Spring had arrived much too early for Tifa’s sake. The day approached when the young men of the village would go off to start a new life in another region. Cloud being one of them. The bus had arrived one early morning to load the people up and get them to their destination. Some were headed to the city of Junon to work on the harbor to become merchant sailors. Others had dreams on becoming rich at the Gold Saucer; gambling on the Chocobo Races, and slot machines. While the majority had decided to go to the big city of Midgar, lured in by the cities promise of good fortune and bettering living.
Cloud’s mother gave her son a passionate hug and kiss before he boarded the vehicle. Tifa stood next to her as the bus drove off with her childhood friend. Soon the bus was out of their sight and Tifa couldn’t help crying. Cloud’s mother pulled the sad child closer to her and gently caressed her hair. Tifa held onto the hope that one day Cloud might return to her a SOLDIER, and save her if she was ever in trouble.
The bus raced down the dirt road kicking dust in the air. Cloud leaned his head back on the seat turning to the window. They had reached the Cosmo Canyon. The sun was as red as the canyons itself; covering the world with a thin scarlet blanket. The beautiful scenery calmed any doubts Cloud might have had about leaving Nibelheim, and being on his own at the age of fourteen. The boy took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. Cloud hoped by the he woke they would have already reached Midgar.
It had taken two days for the bus to arrive at the seaside resort, Costa del Sol, where the passengers would then be loaded onto a passenger ship. Midgar was on the eastern continent, which could only be reached by boat. Cloud and the others boarded the ship with their luggage, and disembarked to their next destination, Junon.
The seas were calm as the large passenger ship traversed its waters. Cloud became ill from all the traveling. He was easily subdued by motion sickness. He was somewhat embarrassed about his nausea. If Cloud did join SOLDIER, he didn’t want to be the only one vomiting from place to place. After a half week on the high seas, the ship pulled into the only port on the eastern continent in Junon.
Those who had made plans to stay in Junon didn’t board the next bus. Cloud got on the vehicle and sighed with relief as he reclined in the seat. He knew the rest of the trip was a nonstop ride to Midgar. Days past by like years for Cloud as he saw no end to the journey. Cloud went to sleep cursing the amount of time it took to arrive in Midgar.
When he woke up, Cloud was greeted by the bus driver who remarked, “Hey, kid, everybody got off the bus! Why don’t you do the same?” Cloud had over slept. He rubbed his tired eyes hard and wondered why the bus had stopped. Cloud staggered off the vehicle carrying a backpack with his belongings in it. He was in a busy bus terminal. The streets were alive with cars and buses heading up and down the road. The sidewalk was congested with hundreds of people running into each other with little options of where they could move. Cloud wondered if he was in Midgar. Suddenly, as if by magic, a giant neon sign lit up reading: SHINRA WELCOMES YOU TO MIDGAR. ENJOY YOUR STAY.
