Heyo and welcome one and all to chapter 16! Back with Cloud and Zack training and fighting! Let's get right to it!
Ch. 16
Zack and Cloud clashed swords as Zack gave the best instructions he could to Cloud. He knew it was Cloud's first time using a weapon, but he knew Cloud would be able to pull it off. Though surprisingly Cloud was starting to pick up on things much faster than Zack anticipated.
The two repeatedly collided time after time in their training, as Cloud continued to improve slightly every few minutes that passed. Much to Zack's surprise, he actually began having to try much harder to parry Cloud's strikes since they became harder with each blow. They then became locked in a struggle for a short time, metal grinding upon metal.
"Wow, you're actually not bad for your first time using a weapon. I guess I shouldn't expect any less from my brother," Zack admitted with a slight huff.
"Yeah… I did say I had been training. Don't underestimate me," Cloud remarked towards Zack. Though, in his mind, he actually didn't think he would be that good. It felt like his body just knew how to fight even if his mind did not. But, he just pushed it to the back of his mind as the two continued their training.
After quite a bit more battling, they each eventually stopped their movements and were breathing heavily, indicating their exhaustion. They both were hunched over and tried to inhale and exhale at a normal pace. Cloud caught his breath finally and stifled a glance at the timer to see how long it had been.
"Over two hours?! Wow, it really didn't seem like that long to be honest," he said with a shocked tone in his voice.
Zack looked up at Cloud. "Well...I guess time flies when having fun." Though, Zack began to wonder if this could really be considered 'fun' with how tired he was. But he did have to admit to himself it was rather enjoyable being able to spend time training with his brother again. But now, it was time for the two of them to head back.
"How are we going to get back though? What if someone is outside?" Cloud asked, remembering how Zack said they weren't really suppose to be there.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to be extra sneaky. Like I said, I've never been caught before. I don't think they've wised up to how often I come down here. Here, I'll go first," Zack insisted as he leaned up from his bent over position and started walking towards Cloud, who was closer to the exit door.
The two of them stood in front of the door until Zack slowly opened it. He peered out of it and looked back and forth, pleading that there wasn't anyone around at the moment. Thankfully he didn't see anyone in sight. So he stepped out from the room and gestured for Cloud to follow.
The two of them slinked back down the hallway that they had originally came. As soon as they got near the elevators, Zack did one last look around before darting for them and pressing the button. Zack tapped his foot impatiently before the doors opened just a few seconds later, and the two boys ran inside and hit the button to go back down the the main floor.
"We made it!" Cloud cheered happily.
"Shh, we're not out yet. Just a little bit longer though," Zack replied in a hush voice.
The elevator hummed softly as it traveled downward slowly towards the main floor. The two of them anxiously awaited the moment when those doors would open to the main area so that they could be free of any issues. Soon enough, the ride stopped and there was a ding, indicating they had reached their destination. Zack thought to himself that even if there was someone there, he could just explain it away that he was showing his brother the place, as nobody would have to know they were on the training room floor. But, that would only be if they somehow were seen.
The doors opened gently and Zack motioned for Cloud to remain behind him as he peered out of the doors, making sure there was nobody around. He glanced to each side, his eyes landing on the receptionist at the front desk that had helped them earlier in the day. She then saw him and raised her hand with a thumbs up, indicating that there was nobody around.
Zack turned back to Cloud. "Okay it looks like we are clear now. See? I told you we would be fine," he boasted
Cloud issued a sigh of relief. "Yeah it seems like it. That's good to know. We don't have to do this every time we wanna train though right?"
Zack walked out of the elevator and motioned for Cloud to follow him as he waved at the woman at the desk as a way of acknowledging her quickly. Cloud quickly followed behind, and as they moved towards the exit of the building, Zack began to talk again.
"Well, to answer your question, it's harder with two of us, so probably just train on our own most of the time. Once you make SOLDIER though, we can use that whenever we want. Just wanted to give you a taste though," he replied.
"Oh okay then. Well that's okay. I guess that means I will have to make sure to do my best so that can happen. It won't be too long at least," Cloud replied as the two of them started to walk back to their place.
"Yeah, you'll be SOLDIER in no time little bro. I know you will do it. All we gotta do is wait till then," Zack said in response. The two of them walked home the rest of the way and chatted for quite some time about various topics. The day for Cloud to join SOLDIER would soon come.
Cloud had never felt so nervous in his entire life. His palms were sticky and sweaty and he could hard stay still. Though in the next moment they felt cold and they started to tremble. He just couldn't keep himself in a calm and pose manner.
It was the day of the trials to try out for SOLDIER, and Cloud could not stop his braing from thinking a mile per minute. He was feeling so many things at once he was afraid he wasn't going to be able to think straight.
