AN: Hello. Sorry for the long wait, but I had to do major research for this one. It was way too long to do a oneshot, so I divided it into smaller chapters. I must caution that if you haven't read Of My Dreams, you won't understand the references. I tried to avoid spoilers, so I think it's safe to read.

Thanks: To Hana to Akuma, im-a-tumor, drake202, Deviling, Lightning Farron, Dare or No Dare, gagboy, fusion90XXXX for all your reviews. They encouraged me to get my act together and write this. I hope you enjoy it.

Special thanks: To author leradny who wrote Needle in the Hay. It helped me get a good idea of Lightning's character and her interaction with the other FFXIII cast. And to my sister, HuGaBlesEaL.

When I Wake

Prologue

"Will this work?"

Cloud was leaning up against the far wall of the room, arms crossed over his chest. He didn't look his usual self, his face lined with fatigue. He couldn't even remember the last time he had slept or eaten. Things were moving far too quickly for life's usual necessities.

Standing across from him was a blue haired, young looking man dressed in dark clothes. His eyes were fixed unwaveringly in front of him, his concentration so deep he hadn't heard a thing. Cloud repeated his words.

"Noctis."

The young man looked up at his visitor. "Yes?"

"Is there any chance at all that this will work?" Cloud tried not to sound too desperate, but he could feel time slipping by quickly. There was no telling what could happen.

Noctis thought a moment, his fingers tapping on the large, wooden table he was sitting at. "I won't lie to you, Cloud. This has never been done before. The crystals aren't an exact science. You could end up being sent back where you came from, or find yourself in outer space or stuck inside solid rock. What you want to do is like jumping out of a plane without a parachute without knowing how high up you are, hoping to land on a very small pillow. Is she really worth it?"

A very faint smile touched Cloud's lips, more out of being nervous than finding the comment funny. "Well…I've gotten this far."

The young man thought a little further. He knew the final decision rested with him. Cloud had kept his end of the bargain without an assured guarantee from Noctis that he would help. The last thing Noctis wanted was innocent blood on his hands, especially that of a new-found friend. But the man's eyes, already an unnatural hue, reflected his intense desire to finish his journey.

Rising from the table, Noctis bade Cloud to follow. They headed for the very heart of Noctis' family mansion, passing portraits of relatives going back dozens of generations. Cloud could see a disturbing resemblance in all of them. It wasn't so much that they looked the same; they all seemed gloomy and dark. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of life the young man was living. Noctis lead him in deep, modern walls gave way to stone ones, and Cloud half expected to see torches line the halls. They finally arrived at a large set of doors made of dark brown oak, behind which lay a terrible power.

"I will try, with the best of my ability." Noctis said without turning around to look at Cloud. "But so help me, it may not be enough."

"I understand."

"Don't say that so easily!" Noctis almost snapped as he spun around, his voice taking on a passion Cloud hadn't realized he had. "Think about everything that has ever happened to you. Your friends, your enemies, blessings and regrets. Remember each emotion you've ever experienced, as well as the memories attached to them. Are you ready to lose all that? Because when this starts, and you pull your thoughts away out of fear of loss, you could end up as alive as those portraits of my ancestors. That large crystal you found on your world, materia was it? It might've been kind enough to send you to the right reality, but our crystals are different."

The realism of what was about to happen gradually dawned on Cloud. There had been many times he had faced a no-turning-back situation. But this one was different in every sense. Not only was there no turning back, there was probably no going forward. Could he take the risk?

"I'm ready." Was all he said.

Noctis looked at him intensely. "Very well."

He approached the doors and pushed them open, the bright, blue light of the crystal breaking through the opening.

As they stepped inside, Cloud saw a sight he had never before believed possible, his eyes wide in awe. As Noctis took his place at the side of the source of the brilliant light, Cloud shrunk away momentarily. Was this really happening?

"Place your hand here." Noctis motioned, urging Cloud to come closer, the light making his face very pale looking. "I'll do the rest."

Closing his eyes once more, the young dynast ruler went into a deep trance. Myths and legends spoke of feats such as the one he was trying to accomplish, but to the best of his knowledge, it had never been done. His mind slowly began to expand, taking in all that existed in the room, and then grew to include the mansion, then the city. Drops of sweat began to form on his brow as he tried to expand even further, up and beyond the limits of his own planet. But the awareness what too overwhelming, like an eye going blind from too much exposure to light. The pain quickly followed, and Noctis decided to end it.

"Argh!" Noctis cried as he felt something enter into the expanse he had created. It was like a shadow of the cosmos with a life of its own suddenly interfering with what he was trying to do.

Cloud's body shook with a violent spasm, jolted by a foreign power. Noctis fought to regain control, but he was greatly outmatched. A strong will broke through, turning the great power Noctis was trying to use against him, throwing the young man to the ground several feet from where he had been standing. Noctis was struggling to rise, looking at his friend. Cloud was at the center of what could've been an electric storm, bolts of thunder coming from and to his body.

"Cloud!" Noctis shouted, only to be blown back when Cloud exploded in a flash of light.

Alone, leaning against the wall for support, Noctis stared bewildered at the spot Cloud had been just a moment before. There was no trace of him left.