ShooTheOtherGuy here with another one of them Time Travel Fics! I've read every one out there, including The Fifth Act, Counter Crisis, Dreams Of The Morrow, etc...which, by the way, guys who haven't updated yet, you really should. Awesome stuff out there.

This fic here will contain no romance. Nope, no Seph/Cloud, Zack/Cloud, anything/Cloud. The only pairing with be the implied Zack/Aerith, which is canon. I am not a fan of romance. Sorry guys.

What this fic will include is lots of suspicious Turks, action, slip-ups, confusion, and lots of things going wrong. Might not even have a happy ending, who knows?

Well, I hope you enjoy! I'll do my best to get this one finished, unlike my other fic (which was so not planned out). I actually planned this one out, though! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII or anything associated with it. I do, however, own the plot of this story.

The roar of Fenrir cut through the still air, blowing up dust, dirt and undefinable objects in its wake. Cloud clutched a small package in his hand as he zoomed through the mountains leading to the Chocobo Ranch southeast of Midgar.

"Where's Cid when you need him…" he mumbled under his breath. Cloud would have preferred to utilize said captain's airship, but after calling a million times without an answer, he decided to journey the long trek to Mideel himself. Sometimes the delivery service could be a real pain, thought Cloud as he zoomed closer towards the ranch.

Soon Cloud skidded across yellow grass – once a rich green – to stop Fenrir from colliding into the white, rusted fence. The aftermath of Meteor wasn't pretty, and the towns and cities spread across the map were doing their best to scrape up what they could and start over.

Cloud hopped off of Fenrir, making sure to grab his trusty First Tsurugi and slipping it into the harness strapped onto his back. He then proceeded to wheel the bike into Chocobo Bill's farmhouse.

"Chocobo Bill?" Cloud called, looking around. Because Mideel was located on an island, he couldn't cross the water with Fenrir, so that was where the chocobos came in.

"Ah, Cloud? Is that you there? Long time no see!" replied Chocobo Bill, stepping into Cloud's view from what Cloud knew was the spare bedroom. He had on a huge smile as he regarded Cloud. "Wow, just look at you, all big and strong!"

Cloud observed him coolly. "You're not too bad yourself," he said, before straightening up again. "I wanted to ask a favour of you."

"Go ahead, what is it you want?" Chocobo Bill stepped forward a bit, waiting patiently for Cloud's answer.

"I need to get to Mideel, but I can't take Fenrir across. Is it OK if I borrowed a black chocobo? I have no money on me." He lied about the last part. Cloud didn't want to use Chocobo Bill like that, but he didn't have enough money to waste on pointless things like greens, and not enough time to go and catch one himself.

"No money? Boy, you telling me you run a delivery service for free?" Chocobo Bill asked, clearly baffled at Cloud's lack of funds.

Cloud kept eye contact, trying not to look away to signal that he was lying. "I got mugged when fighting a monster on the way here."

Chocobo Bill's eyebrows furrowed in thought before he nodded, clearly buying Cloud's excuse. "Alright, head on down to the stable and grab Coal," Cloud opened his mouth to ask about Fenrir, but Chocobo Bill beat him to it, "and you can keep that motorcycle of yours out back."

Cloud managed to smile a bit, grateful for his kindness. "Thanks." He turned around, tossing a wave over his shoulder, and wheeled Fenrir to the back of the house. After leaning it behind some crates for safety, he headed over to the chocobo stable to pick up Coal, a black chocobo that Cloud rose himself back when he used to tend to the chocobos, before Meteor.

As soon as he entered the stable, the chocobos warked at him in glee in the return of their short time caretaker. He walked past the yellows, greens and golds in search of the black chocobos, occasionally reaching over to scratch one behind the ears or to pat them on the head. It wasn't long before he found Coal, all healthy, happy and so blissfully unawareof everything that had happened.

"Hey little guy, you're coming with me," Cloud said, aware that the chocobo probably didn't know what he was saying. The black chocobos were a smart breed, though, so it understood Cloud's intention and warked in excitement at the thought of finally getting out of the stable.

Cloud unlocked the gate trapping the chocobo inside and led him out, guiding him to the door. Once they were out he hopped on, clutching the package, and patted Coal on his head.

"To Mideel," Cloud said softly, tugging Coal to said destination northwest of the Chocobo Ranch.

The journey took a bit of time, Coal moving slower than Fenrir does. On the way, Cloud zoned out, mulling over the events of his long, hard life. Shin-Ra, Sephiroth, JENOVA, Hojo…the factors that made everything in his life go wrong. Cloud couldn't help but wonder that if those didn't exist, didn't happen, what would have become of him now.

Even after Meteor, Sephiroth still managed to haunt him, this time through Kadaj and his gang. After finally defeating the silver-haired monster yet again, Cloud managed to slowly relax due to the company of his friends and the fact that everything seemed to get better. Even so, a small part of his mind was on alert, just waiting for the next time Sephiroth decided to strike again.

