Chapter 2

The Soldier

Cloud stood there a silhouette in the setting sun behind him. He looked at the two beaten strangers behind the mad man he had watched and had been unable to stop from destroying the tiny village that lay in ruin in the distance. He had no idea who they were, but if they stood up to this monster then they had to be some what good people; people that needed his help.

"I don't know who the hell you are, but you're going to pay for what you did to those people," the warrior growled at Kefka.

"Oh I highly doubt that," replied the clown, "You see I'm willing to bet that I am a much stronger opponent than any you've ever faced."

Cloud smiled to that. He knew better. He knew much better. With that in his mind he drew the buster sword from its sheath. He stood there for a moment summing his opponent up. He appeared to be a clown from hell. There seemed to be nothing special about him, but he also seemed to be able to master materia; something that was not in the least bit good at all.

Still if he knew how to use material so did Cloud. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red orb. Cloud looked at Kefka with a dark smile on his face. With out any care the sword wielding warrior placed the orb into his arm and smiled an even more sinister smile as his sword glowed with a red aura about it.

"You think you're so tough clown," Cloud said, "then let's see how you do against me."

With lightening fast reflexes he charged Kefka. Kefka barely had time to get his sword up to block the warrior, and felt his feet slide back slightly at the blow that Cloud had given him.

"So you're tougher than I thought," he said with gritted teeth, "No matter. I'll kill you then continue to take on those two losers over there."

Squall had pulled himself up and heard what the former mage had said.

"Loser," he thought to himself, "I'm a lot of things. But I'm no loser."

With that he yelled, "Hey Kefka!"

Kefka turned in time to see Squalls fist get planted in his face. Squall knocking him off his balance Kefka was unable to block the kick delivered by Cloud, nor the knife that went through his shoulder that was thrown by Locke.

"Three on one!" he yelled, "Not fair! I'll kill you all for that!"

With that he raised his hand and dark clouds began to circle in the sky. Fire and lightening seemed to make up the clouds as Ifrite came down. The Espers horns ablaze as he looked at the heroes fighting against the wick little clown.

"Kill them!" shouted Kefka, "Spill there blood and make them wish that they had never existed. I want them to suffer and die. Preferably in that order!"

Tears ran down the Espers eyes for he did not wish to do this, but he was in control of the clown and he had to do as he commanded him. He had to destroy the humans unless they were able to hold him back.

"Fine you wanna play with a summoning," replied Cloud, "Let's play."

His sword glowed red again and his eyes narrowed. Squall placed his blade in the ready position for a fight. Locked pulled out a gauntlet and placed it over one hand and pulled out a large knife placing it in the other. They all stood there looking at the beast as it came down.

"Take it you've fought these types of things before?" asked Locke

"You have no idea," replied Cloud.

"I have a feeling he does," said Squall as he loaded his chamber.

The monster came at them and they where off. Cloud jumped into the air as did Locke. Squall stayed on the ground and jumped at the monster as Locke grabbed hold of his former Esper with the gauntlet and sliced at it a few times with his knife. Cloud landed on his back and started to slice at it not doing much damage. While they did this Squall baseball slid down and fired at Ifrite's under belly.

Ifrite roared in pain and grabbed hold of Locke by his glove throwing him off of him.

"Shiiiiiiiiitttttttttt!" he yelled as he flew through the air.

Ifrite then turned his attention to Cloud on his back slicing away at him.

"Fool," he said, " You have not the power to hurt me."

"Who said anything about hurting you," Cloud said, "I was just trying to distract you and the clown."

Kefka who had been watching the entire battle looked in front of him to see that he was looking down the barrels of two guns. One was the gunblade of Squall the other was a revolver held by a man draped in a red cloak with long black hair. He smiled. His sword was in his hand. He could manage his way out of this easily. Squall wasn't as good as he was and the dark haired man was probably nothing to worry about. He pulled it up and felt hot lead pass through his shoulder and a sudden sharp pain cross his left arm.

The pain quickly went from sharp to agonizing as he looked down and saw that part of his arm was missing. He screamed at the top of his lungs in agony.

Wailing he cried out, "IFRITE KILL THEM!"

The creature did not move. Then it vanished causing Cloud to come landing on the ground.

Locke had managed to pull himself up and looked at the evil clown.

"No magecite," he said, "No Esper. You're finished Kefka."

"Not quite," he said through gritted teeth. With that he through a stone on the ground and vanished.

"Damn him!" shouted Locke, "We had him. We had him beat and he got away."

"Don't worry about it Locke," replied the gunblade wielder, "We'll get him. It's not like he's really that dangerous."

"You have no idea," replied the thief, "He's a monster that nearly brought our world to its knees. You don't know what he can do. What he's done, and you don't want to."

"AHEM!" came a voice from behind them. They turned to see the stranger and Cloud.

"Then why don't you tell us about it," said the stranger, "And also tell us where and when you're from."