The sounds of swords clashing and scraping filled the air around the plateau and the forest surrounding it. Two men fought each other in the centre of the plateau, both were wielding wooden poles used in sparring. The battle didn't last much longer when the younger man feinted an attack and hit the older man in the backs of his knees. The older man, pushed his dark black hair from his eyes, and looked up, dark brown met sky blue.

'You're getting better, Cloud.' Alexis laughed up at the blonde. Four years had passed since the last outright war with the warrior clan. Cloud's training as an assassin was nearing it's end, he had one final test, his first kill. The blonde had gotten taller, but was still slightly small for his age.

'You're getting older.' The blonde smirked.

Alexis raised an eyebrow and launched himself at Cloud. He wrapped his arm around the younger man's neck and started messing up the blonde's hair.

'Oh I'm getting old am I? I'm barely nine years older than you!'

'Not the hair!' Was Cloud's only reply.

Alexis let Cloud go and spun around when he heard someone clear their throat behind him. A tall, pale man with greying hair was standing to the side of the plateau.

'The master wishes to speak with both of you.' His voice was deep and rough.

Alexis nodded and turned to Cloud. 'Come on.'

The tall man had already left when Alexis turned to thank him. He and Cloud gathered the items they brought with them, sparring poles, food and water. And began walking back to the city.

'Why does he want to see you?' Cloud asked as they walked through the forest that surrounded the area east of the great stone city.

'I don't know, could have a new target.' Alexis shrugged.

'Well why would he give it to you? I'm the one that needs to eliminate a target to become as assassin, you're already one.'

'They may think you can't handle it.'

'Of course I can!'

By now they were just outside the city gates. Alexis turned to Cloud and stopped.

'Overconfidence can bring about your downfall. Never underestimate your target, let them underestimate you.' With that, Alexis turned and walked into the city, heading for the assassins base.

The assassins base was actually found beside the Midgar castle. The leader of the assassins was also the ruler of the city. Rufus Shinra had lead the assassins to victory in many battles against the warriors of Hollow Bastion. The people trusted him to lead them to prosperity, even though throughout the history of Midgar, poverty and prosperity had always lived side by side.

A portcullis was held up at the entrance to the assassins base. Inside the walls, several assassins were sparring. Cloud and Alexis made their way to the stone building at the back of the fortress. They made their way up the stone steps that lead to the room that Shinra often locked himself away in. Alexis knocked on the door twice. Shinra opened the door and walked back to the many books littering a great mahogany table.

Both Cloud and Alexis made formal bows to their superior. Shinra looked straight at Cloud.

'You will prove that you are worthy to join the assassins.' He paused watching Cloud. He pushed something along the desk. 'Take it, you are to eliminate your target with this.'

Cloud picked up the weapon. It was a form of blade to be strapped to the wrist, concealed beneath a sleeve and detached easily. It was formidable as a normal dagger and a throwing knife. Shinra spoke again. 'Now, leave us, there will be an assassin awaiting your arrival at the town square. She will tell you of your mission.'

Cloud bowed he looked to Alexis just before he left. The older man mouthed good luck.

As soon as Cloud left, Shinra turned his attention to Alexis. 'The world is changing. The fate of the assassins hangs in the balance. If we do not act soon, we will fall.'

'What do you speak of, my liege?' Alexis questioned.

'The warriors of Hollow Bastion advance again. Their numbers are greater than ever.'

'Do you think we can win this war?'

Rufus looked directly into Alexis' eyes. 'I will not lie to you, I have told many others that we can, that we will. If I told them what I truly thought, it would cause them to falter. I will not give you false hope, I don't know how this war will end. They outnumber us greatly.'

'You didn't call me here to tell me this.'

'No, I called you to give you a task. I understand if you don't wish to take it.'

'What is it.'

'I want you to ambush Leonhart and assassinate him.'

Silence was the only reply.

'As I said, you are free to turn it down. They will not reach the city walls for a day. Think about it, come back and tell me your answer.'

Alexis bowed and left.

Cloud walked into the town square looking for the assassin that was to tell him of his mission. A blonde girl he had seen around the city before approached.

'You're Strife right?' She said with a smirk. She looked him up and down and laughed. 'They said you were small, but, aren't you a little short for a-'

'Look, just tell me about the target!' Cloud whispered.

'Fine, see that guy talking on the steps?'

'Yeah.'

A short, stocky man was whispering frantically with another man on the steps to an old decaying building.

'That's your target, follow me.'

Cloud walked to a backstreet with the blonde girl.

'We've received information that that man is in league with the enemy, you have to assassinate him to shut him up.'

They stopped near the end of the back street. They stood in a doorway, waiting to ambush the man.

'I'm Larxene by the way.'

'Shut up! He's coming.' Cloud whispered.

