A/N: My first FFVII fanfic, hope you enjoy it! I don't own Final Fantasy VII, only my own character and the idea...can't blame a girl for hoping though, eh?

I watched the group as the stood congratulating each other on the battle they had just won. I had unleashed the monsters there on purpose, knowing that this band of people were coming and wanting to watch them in action. Cloud had been most impressive, taking a stand in the centre, taking control of the whole situation. Yuffie and Tifa working together, Barret and Cid fighting side by side, Red and Vincent alternating attacks to be more effective. I had raised an eyebrow at them; I knew they were going to be good at what they did, knowing that they had destroyed Sephiroth and effectively saved the planet. It was quite the sight to behold.

I took a deep breath, rolling my neck and clenching and unclenching my fists. I had to go and meet with them and force them to take me with them. Why? I honestly didn't know why. I just knew. I had followed them for many miles, observing them, making sure they were the ones I had so often known in my dreams. I had decided to test them, seeing as they had not chanced upon an enemy so far and had set up this little scenario in a small, abandoned village somewhere near The Edge. So many villages had been abandoned when the people had seen what was coming, it was only recently that The Edge had become so populated once more. It was pleasing to see that the world was becoming what it once had been, if with a few more battle scars than wished upon it.

It was time. As they stood speaking, I moved out from behind the rubble of a broken home and walked, silent as a ghost, down from my hiding place and towards them. It was not long before I had been spotted and the group turned to face me, seemingly relaxed yet alert, ready for battle. I raised a hand and continued to walk towards them.

"I am not here to harm you," I said, my voice quiet. I stood before them, looking at them all.

"Who the f&$k are you?" Cid snarled, raising his spear and pointing it at me. I raised an eyebrow and folded my arms, leaning on one hip. Yuffie leaned forward to look at me and squeaked.

"Wow, she looks just like Vincent! Except more female!" she said, her eyes flicking from me to him and back again. Keeping me in their peripheral vision, the group turned to look at Vincent, then back at me. I looked down at myself, then into Vincent's eyes. Well, I suppose it didn't help that I wore a cape and dressed entirely in black, and that my eyes were the colour of garnet, but that's where the similarities stopped. For one, my hair was white, the colour completely removed from it. And secondly, I did not clink when I walked, though I did carry a sword and a gun, and I did wear a pendent. Vincent looked down at himself also, then back at me. I rolled my eyes slightly.

"Look," I said, drawing their attention back to me, "I'm not here to fight you. I need you to take me with you, wherever you are going." Cloud stepped forward, sword in hand, looking at me.

"Who are you? And why do you want to come with us?" he asked. I straightened up and gave a small bow.

"My name is Laureth, I come from a place far away from here. This will sound unusual, but I have had dreams about you. I need to come with you on your journey." I said, looking at them all. Yuffie gasped.

"Dreams? About us? Wow!" she said, smiling a little. The others glared at her and her smile dropped. She looked back at me, more serious now. "And what did these dreams involve?"

I shrugged.

"They were not clear, but each of you were present. I cannot tell you any more than that." I said, spreading my hands towards them. "I am as bemused as you are. I would be grateful if you would let me come with you." and with that I stood back from them a little and looked at them.

For a few moments, no-one said anything. Then Barrat took a step towards me.

"Hey, you ain't no spy or nothin', are ya?" he asked, a menacing look in his eyes. I shook my head, though I knew that would not be enough to prove it to them. I cleared my throat.

"I can be of use to you. I will forfeit my weapons to you to show peace, but I am experienced in both black and white magic and will aid you in any way I can," I said. Cloud looked at Tifa, who nodded.

"Alright," said Cloud, putting his sword back in it's sheath, "You may journey with us. We would prefer to take your weapons for now. You do understand," he asked, and I nodded, unbuckling the holster that attached my gun to my hip. Vincent's eyebrow raised when he saw my gun and everyone looked a little surprised when I undid a buckle at my waist and pulled a sword in it's sheath from my back.

"So you fight with many different mediums," Red said, coming closer to me and smelling me. I nodded, admittedly feeling a little bit uncomfortable with him scouting me out through my scent. He seemed satisfied and moved away. I handed my weapons to Cloud.

"My father encouraged me to learn many things." I said, waiting for any other inspection they wanted to throw at me. But they seemed contented enough knowing that anything that was material and potentially lethal had been removed from me. Tifa took a step towards me and smiled a little.

"I am Tifa Lockhart," she began, but I held up a hand to silence her. She looked a little taken aback at my abrupt manner, but I wasn't about to be introduced to people I had spent many days and dream filled nights getting to know.

"I do not mean to be rude," I said, inclining my head towards her, "But I know who you all are. You need not introduce yourselves to me." Tifa nodded, as did the others.

They began to walk. I had intended to wait until they had all passed to walk behind them, but I had ended up moving with them, almost in the centre of the group. I noticed the way they all watched me, trying to figure me out through the way I moved and the way I spoke. I walked along in a confident manner and found myself beside Vincent. I looked at him and he looked back at me. We both nodded at each other, then looked forwards, continuing on our way. I heard Yuffie whispering behind us to Cid.

"Look, they even walk the same. And they don't speak. Scarily similar!' she said, giggling slightly. I sighed slightly, as did Vincent. We looked at each other again, one eyebrow raised. I looked away quickly, it was odd that we would behave in the same way. Glancing sideways at Vincent, I wondered if he had been thinking the same thing as me.

"It would seem we are quite similar," he said, looking ahead of him, continuing to walk.

"Yes," I said, "It would seem so," I replied, watching him from the corner of my eye. He really was rather striking up close, his eyes burning bright and the deep black of his hair only adding to his mysterious appearance. I looked away, watching my step on a road littered with rocks and debris from whatever had happened here.

"Does that worry you?" he asked, looking at me. I looked back, his eyes piercing mine.

"It is unusual," I admitted, "But it is good to know one is never truly alone," He nodded, in what I assumed was understanding or agreement, and we continued with our walk, saying nothing more to one another.