After the latest fight, Tifa and the kids stayed home, content to run the busy bar. Barret went back to Corel to try to help his hometown get back on its feet. Vincent took to traveling, never really staying in one place. Yuffie went back to Wutai, wanting to make her village proud. Red XIII sometimes tagged along with Cloud's deliveries, but was content to hang around Cosmo Canyon to ward off the beasts that tended to lurk near the small town. Cid was back at his rocket, not wanting to leave the little town that he called home. He also kept the Highwind in top shape, and was constantly being called to drop his friends off here or there. Reeve, or Cait Sith, Cloud really didn't know about, but he liked to think that he was doing well.

Soon, Coal cleared the green-blue water, and in no time they skidded to a halt in front of Mideel. Cloud hopped off of the chocobo, thanking it with a scratch behind the ears for taking him there, and proceeded to walk into Mideel to deliver the package, Coal following him in.

The vast Lifestream shimmered green, deadly in the middle of the big village. Cloud carefully stepped around it knowing that if he fell in, he would die in the thick poison that was the Planet's blood. Coal seemed to sense Cloud's caution, and did the same.

They arrived in front of the right house, Cloud double checking the package to make sure. He knocked on the door and almost immediately someone opened it up, looking quite tired. It was a middle aged man, bald everywhere except the thick brown beard decorating his face.

Cloud held out the package and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could the man grabbed it from his hands and slammed the door shut. Coal warked in surprise, and Cloud stared hard at the door before sighing and heading back.

Before leaving, Cloud stopped in front of the open Lifestream, staring out at the vast green lake. This was where he found himself. It was both an ending to his former self and the beginning of a new one. It was the cause of all his problems, yet the solution as well. Funny thing it was, the Lifestream. It signalled life and death.

Cloud was so lost in contemplation that he didn't notice one of the villagers approach him and silently regard the Lifestream next to him until they spoke up.

"It's a strange thing, isn't it? Some say the Lifestream rests only in Mideel. Others say it moves throughout time. Those who attempt to find out are never heard from again. I guess it will forever remain a mystery, eh?"

Cloud blinked, then turned to his right to see one of the shopkeepers next to him. He was a large man, draped in clothing that was a little dirty in places, but who could blame him? He was topped off with a head of greying black hair and a stubble across his face. Coal warked a greeting as he stood next to Cloud, waiting to take him back to the Chocobo Ranch.

"…Yeah, I guess," Cloud mumbled, remembering the time he himself fell in. They both stayed like that for a while, staring out at the beautifully deadly lake. Soon, Cloud moved to straddle Coal and head out. The shopkeeper glanced at him before smiling slightly and walking off. Cloud nudged the chocobo, prompting him to turn back around.

Suddenly, a man came out of one of the houses littering the village, a silver gun clutched in his hands. Cloud recognized him as the one he gave the package to, the one who slammed the door in his face. He looked a little panicked and pointed the gun beside Cloud's shoulder. Cloud turned around just in time to see a Crysales about to strike. The man aimed, his finger pressing the trigger.

BANG!

The shot was so sudden and so loud that it scared Coal right out of his mind. He warked in panic, hopping dangerously close to the Lifestream. Cloud desperately tried to calm the chocobo down and away from the edge of the lake, but another gunshot caused Coal to fling Cloud right off of his back and into the air over the Lifestream.

"No –!" Cloud choked out, not wanting to believe that he was about to take another dunk into the deadly green water. He might not be so lucky this time.

Gasps came from around the village as people watched Cloud's fall into the open Lifestream. Cloud closed his eyes, hoping to the Planet that this was all some kind of sick dream, that he wasn't about to fall to his death.

Cloud could feel the natural Mako burning his skin the moment he touched the searing liquid. His thoughts flashed to his friends, his makeshift family, and what they would do without him. He silently laughed at the irony of it all, how the same Mako that killed Sephiroth, that started all his problems, was killing him now. And his last thought before everything went black was:

"Damn you, Coal."

The helicopter touched down roughly onto the forest ground outside of Mideel, landing with a shake and a huge thud. Zack hopped out immediately afterward, wanting to escape the cramped quarters of the aircraft and all the troopers that were squeezed inside. Said troopers filed out, guns strapped to their backs, ready for orders. Zack, being SOLDIER Second, was in charge of this group. They were to head out and locate a Mako spring that supposedly popped up somewhere around Mideel and get it under control. It would have been a job for the Turks, or even some low SOLDIER Thirds, but the fact remained that there could be some Mako-crazed beats lurking around. With an open Mako spring, the local animals could easily get into it and go insane.

Once everyone filed out and into a straight line, Zack smacked his fist into an open palm. "Alright! You four," Zack pointed to the four troopers closest to him, "head on northwest. You three," the three in the middle stood to attention, "come with me north from here. And the rest of you head southeast. Let's go!"

As he watched the other two groups move onwards, and headed on forward with his, Zack couldn't help but thank all that time he spent with his mentor, Angeal. Without him, Zack would have been a mess in handling the troopers.

Looking around acres and acres of forest for one small Mako spring wasn't easy, and Zack quickly got bored in looking at the same trees over and over again, at the green that seemed to never end. The troopers also looked bored, but they entertained themselves in meaningless gossip. Even that didn't last very long, though, and the rest of the search was continued in silence until a trooper hesitantly cleared his throat, about to speak.