The man passed not even noticing the pair in the doorway. Cloud moved and walked up behind him. He detached the blade from the mechanism on his wrist. He had nearly cut himself on it as it flicked out from the side. He got closer. He was sure his frantic heartbeat was going to give him away. Once the opportune moment arose he lunged forward and plunged the knife into the mans neck. He covered the mans mouth with his free hand. He saw the traitor's eyes widen as his blood poured from the wound and stained Cloud's hand. Cloud found himself wondering if the man had a family that would mourn his loss, did he have children at home that would be waiting for him to arrive? Had he just done what had been done to him? Had he torn a father from his children?

Cloud pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind, this man was willing to forsake everything to help the warriors. He pulled his arm back and watched as the man fell and the blood flowed faster, more freely from the wound he had created.

Larxene stepped out from the shadows and put an arm around his shoulders. 'Sloppy. You should attack and flee. Be confident that when you strike, you kill. Don't stick around to be found and cornered.'

Alexis walked back home. He had been so deep in thought that he only saw Aerith sitting on the steps leading to the door of his house when he almost stepped on her.

'Aerith?' He exclaimed.

'I need to talk to you.' She looked pale and worried.

'Are you alright?' He immediately crouched down and put both his hands on either side of her face.

'I'm fine, I just…you love me right?'

'You know I adore you.' He pushed a strand of brown hair behind her ear.

She leaned her forehead against his. 'I think…I know…' she looked up at him. 'I'm pregnant.'

Alexis smiled and laughed. 'Really?' His eyes lit up.

'You're happy?'

'Of course I am! Well…this is a coincidence.' He laughed.

'What?'

Alexis reached into a pocket and pulled out a small wooden box. 'I was going to find you later, and do this in some romantic way.' He laughed. 'If that would be possible for me…but this just seems like the perfect time.' He opened up the tiny box to reveal an engagement ring.

'Aerith Gainsborough, will you marry me?'

Aerith brought one hand up to her mouth, she smiled behind it and nodded. 'Yes!' Her voice was broken as she let tears fall. 'Of course!'

After seeing Shinra and finally making it as an assassin Cloud made his way home in a daze. All his life he had sworn to get revenge on the warriors of Hollow Bastion. However, as he got older, nothing was right or wrong, good or evil, there was no definite line between the two. He found himself wondering if the path of the assassin was 'right' or not. Today he had killed a man, he couldn't stop himself from thinking about the man's loved ones…how would they feel. Whatever they went through now…he had caused it.

He lifted his gaze from the cobblestone street and saw Aerith and Alexis sitting on the steps leading up to the house. Alexis spotted him first. He jumped up and started towards him, Aerith followed closely behind. When Alexis reached Cloud he put either hand on the younger mans shoulders and smiled.

'Well?' He said

'How did you do?' Aerith asked.

'I passed.' He tried to get out of Alexis' hold, but he was held there.

'Are you alright?'

'I just…' Cloud shook his head and sighed. 'I just keep wondering…about that persons family, they probably didn't know what he was doing…to them he was just a beloved father or husband or whatever…'

This time when Cloud tried to move, Alexis didn't stop him. He turned and watched him walk to the house.

'He'll be okay, you were like that when you started out.' Aerith said as she held Alexis' hand.

'…When I started out…'

After walking Aerith home Alexis headed back to his own home, he needed to make sure Cloud was okay. He found the door to Cloud's room ajar. He rapped on the door twice and opened it a bit more.

'Cloud? Are you okay?'

'Yeah…I suppose.'

Alexis walked in and found Cloud lying on his bed, his arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling.

'The warriors are making their way here right now.' He made his way over to the bed and sat down on the edge.

Cloud looked to Alexis his brow furrowed. 'When will they arrive?'

'Tomorrow maybe…'

The room was silent until Alexis spoke again. 'Shinra wants me to take out Leonhart.'

Cloud's eyes widened. 'That's suicide! You cant!'

'I'm considering. Aerith and I are getting married, she's pregnant-'

'All the more reason for you not to go!' Cloud sat up, his eyes were pleading for Alexis to see sense. 'Alexis, don't! You're getting married! You have a kid on the way! You cant abandon you're family.'

'If he's not taken out, their army will definitely get here…and Aerith…' He trailed off.

'Let me take it for you!' Cloud whispered. It felt like signing his own death sentence.

'What?'

'You have too much to live for…what have I got?…'

'I cant lose you!'

'That's the same reason I don't want you to go!' Cloud shouted. '…You have Aerith, and you're going to have a baby to look after soon…don't throw them away.'

A heavy silence that filled the room until Alexis broke it.

'Thanks, you've helped me make up my mind.'

'Good.'

'I better go tell Shinra.' Alexis rose from the bed and left. Cloud lay back down and stared at the ceiling.

Alexis made his way to Shinra's office for the second time that day. He knocked on the door. A muffled 'Come in.' came from the other side of the door.

