[voice]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

Woah, Kunsel would kill to have this phone. [A laugh] Though, bet ya I’m talking into my hand right now. Gotta say, this is the craziest dream I’ve had so far.

So, off chance that I haven’t cracked, anyone wanna tell me what’s going? Because I’m pretty sure I have no idea where I am or how I got here. Wait, better question: anyone seen a guy with spiky blond hair? He sort of looks like a chocobo. Goes by the name Cloud Strife. Last time I saw him...well, no need to get into that. I just wanna find him as soon as I can.

Cloud, you better be okay.

Comments

[ voice--or, you know, lack thereof ]

[cyke.livejournal.com]

....

[Voice]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

Hello? ...Man, don't tell me I'm really talking into a make-believe phone.

[ video ]

[cyke.livejournal.com]

[Unfortunately, no one bothered to mention to him that being dead didn't apply here. Rude switches to video, just to be sure.

Zack is treated to the familiar image of a sunglasses-clad Turk leering at him suspiciously through darkened lenses]

[ video ]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

[It's been a long while since Zack has seen those shades. He blinks a few times, a Turk was the last person he thought he would see.]

Big silent guy with sunglasses... Gotta be Rude, right?

[ video ]

[cyke.livejournal.com]

Good memory.

[For a dead guy]

[ video ]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

Nay, not really. I just remember you because I was wondered if you slept in those shades.

[Cue Zack's goof grin.]

So, do you?

[ video ]

[cyke.livejournal.com]

...

[Translation: maybe. Looks like you'll never know, Zack. Or will you?]

Might want to talk with your friends.

[Somehow Rude figured hearing the news might come easier from those closer to Zack]

[ video ]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

[Aww, no fair.]

Trust me man, I'm looking for them.

[ video ]

[cyke.livejournal.com]

[Ff, too much to catch you up on. Rude opts for the path of least vocalization]

Strife and his crew are around here somewhere.

[And Tseng, too, but Rude isn't going to mention that in case Tseng wants to keep a low profile for the time being]

[ video ]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

Crew? I leave him alone for two seconds and he has a crew?

[Giving that the last time Zack saw Cloud the poor blond was in a mako tank Rude's words only help to confuse him.]

[ video ]

[cyke.livejournal.com]

...

Talk to Strife.

[ video ]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

[Zack just gives you a smile. Poor guy has no clue he's been the dead for everyone.

Don't worry, I will.

[ video ]

[cyke.livejournal.com]

Good.

[Ff, he wonders if Tseng knows about this.

Video feed is terminated a moment or so later]

[video]

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

[Listening in to this message, Aerith slowly brought her hands to her face once she realized who's voice this was. There were no words to express how happy she was but at the same time, she was wondering just how Zack managed to arrive here to Gaia.

This is just so surreal! Is that really him speaking right now or is this some sort of poorly conceived prank? The only way she could find out if she turned on the video feature upon her sky phone.]

Zack…? [The video popped on once she called his name, revealing her face.]

[video]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

[The fact that the phone has video is pretty neat, but nothing beats the face Zack can now see. There's that big smile of his.]

Aerith?! That really you?

[video]

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

[Once she saw that happy go-lucky smile of his, Aerith realized it was really him after all.]

Yes, its me! Hey, when did you get here? I had no idea you came back, Zack.

You know Cloud is going to be really excited to see you again. He was talking about you for a week straight when you first arrived here.

[video]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

I got here just right now. Wherever here is anyways.

[He's looking around still, hoping to find a clue just how he ended up outside from the labs. However, he looks back at the phone when Aerith mentions Cloud's name.]

Cloud is with you? Is he okay? [Wait a second, first arrived? Zack's a bit lost now.] Ummm, I don't think I follow you.

[video]

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

I can't tell where your at but it doesn't seem like Lindblum to me.

[Realizing that Zack had absolutely no memory of Gaia, Aerith starts to wonder if he was reborn at the Iifa Tree first before coming to a town.]

Yep, he's with me or rather with Tifa. Yeah, Cloud's been busy since you've last seen him.

[She paused.]

...Zack, what is the last thing you remember?

[video]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

[Blink. Yeah, he's giving Aerith that 'huh?' look.] Lindblum?

I saw him like a second ago and trust me, he was doing a whole lot of nothing. [He face falls a bit at that.]

Oh boy, not sure if that's the best topic right now.

[video]

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[Hey Zack! Say hi to a little girl with a suspicious pink bow in her hair.]

You know Cloud?

[video]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

[Aww, a kid! Zack knows how to handle kids and he smiles.]

Yep, he's a good buddy of mine.

[video]

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[Marlene looks slightly confused.]

Seems like Papa Cloud's got a lot of new friends lately...

Re: [video]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

[Slightly confused meet I-don't-even confused.]

Papa Cloud?

[video]

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

Well, he's not my real papa. Daddy's just... not here. And I live with Cloud and Tifa and Denzel.

...who are you, anyway?

[video]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

[Denzel he doesn't know, but Tifa however he does. Good to know she got out of that mess okay. So Cloud and Tifa sort-of have kids? This happened when?!]

I'm Zack. You should have heard of me...I think.

[video]

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[Marlene's eyes light up. Back up, wait a second! REWIND.]

Wait a minute, you're Zack?! I've heard about you!

