Final Fantasy VII

Solitude

CHAPTER ONE

Cloud slowly got to his feet as he heared the door bell ring. He was exhausted, it had been three months since Meteor. Cloud had taken solitude in a small house far way from any land deep in the ice mountains. Who could be at the door? Cloud answered it to see Yuffie.

'Cloud!' Yuffie smiled. Cloud gave a faint smile and sipped back on his bottle of gin. 'Should you be drinking this at this hour?' Yuffie asked worried.

'Want some?' Cloud asked. Yuffie quickly nodded.

'Yes please,' Yuffie reached for the bottle as Cloud held it away from her.

'Exactly...' Cloud said. 'If you can, I can,' Cloud then took a big gulp of his drink. 'So Yuffie, what are you doing here?'

'I thought I'd come to see you,' Yuffie said. 'Tifa said she hadn't heared from you in a couple of weeks, so...'

'My phone got cut off...' Cloud replied.

'Didn't you pay the bill?' Yuffie asked. Cloud shook his head.

'Nope,' Cloud sighed. Yuffie rubbed her shoulders as she stood in the freezing cold.

'It's pretty chilly,' Yuffie said, waiting for Cloud to ask her in.

'Yeah,' Cloud replied as he finished his bottle. 'Hey Yuffie?'

'Yeah?' Yuffie replied hoping to be invited in.

'Can you go down to the street and get me another bottle of gin?' Cloud asked. Yuffie sighed.

'Cloud!' Yuffie yelled. Cloud looked confused.

'Oh...I see,' Cloud nodded. Cloud gave Yuffie the money and nodded. 'Don't worry, I wasn't going to ask you to pay for it...' Cloud then slammed the door shut.

The door bell rang yet again. Cloud sat alone in the dark, his TV had been cut off, his phone...his electric. Cloud only had enough money for drink. Cloud got to his feet, he answered the door. Yuffie stood there with the gin in her hand, she did not look happy. Cloud took the gin off her.

'Thanks Yuffie,' Cloud smiled. 'Keep the change...'

'There was none...' Yuffie said bitterly. 'In fact, I had to put some money in to afford it...'

'Yeah thanks,' Cloud said and slammed the door shut. Yuffie sighed and left Cloud alone.

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Three months later, Vincent sighed as he stared at an invitation that had been sent to him. Vincent looked at the bright colours that had been printed all over it. It was so colourful, he knew who had sent this.

'Yuffie...' Vincent sighed.

In Rocket town, Cid recieved an invitation also. He looked at it and then burnt it with his cigarette. Shera shook her head at Cid's antics.

'What?' Cid asked. Shera stared at him.

'You're going!' Shera yelled. Cid chuckled.

'You can't tell me what to do woman,' Cid laughed. Shera continued to stare at Cid. Cid began to sweat and tried to avoid her gaze. 'Alright I'll go!'

Red XIII stood on top of the highest cliff of Cosmo Canyon, ready to give out his loud roar. Suddenly a man appeared beside him.

'Sir,' the man showed Red the bright invitation. 'A young girl sent you this...' Red read it and gave a deep sigh.

'I'm in no mood to roar today, 'Red decided and left the cliff.

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Cloud sat on the floor of his dark house. He continued to drink as much alcohol as his body allowed him. Suddenly Cloud heared a knock at his door. Cloud didn't answer it. He wasn't sure if it was because he didn't want to see no one or if he just couldn't get to his feet. Eventually the knocker gave up, but they posted something through the letter box. After a few more hours of heavy drinking. As he was heading to bed, he decided to look at what had been posted. It was an invitation. It was very blury for Cloud but he tried his best to read it.

Cloud Strife,

You are invited to a special occasion.

A special someone has organised a reunion of the Avalanche crew.

Please be at the Seventh Heaven bar in Edge on Friday 17th at 7.00pm sharp.

Look forward to seeing you.

P.S. Don't forget your materia.

Cloud sighed, he didn't want to go to a reunion, it had only been six months. Things couldn't have changed that much...could they?

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Tifa and Yuffie sat in the empty Seventh Heaven bar. The idea was that if Cloud had his friends to support him, then he might return from the solitude he had been living in for the past six months. As the night went on, Vincent, Cid and Red XIII all arrived.

'Don't look too happy to see us,' Cid said as he saw their disapointed faces.

'Sorry Cid,' Tifa sighed. I'm just worried about Cloud...' The reunion had not gone as planned to say the least. The boys were all playing poker, and Tifa and Yuffie were outsiders watching the game.

'Ever heared of 'strip' poker?' Cid asked the girls. Yuffie punched Cid at the back of the head. 'Forget I asked..' Eventually as the night was drawing to a close, Barret burst in, carrying an unconcious Cloud on his shoulders.

'Cloud!' Tifa shrieked. Barret placed Cloud onto the table. Tifa rushed over to him.

'I found him unconcious just outside,' Barret explained. 'He had a beer bottle in his hand..' Tifa looked at Cloud. His eyes opened slowly.

'Cloud...' Tifa faintly smiled. Cloud gave a faint smile back.

'Tifa...' Cloud mumbled...before he had to turn to the side as he was sick all over Vincent. Vincent looked on angrilly.

'Thank you...' he muttered. Tifa and Yuffie looked at each other as Cloud was coughing.

'He needs help...' they both said.

END OF CHAPTER ONE

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