Alexis walked into the room, closing the door behind him.

'You've decided?'

Alexis looked up. 'I'll do it.' He looked down and sighed.

'Tomorrow, at dawn, you will travel to the forests and hide yourself among the trees. Wait for Leonhart to walk underneath and attack. Then you are to run, do not fight any others.'

'Right.'

'I pray for safe return.'

Alexis laughed a humourless laugh. 'So do I.'

The first rays of the sun woke Cloud up the next morning. He sat up. He was still wearing the same clothes he had on yesterday, blood stains and all. He tore off the bloodied shirt and discarded it. He caught sight of the knotted scar that lay just slightly to the right of his sternum. He ran his thumb along it, sighed and grabbed a plain black tunic.

He remembered something Alexis had said to him the day before. 'The warriors are making their way here right now.' They were to arrive toady.

Cloud grabbed his hidden blade and strapped it on. He walked out of his room, expecting to find Alexis somewhere. The man was nowhere to be found.

Cloud ran out of the house, desperate to find out what was going on. The first person he ran into was Larxene.

'What's going on?'

'With?' She sneered.

'The warriors!'

'You don't know? Alexis is going to try take out Leonhart, hopefully it'll make them turn back. He better not screw up. I'd kill for that job.'

Cloud ran back to the house to find something, anything that he could use. He wasn't going to let Alexis fight and possibly die alone. He ran to Alexis' room to look for useful items there. He saw that his weapons were gone, so Alexis had gone to assassinate the leader. He rummaged through the older man's stuff, until he found just what he needed. He ran out of the house grabbing his sword on the way.

Alexis crouched on a thick branch of an old tree. He could hear them now. He waited for another while. The first person he saw was Leonhart. He was riding atop a great black stallion. He leaned forward slightly, ready to pounce. He brought out his hidden blade. Once Leonhart was directly beneath the tree's branches Alexis pounced. He knocked the leader from his horse and to the ground. He flicked the detachable blade out, trying to pierce the man's neck, but his wrist was caught and he felt himself turned over. The entire situation had changed now. Alexis found himself lying on his back and fighting to push his own blade away from his chest. The struggle continued for what seemed like an eternity…until Alexis could no longer fight against the warriors strength. He felt his own blade plunged into his chest. He cried out as the warrior pushed the blade deeper.

The warrior leaned down to whisper in Alexis' ear. 'I told you I would get revenge, and I have…'

Before anything more could be said something landed near the two men and thick smoke filled the air. Leonhart jumped from Alexis as he coughed.

Alexis felt himself pulled up and forced to run. When they were clear of the smoke, Alexis realised that the person supporting him was Cloud. The pair were close to the city gates when Alexis could no longer run. He fell to his knees and then onto his back. Cloud fell to his knees beside him.

Cloud only saw the blood on the blade now, for a second he thought the older assassin had done it, he thought he had killed the leader of the warriors, but as his gaze moved up he saw the blood pooling at his best friend's chest.

'Alexis…' He whispered. He shook his head. 'No…'

Alexis' eyes fluttered open. He looked at Cloud and smiled a pained smile. 'You're going to make…one hell…of an assassin.' He took in a shaky gasping breath, Cloud could hear the blood filling the man's lung. 'Just a shame…I wont see it.'

'You will you'll be fine, you're gonna be here to see it…you're gonna marry Aerith and watch your child grow up.' Cloud's voice broke at the end. He turned to look behind him in the direction of the city. He screamed for help. He knew there would be no way the man would survive if he moved him now. He needed help right there.

Alexis grabbed Cloud's hand. His breaths were becoming more ragged and laboured. 'Promise me…you'll look after…Aerith…and…the baby.

'You'll be here to do that yourself!' By now tears were flowing freely down his cheeks.

Alexis' grip on Cloud's hand tightened. 'Promise…me.'

'…I promise.'

'I'm proud of you…brother.' Alexis' eyes slowly closed and his breathing slowed to a stop.

'No…no…NO!' Cloud shouted. 'You cant leave me now! Please!' The tears were blurring his vision. He threw his arms around his best friend and sobbed.

He stayed there until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He didn't see who it was but someone was pulling him away from Alexis. He kept his eyes on his fallen friend. There was no colour in his skin, his lips were a slight pale blue, when one guard picked him up his body was limp, lifeless. Cloud knew this sight was going to haunt him for the rest of his life.

He had walked back to the city with the guards. It was only when he was within the city walls that he realised that Rufus Shinra was among the group. He place both his hands on Cloud's shoulders and tried to talk to him, but Cloud couldn't take the words in. They made no sense to him.

Cloud heard a piercing scream to his right, he turned to see Aerith fall to her knees and wrap an arm around her stomach. She watched in horror as one of the city guards carried Alexis' body. Cloud ran to her and kneeled down. She flung her arms around him and sobbed into his shoulder.