Cloud liked Reno, or at least his gut told him he liked Reno. But Cloud had obligations. He couldn't just skip them for the sake of fun. Or friends.
"I would really like to, but I have classes. Maybe some other time." Cloud said.
"Whatever yo. It's your choice." With that Reno steered the cadet towards the elevators and proceeded to give him directions to his next class. Cloud thanked Reno multiple times, all of which the redhead shrugged off.
After parting from Reno, Cloud rode the elevator down to the SOLDIER cadet floors. Jogging down the corridor, Cloud found the class he was looking for. It seemed to be an agility course of some sort.
Cloud pushed the door open, making his way hesitantly into the room. He could see all the other cadets forming two lines at one end of the obstacle course. Just as he began making his way to the end of one line, a larger boy apparently of Wutainian descent shoved Cloud to the floor. The force caused the small blonde to sprawl 2ft away from the boy and knock his already throbbing head on the concrete floor.
"You should move faster if you know what's good for you." The boy's companion snickered as they made their way to one line.
Picking himself up, Cloud proceeded to gently rub his head. Pulling his hand away, the blonde found a small smudge of crimson liquid smeared onto his palm. Groaning, Cloud made his way to the opposite line. The young blonde let his eyes take in the obstacle course set up in front of them.
The beginning of the course appeared to be some sort of balance beam, though it was made from a log and on either side there was a drop of at least 10ft. Passing that, there was past that there was set of monkey bars that were situated over a large steel grate several feet bellow them. The monkey bars gave way to a large rock climbing wall that appeared to be made of real rock. Past that, there was a steep decline made from a glass-like substance. The decline dropped gave way to a rickety looking rope ladder which only seemed to have room for one person to go up at a time. At the top of the rope ladder there was a grizzled rope that hung from the ceiling, the drop from that must've been at least 20ft. If you successfully completed that, you would move on to a large cement pipe that you were expected to run through. But the most daunting thing was definitely at the end. There were three large walls all set in a row. It appeared you were expected to either run between them or crawl atop them. At the end of the course were two large, red buttons settled atop lengthy black poles.
"Hello ladies! As you can see this," The large-framed man gestured toward the obstacle course, "is a simulation of things you might have to pass as a SOLDIER in order to fulfill an objective! Those of you who can pass this will almost all pass the agility part of the SOLDIER exams. Those of you who can't, I'll see you on the infantry floor."
Cloud's throat was painfully dry, now knowing what was ridding on this course didn't settle well with him.
"The first two cadets who will be running this course are," The man paused as he flipped through the list, "CLOUD STRIFE AND SAIZO HIKARUI!" Cloud thought he was going to pass out, his head resisted every move he made and his stomach twisted so painfully tight he could feel his intestines grinding against each other.
As he stepped to the front of the line, the Wutainian boy who had shoved him to the ground already stood at the starting point.
'This day just gets better and better…' Cloud thought bitterly; his head thrummed in agreement. Cloud was vaguely aware of the instructor giving them instructions, but the voice sounded far off and fuzzy. Like a radio station where the static overwhelmed the voices.
A starter gun rang through the air and before Cloud could comprehend what was happening, his legs had led him toward his balance beam. Taking care to step onto the beam with precision, the blonde hoisted himself onto the log. Sparring a glance at his opponent, Cloud saw him just beginning to haul himself up.
"Wait." A voice said from deep within his mind.
"This is a race I can't wait!" Cloud unintentionally argued back.
"Trust me." The voice was somewhat gravelly, deep, and held an enigmatic tone. A sudden flash of red flitted through his mind. An ebony-haired man with milky skin and a set of crimson eyes.
"Who are you?"
"Vincent Valentine."
"I've never met anyone with that name."
"Are you Cloud?"
"Yes. How do you know me?"
"I do not know."
"Then…how do you know my name?"
"I can not explain something I do not understand. I presently feel this. You are running some sort of course correct?"
"Yes. How do you know that?"
"I dreamt it."
As the conversation continued, Cloud spared a glance at the other cadet. He had taken three steps along the log when suddenly small jets rose from the floor. They targeted Saizo and multiple streams of strange liquid saturated him and his beam. The large boy's feet slid from beneath him and he slammed face first into the wood.
Just as Saizo landed, the log began to turn. Slowly at first, before gaining speed.
Saizo didn't stand a chance.
He couldn't find a grip on the log and slid off as it did its first roll, landing on the soft padding at the bottom of the 10ft drop.
"YOU ALL SEE THAT! THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO BEFORE THINKING! LOOK AT STRIFE! HE TOOK IN HIS SURROUNDINGS BEFORE PROCEEDING! THOUGH HE NEEDS TO DO THIS A BIT QUICKER HE'S GOT THE RIGHT IDEA!" The instructor shouted
"You knew that would happen didn't you?" Cloud asked, taking a hesitant step forward.
"Yes."
"How do I prevent that from happening?"
"...I do not know."
"That's alright, you've helped more then I expected already." Cloud took a deep breath and proceeded with his next step. Suddenly, an idea struck him.
Holding his arms out to his sides, instead of taking things slower as his original plan, Cloud dashed across the log.
The jets rose from the floor, but by the time they began spraying the mystery liquid Cloud had already crossed to the other side.
"Anything you know about these?"
"I apologize, but the only obstacle I remember was the balance test."
"Oh, thanks anyway." Cloud took a moment to study the bars and the grate. There were small mechanical devices hooked up to both the bars and the grate. They greatly resembled generators.
