Contrary to what Reno believed, Cloud Strife did not return to his room immediately after dinner. Instead he was not quite aimlessly wandering the halls. Not quite because he was actually trying to find a map or maybe a list of what was on what floors at least, but it wasn't working so well. From what he had seen so far, the level he was on had the cadet cafeteria, dorms and classrooms. The gyms and VR rooms were three and four levels above the cadet one, and he thought the infirmary was a few above that, but he couldn't be sure because he hadn't exactly been in his right mind when he, well, woke up.
"And just what is a cadet doing here? Aren't you supposed to be learning how to not blow your heads off with materia or something like that?"
Cloud turned slowly to the red haired man, who was just coming out of a gym. "With all respect, sir," he spoke quietly, mentally sighing. Someone out there just wouldn't let him get a break, would they? "I am not sure where I am supposed to be or what I am or am not supposed to be learning, because I woke up earlier today with almost no memory of my previous time as a cadet and no one has since told me what I should do." A closer look at the man showed him to be a SOLDIER, probably a First Class as he had a red trench coat on and as far as Cloud knew Seconds and Thirds couldn't modify their uniforms.
The SOLDIER seemed surprised. "So you're that one? Oh, what's the name, Strife? I heard about you from Angeal's… thing."
Angeal's thing? How could a thing tel- Oh, Zack. "Do you mean Zack, sir?
A sneer graced the SOLDIER's face, and it felt like it was there often. "Yes, the puppy. Now scat. There's a reason cadets aren't allowed up here without supervision, and that's because I could very easily lose my temper and chop your head off." They just stood there staring at each other for a second, Cloud wondering how such a temperamental person could have made SOLDIER, but then again, Shinra didn't care what their employees were like, as long as they worked. Apparently he had been thinking too long because the man glared at him. "Go. Now."
And that was Cloud's first meeting with Genesis.
"Zack. Zack!"
The Third Class SOLDIER paused in his very animated storytelling and looked back up the hall. "Hold up a sec, will you Kunsel? Angeal wants something." Zack trotted towards his mentor and followed him back to the man's office, closing the door behind him and plopping into one of the cushioned chairs.
Angeal tossed him a stack of papers. "You're going to Nibelheim. Your job is to take care of some dragons that have been harassing the village. The chopper leaves in two hours. Good luck."
Zack took on an almost comical thinking pose. "Nibelheim, huh? That place sounds vaguely familiar…."
The First Class gave him a look. "Zack, don't get distracted on this one, okay? Nibel Dragons aren't a walk in the park, and if you want to get to Second you can't afford to botch this. Just, be careful, alright?"
Zack was startled. Angeal cared about him! Well, of course he did, he was his student, but he didn't want him to get hurt! A huge grin broke across his face and he jumped over the desk to hit his mentor with a flying hug. "Thanks Angeal! I'll be fine though, seriously. I fight dragons in the VR room all the time."
Angeal started to pry the puppy off him. "Zack, I know you can kill them, but have you even heard of Nibelheim?" Zack looked up at his mentor sheepishly and released him to sit on the desk. "I didn't think so. Nibelheim is a small town in the mountains, and it has a reactor near it. You haven't fought in any mountains yet, and you know how Mako affects monsters. Apparently Shinra has a mansion there, but no ones been there for a long time so it's probably falling apart. The people should be nice enough, and try and get a guide before you go running off. Knowing you you'll probably trip off a cliff and get lost."
Zack grimaced. "Hey! That only happened that once, and I finished the mission anyways," he grumbled, making faces at the ground.
"It took you two days to get back Zack. Just how you get lost five miles from Midgar when you can see the city on the horizon I will never understand."
Zack opened his mouth a few times, but when nothing came out he sighed. "Fine, I'll get a guide. Can I go now? Kunsel's waiting for me and I was telling him about that time the Zolom ate my sword and ended up killing itself."
Angeal stared at him. "That was rather, interesting, wasn't it? I don't know how you do it, pup. Thanks to you the science department found a way to acid proof weapons and armor."
The younger SOLDIER scowled. "They just had to confiscate it, huh? I was rather attached to that sword you know!" Not to mention that he ended up spending more time in the labs because of it.
"It was falling apart, Zack. The stomach acid of a Midgar Zolom is highly corrosive and there was no way we could've saved it anyway. I did get you a new sword after that, and it's not like you had to pay for anything, so stop complaining."
"Right, well, see ya later." The door opened quickly and Zack rushed out. "Hey, Kunsel! I got a mission!"
As soon as Zack's feet touched the ground he spun around, a huge grin on his face. "I'm good, thanks you guys!" The pilot nodded in acknowledgement and the huge aircraft turned to fade into the distance. As soon as the helicopter had vanished behind the mountains the SOLDIER Third Class drooped. Turning back up the trail to the small town Zack began the long walk.
"What was I thinking?" he mumbled unhappily. "Oh, sure Angeal, I'll be fine, don't worry about me," he mocked himself in a falsetto, "Yeah, absolutely dandy! Who cares that it's my first mission by myself out of Midgar and it's dragons, which I know are usually assigned to Second Classes. Obviously not me. Sure, I appreciate the vote of confidence and all, but how am I ever going to be able to fight dragons in mountains? Dragons can fly! Once I hurt them too much, off they'll go! Never to be seen by a black haired Gongagan again! What do you know, there's another problem. What were they thinking? Sure, let's send the inexperienced Third Class from the tropics to a mountain, I'm sure he'll be fine walking through all this snow and climbing over huge, ice-covered boulders." Zack growled at a squirrel on the path and kicked at it, making him lose his balance and fall flat on his face.