He knew though he had to try and calm down his mind. He had to not freak out or stress out. This was this chance. His chance to prove that he could do it. That he could make it to SOLDIER. He was going to do it as he knew he had to. He had to keep his side of the promise to Zack so that he could continue to be with him and make him proud.
Cloud closed his eyes as he remembered to take in deep breaths. He slowly inhaled and exhaled as he tried to get his heart rate to slow down. He had to be relaxed about this. He couldn't let his anxiety get the best of him today. He knew that he had to go in there and prove his worth to everyone. He then remembered Zack's words to him, about him being strong and capable; then, he started to finally calm down a bit more.
More time passed of waiting, as Cloud wondered how much longer that it had to be. However, his ears soon received that answer as he heard his name called loudly. He hopped up to his feet quickly and prepared himself by immediately doing some warm up squats. It was finally his time now, and he was ready. At least, he hoped that he was ready. Then, he started to walk forward into the testing area where he could finally show how much he had learned.
Cloud stood in front of the officials as they looked over the files and paperwork that they had. Cloud tried to stand still, but could help bouncing back and forth slightly between feet.
All of the officials suddenly turned to look at him. Their eyes serious and cold looking. Cloud tensed up as he waited for them to speak.
"We're sorry. You did not qualify," one of them stated.
Cloud froze up. "What?"
"You did not make it into SOLDIER," another responded.
Cloud felt the blood drain from his face as his mouth hung open. Did he just hear them right? Were they saying what he thought they said? That couldn't be right… he didn't understand. "H-How?"
"You are not strong enough for SOLDIER."
"B-But… But…" Cloud started to say, but he was at a lost for word.
It didn't make any sense to Cloud.
It didn't feel right.
Why didn't he make it? He had thought he had passed everything and done everything right. He had gone through every test and trial and proved that he could do them. But he wasn't strong enough for SOLDIER? He had tried his hardest and everything else, yet it wasn't enough?
The world started to blur around Cloud as he staggered back. He started to feel sick as everything weighed down on him. "How could I have not made it. No… I had to have… Why…"
He was about to ask the officials if they had made a mistake, but they still had more to say it seemed. "You were too weak to be in SOLDIER, but we can take you as an Infantryman."
Cloud shook his head. "No…"
This wasn't what he wanted.
This wasn't what he expected.
This wasn't how he wanted it to go. Without caring to respond to the group Cloud turned around and took off running. He at first had no idea where was going to go as he soon ran out of the Shinra building, but his feet just seemed to be leading him somewhere. He couldn't see where though as his eyes were blurred heavily with tears.
"It's not fair…" Cloud thought to himself as he ran.
He soon found himself running back to the apartment. He ran inside, and slammed the door behind him. He didn't stop running until he reached his room. Once there he lost all strength in his legs and collapsed to the floor.
Cloud let out a loud sob as he crumbled up on the floor, bringing his knees to his chest. "Why!?" He tried to shout from within his cries, but most of it was just getting stuck in his throat. His hands started to tremble so he wrapped his arms around his legs tighter. He could still feel them shaking though. Soon his entire body felt like it was shaking and he couldn't ease himself to make it stop.
"Why… couldn't I make it? It's not fair… not fair…."
He was a failure. That was the only reason he could think of. He had failed to be strong like he promised. He couldn't be what everyone wanted him to be and he was just worthless now. Cloud shuddered as these thoughts crawled into his mind.
"What's… Zack going to think? He's… He's going to be disappointed in me. I failed him… I failed my brother."
Zack… Cloud started to worry now what Zack was going to think. He was of course supposed to have met Zack right after he got his results, but in his freak out, he had forgotten all about that. "Is Zack still waiting for me? Is he wondering where I am… Maybe they told him… they probably told him about what a complete failure I am. He's just going to come home and not even talk to me. Why should he? I broke our promise… our dream… it's all gone now. I've ruined it. It wouldn't surprise me now if he ended up hating me…"
Cloud curled up tighter as he cried harder. The tears kept coming more and more, and his heart started to ache terribly. All of his fears and thoughts poured out from the deepest parts of his mind. "I just wanted to prove I could do it… but I just couldn't… I'm just too weak…I'm just a big failure."
He was just so unsure what to do now. His entire world came crashing down in that one revelation earlier. Everything that he had worked towards these past few years now meant nothing. Now he would rarely get to see Zack or spend time with him probably, especially if he moved up to 1st Class. "Why...did this have to happen?"
After that, Cloud's mind blanked as he laid there and sobbed on the floor. He had thought so much that nothing would come to him anymore. He started to feel more heavy as his vision blurred even more, mostly from the tears. The world around him seemed to vanish as he escaped into darkness and closed his eyes as sleep fell upon him.
Heheh yes we that cruel to end it there. Hmmm wonder what will happen now. Poor Cloud. Hehheh.
Thank you all once again for reading this story. Don't worry though! We still got plenty to cover!