Oh hey, so I came up with another idea. Surprisingly it's another FF7 idea. For some reason I just got really into doing story ideas for that now haha. And both my FF7 stories are co written with tmart.x13 so there is also that.

Ch.1

Cloud slowly started to stir once again as he blinked his eyes a few times. Light danced in front of his eyes, but it was not as bright as it had been earlier. It was much darker, though not quite nighttime yet, and the rain was pouring down heavily. Cloud sat there against the rocks where Zack had laid him down and just stared blankly ahead for a few seconds, until a thought entered into his mind.

"Z-Zack…" he mumbled, finally remembering that Zack had left to go fight.

Cloud knew that he had to go and try to see Zack, or maybe see if he could help. He struggled to rise up off of the ground, his legs wobbling as he grasped to the side of a rock for support. Slowly, he started making his way out into the open, dragging his feet inch by inch as most of his strength was gone.

After what seemed like forever, Cloud finally saw something on the ground in the distance. He squinted his eyes to try to get a better look. There he saw what looked like a person and he noticed the gleam of a large sword lying on the ground next to them. Cloud's eyes widened as his heart skipped a beat. He started to rush forward, forgetting that he was nearly too weak to even walk. Somehow, he was able to run for a short distance, before he crashed to the ground as his legs gave out.

"Zack! I'm coming," Cloud cried out in desperation, a strong sense of worry in his shaky voice. He continued to crawl along the ground towards the figure that he assumed was Zack. Eventually, he was close enough to realize that it was indeed Zack. Zack was just laying there though, with his arms spread out to the side and his chest slowly rising and falling. Cloud's heart skipped another beat as he gazed upon his best friend who was lying in a puddle, tints of red staining the water.

The blood drained from Cloud's face as he pulled himself up next to Zack. Though the rain was trying to wash it away, there was dirt and blood spattered all over Zack. From his face and arms, to his outfit. It was hard to tell, but it was clear that his shirt was soaked with blood. There was one large amount of blood dripping down the left side of his face. What worried Cloud even more was the fact that Zack's shirt and armor pieces were riddled with bullet holes.

Cloud knew that some kind of fight had taken place just before. He knew something had happened. But everything was still hazy. Cloud closed his eyes for the moment as he tried to recall what had happened. He remembered being in a truck and then Zack resting him in a safe spot. There was so many people with guns and other weapons in the distance, and Zack was standing before them, ready to attack. Cloud frowned as he realized that Zack must have had to fight them all off on his own.

"Z-Zack…" Cloud spoke as his voice broke. It was a horrible site to see his friend in. Seeing him stare up and space out at the stormy sky above… it didn't feel right to see Zack look like that. His head started to ache, but he tried to ignore it. What mattered to him right now was Zack.

Zack seemed to have heard Cloud's voice calling out his name. He attempted to will his body to move as he gritted his teeth and squinched his eyes in pain. However, his efforts to raise himself up were in vain. It was too much for him. He was far too exhausted now to even move as rested his head back down onto the sopping wet ground beneath him. His face scrunched up in disappointed for a moment and then it was quickly followed by annoyance.

Then, he moved his eyes to see Cloud and a small grin started to form on his face. Somehow even in his current state, Zack still found a way to smile. He managed to slightly tilt his head forward towards Cloud, so that he could see his friend's face as he then opened his mouth.

"For the… both of us… ," he said in a calm voice through exasperated breaths as his chest rose and fell heavily, as he tried to get all of the breath he could manage. He then just stared directly at Cloud, the small grin still across his face after he had stopped speaking.

Cloud stared back for a moment. He couldn't quite understand what Zack meant by that. "Both of us?" he asked aloud, trying to figure out what it meant.

Zack opened his mouth to speak once more. "That's right… you're gonna…" he paused, his breathing heavy as he tried to find the strength to form the words he needed next.

Cloud tilted his head to the side. He was feeling more wary than before now as he heard Zack speak. Zack looked all too peaceful as he spoke. But it still left Cloud with questions. "What? G-Gonna what?"

Finally able to gather some strength, Zack took in a deep breath as he raised his left arm slowly up to Cloud until he had it positioned on the back of his head. He then brought Cloud's head down to rest gently on his chest area that was littered with bullet wounds and blood as he finished his sentence.

"Live," Zack said briefly as he began to breathe slowly to try to conserve as much stamina as he could.

He kept his hand behind Cloud's head in an effort to mimic some sort of hug. "You'll be… my living legacy." Zack finished speaking with a tired breath as the strength he had mustered started to fail him as his hand slipped from Cloud's head and dropped heavily to the water-splayed ground with a heavy thud and splash. He winced slightly in pain before his face settled back to a more calm look that he was somehow able to have, despite the situation.

