~Fang's POV~

My eyes fly open with a surprised gasp, my body instantly moving into a sitting position from where I was snuggling the dirt. Where are we? The bodies of my past allies lie around me, thankfully all breathing, but I don't recognize this place one bit. There's one thing I do know: this is neither Pulse nor Cocoon. We're in a forest it seems, tall trees waving above us.

"Fang?"

"Vanille," I acknowledge my small companion.

"Have any idea where we are?"

"Not unless we fell to the center of the planet, Missy," I tease with an easy grin, ruffling her bright orange hair.

"Hey!"

"Serah," Snow mutters in his unconscious state. I sigh and look around again.

"At least where ever we are we have our weapons."

"True," she nods, bright and upbeat as usual. Too happy sometimes, but the kid's been through a lot. She's gotta put a good perspective on everything to keep going.

I pull my staff off my back and twirl it aimlessly between my fingers. How long has it been since everyone else awoke from their crystal sleep? I know for sure that we were last, as if that's going to help. Eventually everyone wakes up, Hope last. Snow just sots at the base of a tree moping.

"Hey Light," I call toward the other woman in our group. "What's blonde boy's deal?" She looks up with an expression of raw emotion that makes me internally groan. I hate it when people look ready to cry. "Okay, fine, I'll..."

"Serah died in a car accident," Snow grits quietly. I stop mid sentence, turning to look at him. His fists are clenched and laying on the forest floor on either side of him. Poof oaf looks so dejected.

"I'm sorry to hear that," I mutter. Vanille sniffs and runs to comfort him. She was always better at that kind of thing.

"We have to move or something," Hope says finally after an awkward silence. "If we just sit around, we'll never know where we are."

"What if the monsters are harder and way scarier," Vanille whimpers.

"That's never stopped us before," he shoots back, standing. "Cmon, it's better than just sitting around."

"The kid's right," Sazh sighs, watching Dajh running around in circles. "We're not gonna get anything done just sittin around."

"Let's go then," I nod, lifting myself onto a tree branch.

"Which way?" Vanille calls up as I climb the tree.

"I'm lookin, just give me a moment!"

I make it to the top and look around in bewilderment. This is definitely not even the right planet. Unknown wolf like creatures run across the plains like the Gorgonopsids back at home. Only these are purple, and tiny, clear winged dragons roam the skies. I can see a behemoth or two, but they're all red, not dark colored at all. I'm missing me some adamantoise by now.

"Just a mile north," I say proudly, dropping down.

"What's that way?" Lighting forces her mask on.

"The open plains, but it's better than nothing," I shrug. "Who knows? Maybe there will be people."

"Hopefully friendly," Hope adds.

I lead the way through the woods, though I'm surprised at the lack of monsters here. I'm used to Flan jumping out at me every five minutes. That, and seeing Cei'th stones everywhere. Of course, even if this was Pulse, the Cei'th stones would probably be all gone, right? I shake my head. Less thinking and more walking. When we emerge from the woods, Vanille giggles and runs forward to me.

"This place is beautiful!"

"Sure is, Missy," I smile down at her.

"This is definitely not Gran Pulse," Sazh looks around in amazement.

"Nope," Lightning says curtly. "But what's that?"

"What?" I look up at the sky. A giant gray object looms on the horizon, making its way directly toward us. Out of habit, we all draw our weapons. It wouldn't be the first time a giant flying ship has attacked us.

"What is it?" Dajh asks, hopping up and down.

"Not sure, Dajh," Sazh glances down at his young son briefly.

The ship draws nearer, and I can make out the tiny shapes of people on board. It comes so close that wind begins to pull at us, and Dajh hides behind his father, clinging to his green pilot's coat. I tense as a ladder drops, a person climbing down with two others following. When they come closer, I can make out the details. The first man is dressed in dark clothes, an enormous sword on his back, and unruly blonde spikes decorating his head. The second person is a woman almost his height, long brown hair and the stance of a martial artist. How would I know that? The big oaf at the back, of course. And last but not least, we have our tall, dark, and mysterious trailing behind. The man looks anywhere but in place. High red collar covering half his pale face, leading to a coat flittering behind him. Underneath his mantle is a suit of leather, followed by a holster strapped to his leg. One hand gleams with a golden claw, but I can make out the shape of a gloved hand underneath, so it must be a weapon thing.

"Hell-o," Vanille says slowly. "I am Va-niiiiiille. This is Faaaaang, and.."

