Vincent felt himself sinking deeper into oblivion, a strange peace fell over him as the pain that seared his body moments ago were gone. Lifting his left hand, he was shocked to find not his hand but some hideous claw grafted on by a mad man. Thinking of that, images suddenly flashed before his eye, as he remembered running somewhere with a baby in his arm. He then recalled searing pain as bullets planted themselves into him causing him to fall. The last thing he recalled as everything went black was the face of one man, Hojo.
    I must be dead, he thought realizing he had just recalled his own death, yet strangely he felt little emotion about it. Looking up at the vastness that surrounded him, he sighed, forgive me Lucrecia. I couldn't save him I was too weak. I hope you may find some peace wherever you are, for a monster like me could never journey to such paradise. Forgive me, he thought as his eye started to get heavy as he slowly closed them allowing the emptiness to consume.
    "Vincent." a voice said in his mind. "Vincent." it replied again Vincent felt something reaching out to him.
    "Leave me alone," Vincent moaned keeping his eye close from seeing what ever was talking to him, "leave this wretched soul to it's pain."
    "Vincent Valentine, I beseech you." the voice said to him.
    Opening his eye, Vincent gazed at the entity and gasped, "Lucrecia?"
Shaking it's head no, the angelic being answered, "I am perceived as the one you trust the most Vincent." Seeing the hint of sadness in his eye, the entity continued, "You are in the life stream and I am the incarnation of the planet." Chuckling as she noticed the hint of puzzlement in his eye she said, "All of the spirits of all who live go to the Lifestream when they die."
    "So what is it so important that you have decided to talk to me?" Vincent asked crossing his arm as he suddenly noticed he was floating in a sea of green liquid. "And why do you have to look like her?" he growled as he stared at the planet.
    "I'm sorry if this form disturbs you, but I sensed the crisis that has been plaguing your soul." the planet said bowing to him in apology. "I fear that the one you tried to save, Sephiroth, will attempt something terrible in the future that could destroy life on this planet." she continued as Vincent nodded taking everything in.
    "So Lucrecia's child will be stained with blood." Vincent muttered as more pain fill him knowing he had continued to fail her. Looking at the image of his love, he asked, "Why must you tell me this I am dead, there is not a thing I can to?"
    "All new being that come to this world are compose of essences of dead ones." the planet stated as she held out her hand causing some of the things around them to gather. "The essence of life is comprised from those of the dead, unless this balance is kept life will cease to exist." she said calmly as she dispelled the gathering of  energy. "I can give you life again, using only your spirit force only" she explained as Vincent scratched his chin in thought.
    "So you can, in a term, reincarnate me." Vincent commented as the planet nodded.
    "That is correct through you may lose all your memory when that occur, all of your skills and abilities will remain there." the planet remarked as Vincent shrugged. "That is the only way I can help you atone your sin and stop a terrible event from happening." she said sadly as she look at Vincent pleadingly.
    Sighing, Vincent muttered, "It seems that  I have no choice, but to accept." Seeing the smile on the planet face he added, "Of course you will help me?"
    "I will attempt to guide you when I can, but for the most part you'll be on your own." Planet responded as Vincent thought about it.
    "Good enough I guess, anything to atone for my sin." Vincent said as he looked upward a little. "So how do I start?" he asked staring around at the Lifestream around him.
    "Now." the planet answer as a flash of light blinded his vision.
 
 

    Julia Strife sat by the window in her room as she walked back and forth in her walking chair. She smiled as she looked at the little bundle of joy she was holding her hands as she rocked silently back and forth. Looking toward the doorway she noticed a pair of eyes looking at her. Smiling, she motioned for the person to come in. The kid was about only six years old, his eye were shady red and had short black hair. Carefully walking up to her, he looked at the little baby in her arms.
    "What do you think of your little brother Cloud?" she asked the kid as his face light up with happiness.
    "He has blue eyes." the kid commented as Julia laughed at the comment.
    "As his older brother, it's your duty to watch over him and lead him as a role model." Julia said as she started to rock Cloud back and forth. "Will you my little Vincent?" she asked as Vincent nodded a smile on his face.
    Unknown to the three of them another content figure was watching them form the window. "Be well, Vincent." she said as she slowly disappeared.

 Ten years later...
 
    Vincent Strife came slowly walking out of the doorway as he took one last look at his hometown. I'm going to miss this old place he thought as he gazed at the well that stood in the middle of tower. Lifting his bags over his shoulder, he quickly marched to the gateway to the town as he set them down and gaze at his home for the past fifteen years.
    "Vincent" Cloud cried as he came running out of the house to him.
    "Good to see you Cloud one last time before I go." Vincent smiled as he leaned down and looked at his younger brother.
    "Why do you have to go away?" Cloud asked as Vincent dreaded that question.
    Sighing as he stood up and looked at the sky, Vincent replied, "Mom is getting old and since Dad died a few years back, I have to go to Midgar to get a job to support you two."
    "So what are you going to do?" Cloud asked to his older brother.
    "The thing I do best, I'll join the SOLDIER I hear they pay well." Vincent smiled back.
    "Wow," Cloud exclaimed stars shining in his eye," so you're going to go off killing evil monsters?"
    "Yep," Vincent remarked patting his brother on the head, "and if you train really hard, you might be able to join me."
    "Okay." Cloud smiled back as the sound of honking could be heard from a bus that just pulled up.
    "Well gotta go my bus is here." Vincent remarked as he lifted up his bags. "You take care of Mom and train hard so you can join me." Vincent cried as he ran off to the bus waving at Cloud.