventually.' I sighed again. Yeah right.

"Whatta think you're doin', old man! Wakin' me up! It was raining materia!" Yuffie bursted.

"Yuffie stop. This may be important." I heard Vincent. Everybody walked in.

"Yo, Spiky." Barret greeted. "Is it true? You really found something that'll lead us to Tifa?" I shrugged and showed everyone the band.

"You really think that's hers?" Vincent asked.

"I don't know." I stripped my ribbon off and laid them both on the table. "It might not be much. Hell, I might not be anything at all but, It's the only lead we have until Reeve calls back with the results." Vincent bent down to observe the identical ribbons.

"You sure?" i nodded. Sure, it might not be anything, but I believe it is.

"Well, we can't do anythin' till later, when the sun's actually up. I say everyone crash and figure somethin' out later." Cid advised. Yuffie stretched.

"Good. I'm beat." With that, she yawned and dashed for the couch. Everyone started shuffling out.

"Everyone took everywhere else. So, you're jes' gonna have to sleep on the floor with Red. Damn dog slept throughout the whole meetin;." I walked into the living room to find a pile of blankets and two pillows, courtesy of Shera, waiting for me. This isn't gonna be comfortable.

I was hot. So hot. Everything was covered in waves of orange and red. Puffs of grey smoke hovering over the ruined town. Everything was gone...my family...friends...My hometown burnt to ashes the well collapsed to dust. Sweat beading down my crippled body. It would seem that I would be with them soon.

Who would to this? Who would crush and destroy something so precious to me? Silver, white hair. Long black leather, and menacing green eyes. Lips curved, craving for blood. Sephiroth. How could he do this? Blood. Blood splattered everywhere like abstract artwork in the making. Formerly cleaned canvas. Ruined.

My body. Scolded. Bruised. Burnt. Flames clinging my blond spikes. I can't move. It hurts too much.

Mako. Mako and blood. Tifa. She's hurt. A small but meaningful smile. Wine-red eyes gently drooping shut.

Raven colored spikes, lying in pain on the steep staircase

I grabbed the heavy sword by it's hilt and jabbed it in the sephiroth's tender flesh.

"return my mother...Tifa...and my village! I...respected you...admired you! But..." i pulled the sword out of him.

"You...bastard..." he falls down in agony. I pant. He's dead.

"Tifa..." I drop the blade and my helmet. I pick her up and move her to the side, and brush a piece of hair from her porcelain face.

"Cloud..." she whispers. "So you really did come for me..."

"Yeah..."

"So you kept your promise, huh. You really came here when i was in a pinch."

"I'm sorry. I was a bit late on getting here."

"Not at all. It's fine...Cloud." she smiles reassuring me that everything's okay now, and closed her eyes once more. A crash was heard. I glared up at the source. Sephiroth, wielding his sword in one hand, and a head in the other.

"Mother." he hold his sword up, and walks down the stairs. "By the likes of you." Zack looks up.

"Cloud...Finish...Sephiroth..."

I grab the Buster Sword once more. "Sephiroth!" i shout as I run up the stairs. I attempt to hit him but he blocks it and stabs me in the gut within a few seconds.

My head shot up. My face beaded with sweat. I looked around the dark room to find Yuffie on the couch, Barret snoring, Red resting on the rug, and Vincent nowhere to be found. It was just a dream...Dream? More like my worst nightmare. I lay back down on the damp pillow. My head replaying the memory. And then some.

"My honor...My dreams...They're yours now."

"Of course i have feelings! What do you think I am? Aeris'll never laugh...cry...What is this My lips are dry...My fingers tingling..."

"Look at you. you think you've got it so damn hard!"

"So what it i'm a puppet. Once upon a time, You were, too!"

"Good to see you, Cloud

"Stay where you belong...in my memories."

"I will...Never be a memory."

"Cloud! Cloud wake up!" My eyes snap open, and face Yuffie. "Reeve called back. Come on!" She jumped up from me and ran to the kitchen.

"Good yer up!" Cid greets. Everyone was sitting around the table . I took the seat in front of Cid at the end of the table. "Now onto business. Reeve has tracked Tifa's phone and that thing sure as hell gets around. They either must be movin' a lot or they're tryin' to trick us. Fuck. But we can't jes' sit on our lazy asses and do nothin'. Reeve sent me a map of where they previously 've been everywhere at least once, but, if you look at the map, They've been somewhere more than three times. If ya'll have any other idea, I think it might be their HQ. So I say we get off our asses and kick some!" He pounded his fist up and down and barret high-fived him. vincent, Red, and I just sat there.

"Do you know who they are?" Vincent asked. The celebration stopped.

"Uhhh...No but I've sent one of my crew members to investigate. I sent them right after Reeve called, and you would know that I'm not sending my best fighters into something they don' know about. The hell you think i am?" I shook my head. "Wha? You gotta problem here, spike? I'm gonna-"

"Captain!" The receiver on the counter sounded. "You're right. It is there hideout. Lot's of them bastards, too. Their base is on the east of Gongaga. about thirty miles from the ruined reactor. The base is surrounded by missiles pointed to the sky so no aerial attacks unless you wanna die. Prepare for the worst. Over. " Cid picks up the intercom.

"Copy that. Stay at safe radius and we'll meet ya there. Over and out." He put the receiver down. "Well, get yourselves ready. We got some ass to kick.

I stridded outside to fenrir. I opened the holster and strapped two sword to my back. I hopped on the bike, kicked the stand up, and revved it to life. I heard the turbines of the SHERA and it flew into the air. I adjusted my goggles and sped ahead, following the Airship.

A/N: Okay. So I' sorry im always late on continuing this even though i have it finished. I just need to type it, but im such a lazy fuck and i keep working on other stories... But, this is not abandoned. I promise this has an ending