"Vanille," Hope sighs. "They're people not aliens."

"At least, as far as we know," The blonde man smiles. "Are you guys from Mideel or something?"

"Who?" I frown.

"... It's a town," he frowns back, clearly confused.

"We're from Pulse," Light strides forward, head up with an air of confidence.

"Um..." The woman blinks. "Where is that?"

"Never heard of Gran Pulse before?" I raise an eyebrow and rest my hands on my hips. They shake their heads, Vampire Man making no reaction. Just watching me.

"How about Cocoon?" Snow finally offers.

"Unless you're referring to a bug, I don't think so," the woman answers.

"Great," I grumble. "I wake up from a multiple century long sleep only to have my planet erupt into earth quakes before we land here."

"Wait," Snow blinks. "I think... I remember it blowing up, not just earthquaking."

"Well that's even better," I throw my hands in the air dramatically. Then I let my anger take over and flick the pointed tips of my spear out, thrusting it centimeters away from Blondie's throat. Vampire draws his gun with speed I've never seen, and Boobs raises her fists. Blondie doesn't flinch. "You're going to tell us where we are and what on earth is happening or your hands won't have to worry about doing your bed head ever again."

"Fang!" Vanille squeaks at me and Hope tugs at my arm. I just shake him off, staring undeterred into the man's bright blue eyes. Are they... Glowing?

"I'll tell you all I know, which isn't much. Though, I don't think you want to hear my fantabulous tale of how we saved the planet," he says with a flat tone. "Do you mind if the others come down?"

"Others?" Lightining frowns.

"Yeah," he nods. "Tifa, can you call them down?"

"Yeah," the woman nods, pulling out a phone and dialing a number.

"How many of you are there?" Hope asks. Blondie looks over at him and gives him a small smile.

"Eight. No, nine, I forgot Marlene." Vampy gives an amused huff before crossing his arms and watching me. Are his eyes red? Red like blood?! "Oh, I'm Cloud by the way," he offers his gloved hand and Hope shakes it.

"Hope."

"Vanille!" Vanille jumps cheerfully with a big smile.

"I hope you can remember names well, Cloud," Tifa laughs when she gets off the phone. "Because there will be a lot to remember."

I count six more shapes emerging from the ship and heading toward us. Alright, description time. We've got ourselves a really big black man with a mechanical hand, his real hand clinging to a little girl's. The girl gives Mr a shy smile, two braids tied off with pink ribbon getting tossed all over by the wind of the ship. Next is another girl, who looks to be only slightly younger than Tifa. Her almond shaped eyes are nearly just like the vampire's, only brown. Then there's some cat with a creepy smile riding an even bigger orange cat whose tail is on fire. Last but not least, we have some dude smoking a cigarette with short blonde hair and a flight jacket tied around his waist, spear in hand. I like this guy's weapon style.

"So," the girl with almond shaped eyes starts. "Why're we here? Do you guys have materia?"

"Materiewhat?" Sazh furrows his eyebrows.

"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT MATERIA IS?!" She shrieks, making us all cringe. "GAWD, I'M GONNA DIE!"

"Yuffie," Tifa scolds. Then she looks back at us. "I guess we should introduce ourselves. I'm Tifa."

"Barret."

"Yuffie!"

"Marlene."

"Yuffie!"

"Cait Sith!"

"Yuffie!"

"Nanaki," the large animal surprises us by speaking, deep voice and accent adding character to the creature's voice.

"I'm Cid," the other blonde guy stomps his smoke out. My eyes narrow on him and he tenses. "What?"

"Cid who?"

"Fang, he's not Raines," Snow rolls his eyes.

"... Highwind?"

"Good. And who's Mr. Vampire?" I swear I see Vampy frown behind his collar and Yuffie cracks up.

"...Vincent. And I am not a vampire."

"Keep telling yourself that, buddy," I smirk. "I'm Fang. This is Vanille, the wimpy kid back there is Hope."

"Hey!"

"Pinky's name is Lightning, these two oddballs are Sazh and Dajh, and the big oaf in the back is Snow."

"You guys can be weather buddies!" Yuffie cheers.

"Huh?" Cloud frowns at her.

"Cloud, Lightning, and Snow! It's meant to be!"

"Yeah, I'm sure kid," Light scoffs.

"So tell us," Vanille sits cross legged on the ground. "Tell us the story, Cloud."

WILL