"Electricity…." Cloud mumbled. Cloud looked down at his hands, certain that if he touched the bars he would get the shock of his life, if he hit the grate he would have fallen several feet down and would be disqualified….. Clenching and unclenching his fists, Cloud felt increasingly frustrated. If only he had a pair of rubber gloves…
Wait. Rubber.
Cloud bent down to examine his boots. The soles were made of rubber! If he could only somehow get on top of the bars he could easily just run across. Cloud took the dark green scarf from around his neck and wrapped it tightly around his hands.
"That will not completely stop the shock."
"I know, but it will dilute it enough that I'll hopefully be able to climb quickly on top of the bars."
Sucking in a breath, Cloud gripped the bars and immediately let out a yowl of surprise. The electric jolt coursed through him and he had to physically force himself to keep his grip on the bars.
Quickly, Cloud hauled himself on top of the bars and ran along the edges of the bars. Once he reached the end, Cloud jogged up to the rock wall. Slowly, the blonde reached up and got a good grip on the wall.
The youth began to haul himself up, placing his foot where his hand had been and reaching higher for another grip. Just as his left hand grabbed onto another rock, the rock gave way and he cried out in shock and fear.
Swiftly Cloud's left hand shot out and found another spot to grip. Breathing heavily the blonde closed his eyes, attempting to calm his nerves.
"Do not let this stop you. Keep going." Cloud nodded meekly, opening his eyes and looking up the wall. He was halfway there. Another deep breath and Cloud reached out with his right hand, hesitantly touching the rock before gripping it firmly.
"It's getting...really hot." The rock in his right hand was getting warmer as he gripped it.
"Move quickly." Again Cloud nodded and reached up with his left hand for another rock. Finding one, he clasped the rock….and realized it was as cold as ice.
His fingers were numb from just a few moments of touching it. Sharply, Cloud grappled with his right hand for another rock to find.
Another yelp left his throat as an electric bolt shot from the rock.
"They're using elements in the rocks!"
"It would seem so. Move quickly and do not spend too much time on one. You are almost at the top."
Cloud quickly finished the wall, not without a few burns though. The decline was not difficult, despite the fact that a large chasm split at the bottom. Cloud had to hastily push off from the wall and land clumsily on the other side. The rope ladder was just that, a rope ladder. It was rickety and Cloud ended up having to do most of it upside down as it turned over halfway through. Reaching the top, Cloud reached out and cinched the rope; swinging clumsily and ungracefully across before flinging himself into the pipe.
The pipe. Cloud had never experienced such a nauseating thing in his life. It would roll one way, and then the other; making it impossible for him to stand or even move for that matter.
"Roll fluidly with the pipe."
"Huh?"
"Roll in a somersault fashion inside of the pipe." Uncertainly, Cloud followed the man's instructions. Making it through the pipe in a few minutes flat. By now, there was a steady stream of blood coming from the young blonde's head. Now all that was left were the walls….
Just as Cloud moved closer to them, battering rams sprung from the walls and smashed into Cloud's already bruised nose. Blood spurted from it and dribbled down his chin.
The youth groaned, falling backward and landing on his back.
"Cloud. You have come too far to quit. You know this as well."
"I...can't."
"There is no can't. Simply won't."
Cloud's eyes opened. The youth stood groggily. His head arguing every move he made, his brain sending harsh signals of pain throughout his body.
"Crawl."
"...Huh?"
"On your stomach. Crawl." Cloud dropped to the floor and proceeded to crawl forward.
"Keep your head down. Completely down. Face pressed to the floor." Cloud did as he was told; pressing his blood stained face to the floor and proceeded to crawl. He could feel the battering rams skimming atop his head. Finally, the blonde reached the end of the walls. The youth breathed a sigh of relief.
He could faintly hear the cheers from his fellow cadets and the voice of his instructor, "TAKE A GOOD LOOK LADIES! CLOUD STRIFE IS THE FIRST OF YOU TO PASS THIS COURSE!"
On unsteady legs, Cloud crossed the short distance to his glowing red button. Slamming his fist down on top of it, the blonde smiled in triumph as the darkness swallowed him up.
"What? What just…"
"You are unconscious."
"Why?"
"I suspect that final blow to the head you received was the cause, added with your exhaustion."
"Oh…so are you…a real person?"
"Yes."
"Where are you? And why are you able to speak to me in my head?"
"Where I am…is not important at the moment. As for my ability to speak with you, I am unsure myself."
"Thank you for helping me."
"I felt it was something I needed to do."
"Will I wake up soon?"
"I cannot say. I do not know myself."
"Oh…are you in Midgar?"
"No. I don't believe I am."
"Can I meet you?"
"Not at this stage in time."
"Will I ever meet you?"
"I believe so."
"Hey, I think I hear other voices. They're muffled. But I hear them."
"I can believe it."
Cloud knows he could come back to a conscious state, or choose to remain unconscious and continue his conversation with this man named Vincent Valentine.
What should he do?
Chapter 70: Wake up
Chapter 71: Remain unconscious
Stats: Materia: 5
Intelligence: 60
Compassion: 93
Innocence: 100
Trustworthy: 85
Strength: 30
Sword Skill: 0
Determination: 65
Agility: 40
Relationships:
Zack: 50
Angeal: 15
Genesis: 0
Sephiroth: 0
Reno: 23
Vincent Valentine: 20
Author's Note: This became longer then I expected. If you're wondering why Vincent is able to talk to Cloud, it's actually because of a pretty insignificant thing from the original game. Cloud was the one who opened Vincent's coffin. Thus I thought it would be cool if, because of the fact that Cloud helped him, Vincent would help Cloud through this. Please review! Even if it's constructive criticism! Sincerely, Kay.