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Born
to the world without the influence of a father figure to guide him,
Cloud never truly learned to trust in himself. His mother, whom was
often in-between jobs, and away from home, was never able to show him
much affection either, and thus left the young Cloud to fend for
himself. At the young age of six, Cloud had already developed the
mindset, and maturity of an adult, tendering to his own needs, and
making life easier on his mother. Although he kept to himself, he did
find solace in one particular girl named Tifa whom was unfortunately
always surrounded by the children whom ridiculed him for his eccentric
behavior. Rather than fault her for their prejudice, he simply placed
them as immature, and petty, but in reality he simply felt envious.
After the passing of
Tifa’s mother, Cloud was involved in an accident that occurred on the
mountain pass just out-side of their village. He was able to get by with
simply skinned knees, but Tifa was not so fortunate. The news of her
coma-tic state only deepened his scars, and left him in a state of
helpless-ness. From that day forward, Cloud decided that he would
strengthen himself so that he would be able to protect those he loved no
matter what the circumstances. He did so, by fighting off bullies that
falsely accused him for Tifa’s condition, and the fighting went on
until the day she awoke.
Eight years later, the
war had begun between the SHINRA, and the continent of Wutai, and the
news of the vibrant young elite SOLDIER named Sephiroth had swept the
nation. Inspired by the stories he had heard of Sephiroth’s victories,
Cloud decided that he would join SOLDIER, and thus become stronger than
he could have ever imagined. He and Tifa had grown very close throughout
the years, though she never did remember the incident, so he felt it
necessary to inform her of his decision. Meeting once again in secret,
he elaborated his plans to her, and she In turn requested that they make
a pact.
“If you ever get real
famous, and I’m ever in a bind…you come and save me…”
“What?”
“If I’m ever in
trouble, my hero will come to my rescue…I wanna experience that at
least once…”
“Huh?”
“Come on, promise
me!”
“Alright, I promise”
Within one year, Cloud
had managed to qualify for SOLDIER training, along with a select few
other SHINRA troopers. Among them was a young man named Zack, whom was
not only the junior militia team captain, but also perhaps Cloud’s
only friend in the service. With Zack’s help, Cloud had become 2nd
elite in his class, but unfortunately no amount of training could have
prepared him for the final test. One year later during the infusion
ceremony, Cloud suffered a minor case of mako poisoning, and was
renowned un-fit to undergo any more contact with mako due to medical
illness. Torn by the unforeseen turn of events, Cloud decided that he
would not return home, for that would only prove his failure, and so, he
continued his service in the SHINRA military.
With the closing of the
war, peace had been restored, and only minor missions were available to
any troopers whom desired exposure. Cloud had made it his business not
to take part in any of these missions in fear that Tifa would be looking
for a headline, and that she would learn the truth. Unfortunately for
him, Zack had other plans. Seeing an opportunity for his friend to be
given a second chance at SOLDIER, Zack insisted that Cloud be taken on
SOLDIERS latest mission, complaining that troopers should always come
along just in case. Luckily, Zack had the biggest connection of all,
having become friends with his commander, the great…Sephiroth…
Since missions were
usually kept on a need to know basis, Cloud was not informed of their
destination until it was too late. There had been complaints of too much
monster activity going on around Nibelheim, and that the reactor located
on Mt. Nibel may be the core of the trouble. Not wanting to face Tifa,
whom would surely be expecting him to be in SOLDIER, Cloud decided that
he would mask his identity, and not risk losing the chance to gain her
respect. At first he was reluctant to visit his own mother, but not
being able to overcome the need to feel at home, he swiftly subdued, and
of course informed her of his failure in hopes of some closure.
Early the next morning
they were on their way, and to his surprise guided by Tifa herself.
Still keeping his identity secret, he simply watched her acting as if
her shadow, and making certain she was safe every step of the way. Once
they reached the reactor, Sephiroth gave orders for Cloud, and Tifa to
remain outside, but when he emerged, it seemed as if something had gone
wrong. Sephiroth stormed out, and closed himself off from everyone in
the SHINRA mansion, an abandoned building that was said to be haunted.
