~~~PREFACE 1/2~~~

Welcome to the Foreword Corner, dear readers! I am EmSAh.

Before you decide to skip this page, I would advise you to stop and actually read every word there is to say within this. If you do not heed my words, you will most likely be either confused of some things that the chapters would contain.

Firstly, I would like to inform everyone that I have adapted a slightly newer style of writing. This style is something I have invented together with my fellow writer, AstridClaire. It promotes a cleaner and more refined writing, especially for amateurs in cyber writing.

This style is the 'C.R.O.W. Challenge'. Instructions are on the other half of the Preface.

The writing formats/legends are listed at the end so check on the next page for them to avoid confusion.

For those who would like to adapt the C.R.O.W. Challenge to their own stories, please copy and paste this onto your own Preface Page on every story you apply it to. It would also be preferrable to give credit to AstridClaire and me since we truly worked hard to come up with this system in order to improve our writing.

For the next order of business, I would like to discuss some things regarding this story.

As everyone knows, "Fading" was originally a tentative one-shot written by Mine6Chan but was not labeled as complete. After a few days of patience without final confirmation as to whether the one-shot would have more chapters, I have decided to write my own story about it with my own plot twist.

One significant detail everyone must take note of is that this story will contain very mature themes about same sex relationships. There will also be foul language and descriptive violence that may or may not be considered triggering.

It is also most likely for the story to contain some form of tragedy and would therefore lead to intense angst along the storyline.

Next, the setting of this story happened along the timeline of Crisis Core but with a twist that also greatly involves a personal interpretation of LOVELESS.

Genesis Rhapsodos and Angeal Hewley did not desert ShinRa since the OT5 has already been completed before they discovered their heritage, which became great emotional support for both. Without their cooperation, Hollander became insane in his attempts to start anew in his research and he ended up dying in the process. Genesis and Angeal salvaged whatever notes he left behind to find a cure to their degradation but only found tentative procedures to slow down the process.

The same could be said about Sephiroth who did not go insane after finding out about his origins. Hojo has not figured out that Sephiroth had clues—though only enough to know that Jenova is not his birth mother—regarding his true heritage, but is already suspicious.

Zackary Fair is now a SOLDIER First-Class with potential to hold a specific military title, while Cloud Strife is a soon-to-be-graduating cadet who is on his way to becoming a SOLDIER Third-Class with an offer to become Lt. Rhapsodos' apprentice once he properly undergoes the Mako Injecting Procedure.

At the moment, there are two things that are troubling my mind and hindering me from writing further:

1. Seeing that he will not inherit the Buster Sword while Angeal Hewley still lives, what should be the name of Zackary Fair's new sword?

2. The story will contain M-Preg along the way and Cloud Strife is clearly the bearer but the pregnancy could go along in two ways. Which one will it be:

*CONVENTIONAL METHOD - Only one partner would procreate with Cloud in a way that they (OT4) would have to do it one by one to get a child of their own from the blonde.

*SPECIAL METHOD - Involves all five at the same time where the OT4 could become the fathers of the same child.

I would strongly appreciate it if you could all give me your opinions regarding these two topics.

Regarding the first item, it would also be advisable to insert some references. It would be better to name the sword and the appropriate meaning within them. Zack's sword will most likely resemble a broadsword or glaiver, and it would need a name that would have a worthy meaning for a heroic person.

Lastly, this story was published before the full creation of the C.R.O.W. Challenge so everyone should expect changes that could be treated from mild to major depending on how the chapter must be interpreted so as to be clear enough for the readers to understand the plotline.

Hopefully, not much changes will be done.

That is all that needs to be said so far.

If you have questions along the way, review or PM me.

To my beloved readers, I ask you to rate each of my chapters whenever you find time to review.

To my fellow writers, feel free to make use of this challenge to develop your skills in creative writing.

Thank you for everyone who has supported me so far! I appreciate every single follow, favorite, and review you all have to offer.

Take care and God bless us all!

xoxo

EmSAh