Cloud on the other hand sat up a little. Blood now stained on his face and a few bits of hair. He slowly took in deep breaths as he tried to comprehend Zack's words. Thoughts started to swarm Cloud's mind as he tried to make sense of everything.

"Live? I'll… live? Being… Zack's legacy?" Cloud thought to himself. It all sounded like it was obvious, but he was having trouble putting it together in his head. His head still was aching and it was hard focus, but he had to try. He wanted to understand.

Cloud looked down at Zack again and saw the blood was still dripping from his head.

And then it clicked.

He understood what Zack meant now.

Cloud's eyes widened and his breathing increased. He started to shake his head back and forth. "N-No… Z-Zack…" Cloud tried to speak more, but all that came out were whimpers.

Zack continued to smile up at Cloud, even though he could tell there was pain on his face. He inhaled deeply to gather the wind to try to talk some more. "Cloud… it's all right. I know… this is not easy. But… you have to… live."

He stopped as he had exasperated most of the air that he had gathered as he kept staring at Cloud with a calming expression. A thought ran through Zack's mind that this must be how Angeal felt when Zack was in Cloud's position. He wanted to chuckle, but he knew he couldn't manage that with his wounds, so he just smiled at the thought of it.

Cloud continued to look worried and upset. His best friend was dying right in front of him and there wasn't anything he could do. He had no potions or magic he could use. He could only sit there and be useless.

Cloud still didn't understand how Zack could look so peaceful and calm though. He was dying! Why didn't he seem to care more. "Y-You can't!" Cloud said, raising his voice slightly. "You can't d-die!"

The tears that streamed down Cloud's face went unnoticed as the blended with the rain. Cloud knew they were there though. His hands trembled slightly as he tried to think of something he could do. There had to be something. He didn't want to sit there and let Zack die… but he couldn't think straight. The only thing he knew though was that he didn't want Zack to die.

Zack just looked at Cloud more. He knew how Cloud felt, and he wanted to stay there for him. "Well… it's not like… I have much choice... " he spoke as he sighed heavily, stopping to try to take in as many breaths as he could, as he could feel them growing shorter.

Cloud's vision started to go blurry as the tears now were filling his eyes. He couldn't help but shake his head again. None of this felt fair! Cloud didn't get it. Why did Zack have to die? Why did this have to happen to Zack?

Hazy memories came back to Cloud. Memories of Zack right by his side and helping him along. Cloud couldn't remember why Zack was helping him, but he knew that Zack was there for him. Zack had done so much to be a strong helpful person yet he was to die painful after a horrible battle? It all felt so wrong to Cloud.

Sobs escaped from Cloud as he gently rested his head near Zack's shoulder, not caring about the blood that would stain his face. All he wanted was to be right by his best friend.

"Please don't die Zack. Y-Your my friend," Cloud managed to said in between his sobs. "It's not fair."

Zack tried to raise his head slightly towards where Cloud's head was laying. "I know… I know," he uttered, trying to sound as calm as he could to somewhat comfort Cloud.

He knew he was dying, but he still tried to be there for Cloud, up until the last moment. "Hey… you're strong. I know… you can do it. So… here," Zack cut himself off as he started to move his right arm that was positioned under where Cloud's head laid.

Cloud shifted until he was sitting up right again. He looked to Zack's right arm and saw that he still was holding the buster sword.

Zack continued to move his arm in an upward motion, dragging the buster sword along the wet ground. It grinded and scratched against the rocks as he spoke.

"My honor, my dreams…" he spoke with confidence as the sword finally stopped in front of Cloud. He then raised the sword up higher towards Cloud, making an attempt to shove it closer to his body. "They're yours now."

Zack looked upon Cloud with that calm smile that he had worn most all of the time. Zack just continued to look at Cloud. As Cloud grabbed hold of the sword, Zack released his grip on it, and pushed it toward Cloud as best he could as his hand then plopped to the ground and made a splash on the soaked rocks.

He wanted to speak more. He wanted to do more. However, his breathing had slowed, and he found those last words hard to push out. He wasn't sure if he could manage to speak again, let alone move.

Despite everything, Zack was glad for one more thing. The rain. It was a good way to hide all of his tears that covered his face. He wasn't happy that he was dying, and he knew that Cloud was not happy. But he tried to be strong, because that's what a hero would do. And he needed to be that for Cloud right now. So, he continued to smile and to look upon his face until he was no longer able to do so.