"Hello? Are you alright there?"
Zack felt his face burn, even pressed up against the snow-blanketed ground. He lifted his head and got to his knees. I hope it's not anyone important, like the mayor or something, he thought, they probably think I'm some kind of joke. Then he pictured how he must look, blue uniform speckled in white and a mask of snow on his face, and started laughing. Well, he thought, maybe I am a joke, but it's not so bad.
"Are you alright sir? Staying in the cold to long could cause hypothermia you know."
Zack blushed again. He had forgotten about his onlooker. "Uh, yeah I'm fine Ms…." He looked up at her and froze. Lifting a hand he rubbed at his eyes, clearing them of snow. The woman had blue eyes, and rather familiar blonde hair. "You don't happen to be related to a Cloud Strife, do you?"
The woman beamed. "You know Cloud? Is he doing well? I haven't gotten a letter from him and I was starting to get worried. He did make it into the cadet program, right? I was nervous that they wouldn't let him in for some reason and he would get stranded in the city."
Zack just stared at her. This woman talks a lot more than Spiky does, he thought. If it wasn't for their appearance I wouldn't guess they were related. "Yeah, Spike's fine. You're his mom?" receiving a nod he continued. "Yeah, he got in, but a couple days ago he hit his head of something and got amnesia. Don't worry," he added after seeing Mrs. Strife's distraught look, "he's perfectly fine, and he remembers you and Nibelheim and stuff, it's just the last two weeks or so he's forgotten." Zack hoped it was true. Spiky's mom seemed like a nice lady and he didn't want her feeling bad 'cause the little guy forgot her.
He stumbled to his feet and looked at Mrs. Strife questioningly. "The choppers not coming back for awhile, so would you mind letting me in your house for a bit to warm up, maybe tell you what's been going on with Spike?" Of course, he wasn't really cold, the Mako made sure of that, but he definitely wouldn't mind hearing some of Spiky's childhood stories. He knew from experience they made good blackmail. And if this town was anything like Gongaga, Cloud's mom would probably be thrilled to get news, and might just be willing to share her most likely excellent cooking.
"Oh, of course! Right this way, it's not far now. You're here because of the dragons, right? They've been causing trouble almost constantly for the past two months of so. First there was a just a decrease in the game population, but just last week one of Tyrfingr's kids was carried off. Such a shame, it was one of the best looking ones too."
Zack had been lingering behind her slightly; amazed that she could talk constantly at the speed she was walking. If not for his training and Mako, he probably would have been lagging behind. Then what she had been saying caught up to him and he froze. "What?" he screeched shrilly, "It ate a kid!"
Mrs. Strife looked back over her shoulder at him blankly, then her face morphed to look sheepish. "Sorry, not a human kid, a baby goat."
The SOLDIER's face burned. "Oh."
They eventually got up to the village, but for some reason Mrs. Strife's face darkened and she started walking quicker.
Zack, startled at the change and left behind because he had been looking around at the town, jolted back to himself. "Whoa! Wait up!" He hurried after Spiky's mom, but she didn't answer his unsaid question and continued marching on. A few moments later they came across some people. At first they just glared at the fair-haired woman, but after the SOLDIER came into view they studied him curiously.
"Converting another one, Skye?" One of them spat. He was middle aged, with grey streaks in his dark hair, and had a dark haired girl standing next to him.
Mrs. Strife, Skye apparently, glowered at him. "Just because you're a paranoid bigot with a bloated head doesn't mean people who aren't prejudiced are sending assassins after your insignificant bottom. I am not, in fact, 'converting' this young man here. He's the SOLDIER sent by Shinra to take care of the dragon problem. And don't you start on him about how I'm such a profane infidel and am going to eat his first born with cranberry sauce because he's friends with my Cloud and won't be daunted by a repulsive chauvinist like you, Lockhart."
Zack stared at her, lost in his wonderings. Cranberry sauce? What? Seeing the groups expectant looks he tried to get over the, what? Weirdness? Awkwardness?, enough to come up with something that wouldn't sound completely dumb. "Yeah, that's me, SOLDIER Third Class Zack Fair, at your service, um, sir?"
Skye smiled at him brightly before turning back to Lockhart. "As you can see, mister mayor sir, we were just on our way to take care of that dragon, so if you'll just excuse me. Oh, and Tifa dear, I made some cookies if you want to come with." At that she continued on, her step obviously lighter. After traveling a few meters she realized Zack wasn't following and turned back. "You coming Zack?" She actually sounded kind of worried like… he didn't know what like.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm coming," he responded shakily.
Her smile was all he needed to know he had made the right choice. I mean, he was her son's friend, or at least she thought he was, so she wouldn't really eat him… would she?
Dreams of the Morrow: Insecurities. 2,200 words. Updated May 22, 2011
I know it's kind of short, but it seems like the longer the chapter is, the harder it gets to write. So I'm going to try shorter but more frequent chapters. As for how the phone got there, you'll find out later. Also, I don't know what pairings (If any) this will be except it's not going to be SephirothxAeris. Oh, and the reason I'm using Aeris instead of Aerith is because my brother thought it sounded better.