Tragedy spread its wings
of destruction that night, Sephiroth suddenly emerging from the mansion,
torching the village, and taking no prisoners. Cloud, once again getting
by with simply skinned knees, awakened to find his mother slaughtered,
and Tifa nowhere to be found. Scared, and confused as to what was
happening, Cloud rushed towards the Mt. Nibel reactor, trailing far
behind Zack, his legs almost unable to support his weight. He finally
reached the reactor only to find the disemboweled body of Tifa’s
father. The blood only urging him forward, further into the nightmare
that he could only describe as hell.
Once he entered the next
room, all logic seemed to drain from his veins, leaving only a vessel of
pain, and hate. Rushing onward, he only took a moment to grasp his
friend’s large broadsword, his father’s memento known as the Buster
sword.There was his best friend, lying there, helpless, and drenched in
his own blood. He never even looked to Tifa in fear of what he would
see, and the feelings he would have to feel. He simply let the
adrenaline; the hate and pain take charge of his body. He was no longer
Cloud, the young boy whom had failed to make it in SOLDIER. He was no
longer the anti-social boy that always had to fight to prove himself. He
was now simply revenge itself, the wrath of GOD come to take payment for
Sephiroth’s sin’s, and he would finish his task…dead or alive.
All of it went by so
fast from that moment on, yet at the same time it seemed like an
eternity. It didn’t matter what Sephiroth was basking in glory about,
and it also didn’t matter that his back was turned. It simply made the
job easier, a swift trot ending with the tearing of flesh. It was
glorious; yes…Sephiroth’s blood was sliding down the metallic
surface of the buster sword. The debt had been paid, but as Cloud walked
away, he felt as if it weren’t enough, but he could now unmask
himself. He could now reveal his face to the woman he…loved. The woman
he loved!?
That’s when it hit
him, she was still lying upon the floor, and bleeding from a gaping
wound that bastard had left her. There was no time to think, so he
rushed out of the chamber, and descended the steps to Tifa’s sprawled
body. Kneeling by her side, he lifted her into his arms, but as he was
about to walk out of the reactor, the monster once again emerged from
the depths of his own hell. With his mothers head in hand, Sephiroth
made his way down the descending steps, and out to the bridge.
“…C…Cloud…”
“…K…Kill
Sephiroth…”
Zack’s request only
tore further into Cloud’s soul, so placing Tifa down with her back
supported, he stormed out of the room.
“STOP!”
Sephiroth simply turned
and thrust his massamune into Cloud. The warm feeling of his own blood
caressing his torn flesh only seeming to entice his craving for revenge.
“…Don’t…push…your
luck…” Sephiroth said sinisterly as he lifted Cloud’s limp body
into the air.
Flashes of his entire
life flickered through his mind all at once. The pain, the relief, the
love, and the suffering all alike, fueled his will to live. No, his will
to rid the world of the demon that called himself Sephiroth, and
suddenly, he had the strength he needed. As he slid slowly down the
smooth surface of the blade, he grasped it in both hands, the tearing
flesh once again urging him onward, and once he felt his feet meet the
ground once again, he twisted his upper torso to the right, and flung it
towards the left, releasing the blade, and allowing Sephiroth to fly,
and plummet into the mako pool below.
Slowly, his eyes closed,
and for a moment, he felt at peace…
Everything seemed a blur
from that point on, and all he could really see was writing every now
and then on the glass. Somehow, the dizzying feeling he felt reminded
him of the mako poisoning from the infusion.
“Feedin’ time,
now’s our chance”
He couldn’t understand
what was going on around him, but he somehow understood that he was with
Zack. First in the Mansion, and then on a truck, but what was this talk
about becoming a mercenary? Suddenly the sound of gunshots flared in his
eardrums, but was it him they were shooting at?
A tragic end, but it
only leads to the beginning of yet another story, but
that’s…history…
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