Cloud gripped the handle of the sword tightly as he watched Zack's face relax. Slowly Zack's eyes began to close. His breaths were becoming shorter and fainter with each passing second. It wouldn't be much longer now. Everything was fading away slowly.

Cloud started to hyperventilate as he stared at Zack. Just sitting there and watching only made him start to panic more. "No. No… no. No nonono…" Cloud muttered to himself now.

He didn't want this. He didn't want to be left alone. He didn't want his best friend to die. He didn't want any of this.

Suddenly a wave of memories flew threw Cloud's mind. Many memories of being with Zack and being friends. Everything flowed through him all at once. It was all too overwhelming.

"Aaaaaaaaagggggggh!" Cloud screamed out as loud as he could.

Cloud never once let go of the sword though. He kept it held tight in his hands. Frustration now was slowly seeping into him though, mixing with his sadness. All the pain in his head didn't make things any better, but he still couldn't stop thinking one thing.

"It's not fair!" he cried out. "Zack!" Cloud let out a large sob. "Why!?"

Cloud took in a deep breath as he stared up at the mournful sky. "Don't let him die! Please!" He screamed as loud as he could. He didn't know if it would do anything, but he felt he had to try. "I'll… I'll do anything to save him!"

As Cloud took in a deep breath, the air around him suddenly felt strange. The sound of the rain stopped and froze right before him. Cloud blinked a few times to make sure he was seeing things right. With one hand Cloud reached out at the rain droplets before him. His hand just passed right through them and they remained frozen where they were.

"You wish to save him?" a voiced asked. Cloud was unable to tell where the voice was coming from. It sounded like it was all around him. And he had no idea how to describe the voice. It sounded echoey with no distinguishable tone or anything. Though it almost sounded like it could have been many voices, but it was too hard to tell.

"Wh-Who are you? What are you talking about?" he asked curiously, trying to figure out what he was actually hearing, or if his mind was playing tricks on him again. He had no idea of this was the Lifestream...or perhaps something else.

"That is not of importance child. What is important is that you wish to save your friend, correct?" the voice asked.

Cloud was confused by who or what this voice was exactly, and why they were asking questions. However, he knew one thing for sure. If there was a way to save Zack, then he would take it, not matter the risk.

"Yes! I do want to save Zack. Please. If you have a way…any way at all, I will do it. Just tell me."

"There is a way. But it is risky…" the voice said, trailing off at the end, as if waiting to see what Cloud would say in response.

Cloud did not need a moment to think about it. "Fine. I'll do it. Whatever the risks, I'm ready to take them. I have nothing left anyways. What do I have to lose?" he asked, posing the question to not only they mysterious voice, but also to himself.

"The cost that this choice comes with is large. But if you are willing to do what it takes, then you have nothing to fear."

The choice was clear what he needed to do. It seemed like a dream, that he would be given a chance like this to save the only person he cared about. He knew there was nothing much to fear after what he had just been through, and he could not imagine living life without Zack. However, Cloud was still curious.

"So… what is it that I have to do anyways? What is involved in me accepting this? I'm willing to do anything, but I'm curious as to just what I am getting myself involved in," Cloud said coldly with a pinch of emotion in his voice, as he seemingly tried to control himself.

"In order to save your friend, you will be sent to the past. You will be giving a chance to save your friend by changing the past," the voice explained. "But… you will not have immediate access to any of your memories of the future… or of your past prior to the time you are sent back to."

Cloud tried to process what he had just heard, though his mind was racing with so many different thoughts at the moment. Though, he did think of something. "So… when I accept this and go back, I won't remember any of this?"

"That is correct. Do you still choose to go through with this?"

"Of course. Just curious. I'll do whatever it takes to save Zack. " Cloud said confidently, not wavering in his desire to see Zack again. His eyes shifted down to Zack, who still laid there with a peaceful smile. Despite Zack looking peaceful, it still did not feel right. Cloud didn't want to go on with Zack being dead. He needed his best friend. So, now that he had come to a decision, he took in a deep breath and answered the voice. "I'm ready."

"Very well," the voice responded simply.

The world started to spin and blur around Cloud. No longer could he see what was in front of him. A burning sensation started in his head, causing a severe burst of pain. Cloud fell to the ground as he gripped his head tightly. He had no idea what was happening, but he didn't even had a moment to try and think on it. In the next moment everything went black.

Alrighty. So this is going to be a rather interesting story, cause ya know time travel and stuff. But we hope you guys enjoyed this opening chapter! Thanks for reading.