Okay, I know what some of you are already thinking. I just want it to be clear that even though 'Rising of the Chocobo' isn't complete, I just had to get this one out. It's been in my mind for a while, and I felt like I had to get this prologue out. Don't worry. 'Wolf Amongst Roses' isn't going to take priority over 'Rising of the Chocobo'. I'm putting 100% of my effort in finishing it. This prologue is really meant to test the waters on what story you guys might want to read after 'Rising of the Chocobo' is done. For now, while I'm working on the next chapter of 'Rising of the Chocobo', I hope this small chapter would keep you guys entertained while I'm working on it. It's going to take a bit longer than I thought. Enjoy this small prologue, and have fun speculating on what you think will happen to our favorite blond deliveryman in this next story. A bit of a warning though. There are some spoilers from the FF7 Remake in this prologue, so read at your own risk!

Also, the last part of Chapter 5 in 'Rising of the Chocobo' has been re-written! It should be a lot more epic, and I fixed some of the plot-related issues in that chapter.

Edit: I just realized that the original title for this story was exactly the same as the story written by devilhunterAj. I want to clarify that I did not mean to copy his title, and it was a complete coincidence. The title for this story has now been changed so that the two stores are not mixed up. I did not mean to plagiarize his title.

AN: I highly recommend listening to the Garden of Avalon OST "At the Garden" while reading this.

Cloud didn't know what to think when the bullet ripped through his chest. It did hit him from the back after all. He didn't know what he was thinking when he turned around and charged towards Loz and Yazoo. He couldn't even feel the hole in his chest. All he felt were the vibrations in his throat as he yelled at the top of his lungs and charged at the remaining remnants. The last thing he remembered seeing was the two remnants holding up their arms, their arms glowing from the stolen Materia.

"We'll go see mother...together." Yazoo croaked before him and Loz unleashed an explosion that caused Cloud's vision to turn white.

As Cloud floated in nothingness, he felt oddly calm. Even though he had just died, Cloud didn't feel sad, angry, or even upset. He felt content. His Geostigma was cured, and he finally conquered his past by defeating Sephiroth for the final time and protecting his friends. He knew his time would eventually be up. Now, he would join the Lifestream and continue the cycle of life. Like how Aerith and Zack had done.

"Are you awake, O' Hero?"

"Huh?" Cloud groaned. He slowly opened his eyes, and saw a dark and murky sky above him. The amount of stars Cloud saw that littered the empty black space put Nibelheim's own night sky to shame, and he appeared to be standing on some kind of rocky. Once Cloud managed to calm himself down, that was when he finally noticed the person standing in front of him. She was a woman who looked like a young adult in her mid-twenties. She had flowing brown hair and she wore a white dress that went down to her ankles. Her eyes were emerald-green and her complexion looked as fragile as porcelain. To top it all off, she looked very familiar.

"A-Aerith!?" Cloud exclaimed in shock. He briefly stepped back in surprise as he stared at the girl in front of him. Aside from the white dress, she looked nearly identical to the florist, albeit a few years older.

The woman slowly shook her head in response. "No, I am not the half-Cetra you know. I am the Planet itself."

"Wait, you mean Gaia!?" Cloud exclaimed. "You're telling me that you're Gaia itself!?"

The woman nodded, causing Cloud to sigh as he began to wrap his head around the fact that the person standing in front of him was the Planet itself. He had seen some bizarre things before. But meeting the manifestation of the Planet had to have topped it all off.

"So, are you here to take me to the Lifestream?" Cloud asked cautiously. He didn't know if this was what normally happened when people died. "What is this place?"

"This place is...the Edge of Creation." Gaia whispered.

"What!?" Cloud exclaimed, taking a step back in shock. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It is as I said. This place is where the very ends of creation and life meet," the lady explained. "Now, you are familiar with what the Weapons are, am I not mistaken?"

Cloud nodded uneasily in response. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he was currently standing in a place that no one had ever been to before. Still, he remembered the Planet's defense mechanisms all too well. He swallowed the lump in his throat and answered Gaia. "Yeah, but what about them?"

"As you know, I made those Weapons in case I was in any sort of danger. Their purpose was to protect me. Thanks to you and them, Meteor was not able to take my life. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for other worlds." Gaia finished, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Cloud asked. "What do you mean by 'other worlds'?"

"It is as I said. There are other worlds out there that do not have the proper defense mechanisms to preserve their existences. As a result, many worlds have perished as a result."

Gaia then slowly walked over to Cloud, reaching down and grasping both of his hands with her own. Cloud didn't want to grasp her hands any tighter. He was afraid that they would break if they did. They felt so delicate and frail in his hands.

"Please, brave hero. I beg of you to go to the last surviving worlds and be their Weapons before it is too late." Gaia begged.

"Wait. Why do you care what happens in these other worlds?" Cloud questioned. It didn't make sense that the planet would ask him to save other worlds. Gaia had designed the Weapons to preserve itself and only itself. It didn't care if all the humans living in it died as long as it preserved itself.

"All life is connected. When one world is destroyed, it affects the rest of us. It will not be long until the consequences directly impact me and your friends." Gaia explained.

Cloud was left speechless as his mind began to digest all of the information. All of it sounded ridiculous. Other worlds? Cloud wanted to laugh in denial. But, he couldn't. Something in him made him believe every single one of Gaia's words. So many people had died in the fight against Sephiroth all those years ago. If Cloud's world wasn't the only one facing destruction on that kind of level, then what was happening to the worlds that didn't have mechanisms like the Weapons or people willing to fight and save their world? Didn't he want to be someone that people could rely on? Isn't that why Zack and Aerith died for him?

Cloud gripped Gaia's hands tighter. Thankfully, her hands didn't shatter like glass. "I'll do it. Whatever it takes."

"...It will not be easy. Though you may have physically died, your spirit will not. You will not age. It may take several years or even millennia until you save this world. The more time may pass, the more your memories of your past life will leave you. The only way you will be free is if you eliminate the threat or if you lose your life. Even knowing these risks, are you willing to take this task?"

"I swore...that I would never forget. So many people that I know are gone because I was weak. If there are other worlds that need help, then I'm willing to do it. Whatever it takes." Cloud finished. Eventually, he relinquished his grip on Gaia's hands, the manifestation of the Plane itself slowing backing up from the blond.

"Then, I will shortly transport you to this world. Be warned. Many unknown dangers lurk in this world. Both your mind and body will be tested to their absolute limits," Suddenly, Cloud's body began to become wrapped in light, and he could feel his body begin to float upwards. "Then, I wish you good luck."