Note: I relatively new to the fandom of Final Fantasy, even though I've known about it for years. I just didn't understand why each game had a different storyline. It wasn't until Advent Children came out that I started to get interested in the series. Since I'm new there may be some misspellings of names or places in this story. R and R!
Chapter 1: Cast Away
They were the best of friends. Through the worst of times she was there for him, by his side all the way. Yet she knew that there was a brick wall between them and even her great inhuman strength could do nothing to bring it down.
It had been only a year after the events of the Advent Children and even now Tifa Lockheart felt all the more distant from her comrade, Cloud. They continued to look after the orphans of the city, and things had been more settled. Cid, Yuffie, and Vincent departed for unknown lands supposedly returning to their roots, but they left so abruptly no one noticed.
In her eyes Cloud changed drastically since the battle against Sephiroth. He seemed more irritable, lazy, and tired. One couldn't even start a conversation without him getting on the defensive. She grew more concerned by the day and now that he was out with Marlene, Tifa would try her luck again.
He came back home in a huff, apparently he'd ran a mean distance. Marlene was not far behind. Tifa stepped up from her chair.
"Hey Cloud. Where'd you guys go today?" she asked meekly.
"…Out…to this uh…"
"We went to the new park they just built in the city! It was a lot of fun Tifa you should've came with us!" blurted out Marlene.
"Well I would have except no one woke me up…Cloud?"
His face flushed a little. "You just looked so peaceful…that I didn't want to disturb you."
Tifa scoffed at this, recalling numerous times when he woke her up in false pretences of a crisis.
"Listen, can I talk to you?" she asked.
Cloud said nothing and followed her into their bedroom. He plopped himself onto the bed while Tifa kneeled beside him. She struggled to smile even when he seemed to have no expression on his face.
"Cloud what's going on with you? I mean ever since Sephiroth was here you've been acting different, mainly around me. Tell me what's wrong."
"I don't know what you mean…I'm still Cloud Strife."
"Yeah, that's just it. Your Cloud Strife only in name, not personality. I only want the old you back."
Annoyed, he raised himself up off the bed and made for the door.
"Cloud!"
He gave her a stare that made her freeze. She made no efforts to pursue him or call his name again for her voice was shot. Tifa could only watch as her best friend left her in darkness and sadness. What could've happened to him?
