AN: This story is slightly AU in that Cloud was born two years earlier than in the game. This will cause some drastic changes throughout the storyline.

DISCLAIMER: I in no way, shape, or form, own anything concerning the rights to Final Fantasy 7, Before Crisis, and Crisis Core. If I did, there would be a remake of 7 coming out at Christmas this year.

Two Years Difference

Chapter One: Of Promises and Friends

Cloud Strife woke earlier than usual, feelings of excitement and nervousness causing butterflies to explode in his stomach. Today was the day that the delivery man passed through on his way to Costa del Sol from Rocket Town.

Stretching, Cloud rolled out bed and started doing his morning routine of push ups and sit ups before going on a small jog. SOLDIER members had to be in shape after all.

Finishing the small routine, the thirteen year old, blue eyed, spikey headed boy took a shower and gathered his things. As his mother was still asleep and would be when the driver came into Nibelheim and left, Cloud wrote a small message saying that he was leaving for Midgar and that he would write her a letter upon entry of the metropolis.

The truck arrived not soon after Cloud left the house. A brief explanation into what his goals were and the driver, Carl, was more than willing to let the boy come along. Not thirty minutes later and the two were on the road headed to Cosmos Canyon.

Carl, as it turned out, lived in Rocket Town and delivered supplies from Costa del Sol to the scientist working on the space program. He talked a lot about a man named Cid Highwind, who wanted to go to the moon, and while he was a good man, had a mouth as foul as a Marlboro.

He also spoke of his rare dealings with SOLDIER, which Cloud assumed was for his benefit, and the great strength and speed the men possessed.

The last leg of the trip, from Cosmos Canyon to Costa del Sol was spent mostly in silence. Cloud took the time to reflect on the days leading up to his departure and one incident in particular.

Flashback

Cloud awoke to a small tapping sound on the window near his bed. Shaking himself awake, he noticed that one, his mother was still asleep across the room, and two that the silhouette of a small girl was standing outside his window.

Curious as what any of the other kids might want with him this time of night, although he was the oldest by three years, he crept across the room and quietly slipped outside.

He wasn't too shocked to note that it was Tifa, his ten year old neighbor; the girl was smart for her age and certainly bolder by far.

Two years prior when she was eight, her mother had died due to illness and Tifa was convinced beyond all doubt that climbing the mountain to the peak would allow her to meet her mother again. Cloud having just decided for sure that SOLDIER was what he wanted to do had started training, mostly just running up the mountain to a certain point and back down to build up cardio.

Flashback within a flashback

During a run Cloud noticed Tifa climbing and wondering what in the world the eight year old girl was doing, decided to follow her. He watched her make it halfway up the mountain, following closely behind and if the girl noticed his presence, she wasn't deterred by it.

A small rumbling noise alerted Cloud to the falling of rocks a little above them on the mountain and glancing up confirmed that yes there were boulders tumbling towards them from above. Without thinking Cloud rushed the short distance to Tifa and tackled her, slinging them away from the rocks but also causing them to tumble a short distance.

The two were a little roughed up but both were conscious and it was then that Cloud realized that Tifa had a silent stream of tears running down her cheeks.

"Hey…" he hesitated a brief moment before trying again. "It's alright Tifa, you're safe."

The girl didn't respond but her crying lessened to a degree.

Cloud kneeled in front of her and rubbed her hair a little, "How 'bout this," Cloud tried, "I can carry you back down and keep you safe if want, and if you ever want to come back I'll go with you to make sure everything's okay?"

Tifa nodded quickly and wrapped her tiny arms around his neck in a near chokehold. Grimacing slightly he shifted her to where his back was facing her and stood up picking her up with him.

The trip down the mountain, while a little tiring, was thankfully uneventful. That is until they reached the base where a middle aged man was stomping towards them. Cloud could almost feel the anger rolling off the man in waves. Nervously gulping, Cloud approached the man, who was Tifa's father.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY DAUGHTER CLOUD STRIFE," the man nearly ripped the girl away from him.

"Sir, I umm, I was running up the mountain, you know trying to train and I saw Tifa climbing and I followed her, wondering what she was doing, and then rocks fell and I pushed her out of the way and then I brought her back here and that's it, honest," he quickly sputtered breathing deeply.

The outrage in Mr. Lockhart seemed to diminish over taken by worry, before he glanced the girl over. She had stopped crying at this point but had still remained quiet.

"Very well…," a pause, "but for the time being, till I get the rest of the story from Tifa, I don't want you anywhere near her. Do you understand?"

Another nervous gulp and choked out "yes sir," before the elder Lockhart turned away and retreated further into the village of Nibelheim.

The story was eventually straightened out by the young Lockhart but even then her father was still cautious of Cloud.

Ever since then the young girl had been enamored with the young Strife.

Present flashback

"Hey Cloud," Tifa spoke almost hesitantly, "would you mind following me for a sec?"

A nod of the head and the ten year old trotted off to the well in the center of the village.

She stopped there, glancing down nervously before speaking.