[video]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's me! So, what's your name, kiddo?

[video]

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

I'm Marlene. You'll have to come to Lindblum to meet up with everyone!

[video]

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

[The look on his face is a mix between happiness and sadness, with a hint of fear. He's had Zack with him a few times now. He's scared this is just something in his head.]

...Zack... [He searches the screen as if he just can't see what's really there. He's imagined Zack up before when he's been alone, so this might not really be him.]

I... [Hey, noticed how much older he looks yet, Zack? He looks away, his eyes glowing with sadness for a moment before he looks back at the screen.]

I don't look like a chocobo.

[video]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

Cloud![Sorry Cloud, Zack's just happy to see you up and out of that stupid tank.] Jezz, I was about two seconds from putting up missing person posters. Way to give a guy a heart attack.

[He looks closer at the screen because there's something not right at all with this image.]

Hey, you okay? Cause last I saw you we were in that lab and I got no clue whats going on.

[video]

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

It's... been a while. I last saw you almost four years ago.

[He's tired of repeating this story, but he'll do it one more time. Because it's Zack.]

This is a world called Gaia. A man called Garland brings us here without a known reason. He can bring us from any time and... we don't know how to get back.

[He sighs shakily. He might go throw up after this, because seeing Zack has seriously unnerved him again.] I'm not twenty-one anymore. I'm twenty-five this year. And... I should explain in person why we haven't been together in almost four years.

[Cloud frowns at him, reaching to rub at the back of his neck.] Where are you? Check your phone for the GPS.

[video]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

[Zack's eyes goes wide with shock. No wonder Rude had told him to talk to Cloud.] F-four years? I just saw you.

[He tries his best to take this all in, but it isn't easy. Waking up from a mako nap and then ending up in a new world was not his idea of fun.]

That's a lot to take in, Spike. I guess this sort of explains the little girl calling you Papa Cloud now though.

[He says this with a grin before doing as Cloud asked.] Umm, some place called Dali. Take it you know where that is, right?

[video]

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Almost four... though it hasn't been that long for anyone else you knew...

[He tries hard not to actually look at the screen, keeping his gaze down.] Marlene, yeah. She's not my daughter, but I look after her for her dad...

I know where Dali is. [He knows where everything is in Gaia. Studying the map helps!] I'll talk to Tifa about coming to pick you up. You can stay with us until you've figured something out.

[video]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

That's going to take some time getting use to.

[He frowns a bit, Cloud's avoiding him but why?] Seems like a cute kid. Guess I'll be meeting her soon, huh?

Well, guess I'll just stick around here until then. [He smiles again, hoping to lift up Cloud's spirits.] Then you can give me the grand tour, okay?

[video]

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

I guess so...

[He might explain one day.] She's cute, yeah. Denzel and Shelke will want to see you too. They're my other kids... sort of.

[Cloud quirks the corner of his mouth in an awkward almost-smile.] Again...

[video]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

[A small shrug. Things could be worse.] It's no big. As long as you're okay things are great.

You collecting kids or something, Cloud? [He laughs a bit. He always thought Cloud would do well with kids.]

Hey, not my fault I sort of kind of was here before. [He gives Cloud one of those playful pouts.] Don't have time to hang out with your best friend anymore?

[video]

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Something like that. We just take in the orphans. [And he plays big brother back home to all the Advent Children, so he has a lot of kids.]

[His eyes dart up at that last part; look how upset that almost made him, Zack! Just look!] I-I... I never said that.

[Oh, wait, he has an idea!] ...um... could you get the airship to Lindblum, Zack? I still don't really like flying...

[video]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

[Ouch. He didn't mean it that way, Cloud!] Hey, I was joking, really.

Still get motion sick, huh? Pretty sure I can handle that, I got my niffy phone after all.

[ video ]

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Zack! You came back! Aw, man, Cloud is gonna be so happy! You really need to stop disappearing on him!

[ video ]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

[Well, he's got no clue who you are but have a smile back.]

Not like I'm trying to disappear on anyone, kiddo. So, taking a guess here, you one of Cloud's kids?

[ video ]

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Uh huh! I'm Denzel Strife!

[ video ]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

[Denzel Strife? Isn't that cute?]

Bet I'll see you soon then. Going to be taking a trip to visit as soon as I can.

[voice]

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Zack...

I was starting to think you'd never reappear. Hey, do you know where you are?

[voice]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

Tifa? Man, it's been awhile.

Reappear? Never been here before, though Cloud said I was here before. Kind of weird, huh? I'm in a place called Dali...wherever that is.

[voice]

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

I guess you've forgotten. Do you need anything explaining?

Dali is in Alexandria, and Alexandria is in... Well, this is a different world. A world called Gaia. There are quite a few people from our world here, but we're not all from the same time. I was only fifteen when you last saw me, wasn't I? I'm twenty-two now.

Anyway, we're in Lindblum at the moment. Do you want us to come and fetch you? I'm sure there's an airship that goes straight from Dali to Lindblum.

[voice]

[firstclassdream.livejournal.com]

Cloud said he would explain, so I guess I got it covered for now.

Man, looks like I going to have to take notes or something. [You can almost hear him rubbing the back of his neck.]

I'm heading there on one. It'll save Cloud the motion sickness that way.

[voice]

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

It would probably help.

Okay! We can meet you at the station. See you, Zack.