"Uh, Sir, is it OK if we rest here for a bit?" he asked, clearly afraid of being portrayed as weak. Zack simply grinned. "Oh man, I thought you'd never ask," he said, plopping down. The other troopers sighed loudly in exhaustion and plopped themselves down right where they were. One of them pulled out a canteen of water, taking a tentative sip before passing it down. They all took a sip and passed it onwards.

"I wonder if the others found anything?" one of them asked, casually leaning against a tall, crooked tree. The others hummed in thought.

"Well, hopefully they find something soon. I just want to get out of here," another piped in.

"Yeah…hopefully," Zack mumbled, content to just lean against the tree all day. He closed his eyes, relaxed. Suddenly his PHS rang, the shrill sound cutting through the silent air. "Well, speak of the devil," he said, before flipping the phone open and holding it up to his ear. "Zack Fair, SOLDIER Second Class, at your service." He listened intently, then frowned. "What? Are you serious? Where are you?" The troopers ceased their chatter and listened intently, watching Zack's face fall with every word. All of a sudden he jumped up, startling the other troopers. "What!? Hold on! We'll be right there!" Zack snapped his phone shut and turned to the rest of the group sharply.

"Get up! Group A found the spring, but something went wrong and they got separated only to find that one of the troopers fell into the Mako! Let's go!" The group scrambled to gather their bearings and shot up to follow Zack. Together, they headed northwest.

Everything hurt.

His arms, his legs; hell, even his hair hurt. Cloud wasn't quite sure which way was up or down, or even if there was an up and down. He couldn't remember anything except never to trust black chocobos and guns ever again.

Cloud felt weightless and yet so heavy as he floated in the Planet's blood. His vision was submerged in an endless green, and he could have sworn he saw a wandering spirit here or there. Cloud really didn't know what to make of anything anymore. Was he dead? It sure took a while, he thought bitterly. Cloud wasn't an expert on the Planet or anything, but he was sure Bugenhagen didn't mention anything about floating aimlessly in the Lifestream after you died.

Just like that, Cloud stopped moving. Or was he ever really moving? Cloud chose not to question anything anymore. Whatever happened to him, he couldn't change it. That didn't stop him from wanting to.

"Why won't I just die already?" Cloud muttered. He was sick of floating around in the sickly green…whatever it was. Anything was better than this. He let his body wander on its own accord as he drifted through the Lifestream, his mind blanking out, hoping to the Planet that he would just leave this place.

All of a sudden, something changed. Cloud wasn't floating, moving, staying still, or anything really. His mind suddenly fogged up, the natural Mako finally taking its toll on him. His head hurt, and the only thing he could register was that this was not supposed to be happening. Didn't he die? Who could survive a dip into the Lifestream a secondtime? Surely Cloud wasn't thatlucky.

Just like that, Cloud was forced out of the Lifestream. His messed up mind couldn't register anything. All he could see was more green, though this green was darker and mixed with brown. He suddenly felt really heavy, as if he had just got thrown back into his own body. Cloud struggled to get up, his sword—that was still there?—weighing him down again. All he could see was green. Cloud was beginning to hate the colour. He couldn't even see properly. His vision was so blurred and so messed up that Cloud was starting to doubt whether he was even alive.

"…A-are you…m-me?"

Cloud whipped his head around to where he thought the voice came from; although he wasn't quite sure he was just crazy. His eyes met with a bluish smudge topped off with…was that yellow hair? Cloud suddenly realized that the blob he was staring at was himself. He scowled as his vision focused a bit more. This skinny, weak, whimpering, pathetic child was him? Was this a trick of the Lifestream?

His eyes widened as he realized something. Was this a trick of Sephiroth? He sure did this before, back when he became Tifa in the caves by Sephiroth's actual body. That could be the only explanation. Sephiroth somehow came back, living in the Lifestream, and decided to mess Cloud up with…himself. That was just sick, even for "Calamity's son." Then again, was anything bad enough for him?

Knowing this, Cloud's mind suddenly screamed at him to eliminate the enemy. He reached behind his back for his trusty First Tsurugi, ignoring the whimpering thing in front of him. All he knew was that the thing before him needed to die.

Cloud yanked out First Tsurugi from the harness strapped to his back and almost lost his balance from the weight of the weapon combined with the effects of the natural Mako on his mind and body. Regardless, he lifted the weapon above his head, not registering the fact that the thing in front of him didn't bother to dodge.

CHIING

His sword sliced the thing in two, three, four pieces before it fell to the ground in an unrecognizable, gruesome lump to be swept away and burned by the Lifestream. Suddenly Cloud felt woozy, as if lifting the blade drained all the remaining energy in his body. He continued to stare in the spot where the thing had stood, his mind screaming at him that something was wrong.

Cloud continued to stand there until he couldn't stand anymore, collapsing to the ground and hoping to the Planet—not for the first time—that this was all some kind of sick dream. The last thing he remembered was the sound of footsteps, of someone yelling his name, bending down and touching him, prodding him, and Cloud suddenly wished he was dead.

So what do you guys think? Should I keep this one going or keep is selfishly within the confines of my mind? Reviews are much appreciated!