"You'll be leaving soon won't you… for SOLDIER I mean."

"Yep," a grin making its way on Cloud's face, "aiming to be one of the best, like Sephiroth."

"I believe it, but…" she trailed off shortly before finishing almost nervously, "can you make me a promise?" She looked up from the ground almost staring defiantly.

"Well, that would depend, wouldn't," crossing his arms Cloud continued, "on what exactly you want me to promise."

Glancing back to the ground Tifa muttered something too quietly to hear.

"I can't answer you if I can't hear you, you know."

"It's just that… when you become SOLDIER, and if I'm ever in trouble, will you rescue me. Like how you did on Mount Nibel?"

Ruffling the girls hair like he had two years ago, Cloud smiled kneeling down in front of her to look up into her eyes, "Tifa, I promise that, should you ever need my help; I'll be there for you."

Present

"..Ey, hey kiddo, you there?" Cloud snapped back to reality watching Carl's hand wave back and forth in front of his face.

"Sa, sorry, jus thinkin," He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"S'ight," Carl gruff voice replied, "just thought you shud know that we'll be in Costa del Sol in a few minutes."

Cloud replied with a thanks before looking around the cab of the truck to make sure he still had everything.

The rest of the trip passed quickly and soon Cloud found himself at the resort of Costa del Sol.

Gaping in surprise at such a beautiful city, and having never seen the ocean before, Cloud almost missed Carl's wish for good luck. Answering in kind and giving the man his thanks, the young blond took off down the beach for a moment before starting to ask people where the Shinra troops were stationed.

It didn't take long for Cloud to locate the barracks, situated right next to the dock area with troopers wearing the Shinra blue milling around.

"Umm, Sir," walking up to the first trooper in sight Cloud had to actually repress a grin, "I'm looking to go to Junon to enlist with Shinra. Can you point me to who I should talk to?"

The soldier stared for a second appraising the younger before replying, "Sure, you just have to speak with the Captain. Here, I'll even take you to him."

"Thanks, I appreciate it." Nodding the trooper about faced and walked back the way he came.

The Captain was a short man and well, that's really all Cloud knew about him. The helmet really covered all of his facial features. 'By Shiva I hope I never have to wear one of those' Cloud thought to himself. The things were stupid looking, plain and simple.

"What can I do for you, son?" Well, at least he seemed nice, that's a start.

"Sir, I plan on enlisting in the Shinra Army under SOLDIER, and I read that for people on this continent are to report here."

"That would be correct. We actually have a room set aside for future recruits headed to Junon, and we will set you up with a passage on one of the supply ships headed to Junon. Though, I hope you don't mind sharing space, because we have one other applicant as well."

"Sir, not at all, and… thank you," quickly leaving the Captain's office, Cloud ambushed another trooper and convinced him to show him where the 'applicants', as the Captain called them, stayed.

Cloud opened the door ready to drop his knap sack on his bed and take a small power nap, when a kid, he guessed he was around his age, with black spikey hair leapt in front of grasped his hand.

"Hiya, my name's Zack, Zack Fair, and I'm from Gongaga, and I'm joining SOLDIER, huh, what about you, what's your name?" It took Cloud a couple of seconds to answer this Zack due to his sentences running together.

"Hello Zack, My name's Cloud Strife. I'm also joining SOLDIER, and I grew up in Nibelheim."

Zack snickered for a second before claiming Nibelheim to be backwater.

"Oh yeah, well you said you were from Gongaga, and if anything, that place is even more backwater Nibelheim." Cloud retorted crossing his arms and raising his chin.

Zack opened his mouth like he was going to say something but then closed it before nodding and trying again.

"Ya know, I think you're right, it is pretty backwater after all." He finished with a smile. At that the two simply started laughing before Zack pulled Cloud out of the buildings and into the resort to have some fun.

Cloud and Zack spent the next week in Costa del Sol before a supply ship left port. That one week was probably the most fun Cloud had ever had. Zack was easily as serious as we was about making it into SOLDIER, and on top of that he told jokes, did dumb things, and was all around just fun to hang out with.

Cloud never realized before, because his age difference, he didn't really get along well with the other children in Nibelheim. He always held himself apart as the eldest and there was simply a difference in interests. Zack though, he had the same interests, he was the same age, and while their personalities seemed to clash from time to time, it was all light hearted and fun.

AN:

Thus marks the end of the first chapter. So please review if you get the time, and I only ask because I would like to know what you liked about the chapter, what you didn't, and any mistakes I made. I know it's a little short, right under the 2000 mark, but as I get better at writing I will be increasing the length of each chapter, especially once basic training starts. It'll start to flowin.

Thanks for reading.

Also if you didn't read the AN above, The reason the well scene is different is because this is AU and Cloud was born two years earlier than in the original Final Fantasy 7, being two years older I think would've made a small difference with the Tifa climbing the mountain scene as you've seen and what that cause their relationship to change from the game. Also Zack is two years older than Cloud so with my addition it would put them in the same cadet program.