Empty Wutain Food Trays line the kitchen table where Cloud and Elmyra sit. They're both ready to go to bed because of the amount of food they consumed. "Boy o boy, that was a banquet," exhales Elmyra. "Thank you again. I didn't know I was so hungry." "No problem, I was just as hungry." Elmyra begins to stare at Cloud as if to speak further. "I know my visit was unannounced, I'm sorry for any inconvenience that I have bestowed upon you." "No problem. I'm glad to see you. I've been kind of loner around here, so it's good to have someone familiar to talk to." "Really? I would think people would be hovering all over the person who helped to save the world." "They probably would, If he were here." Puzzled by his statement, leans over and proceeds with questions. "What do you mean?" "The Townspeople don't have Cloud Strife, the so-called great man who help defeat the Sephiroth and the Shin Ra Corporation. They've got Yabiel Auna, A man who came to Nibelheim from Wutai seven years ago to teach the Swordsmen hopefuls here."

"You changed your identity?" says Elmyra. Cloud shakes his head in agreement.

"But how could people not know its you?"

"No SOLDIER gear, No Buster Sword, and No Spiky hair. The Identifying marks of Cloud Strife."

"But I was able to recognized you when I came to the class."

"I think we have a closer bond than other people. And I was glad you didn't blow my cover by blurting out my name." Cloud laughs and Elmyra joins in.

"So you just wanted to be alone, huh?" asks Elmyra

"Pretty much, Popularity was never my thing."

Their is a break in conversation. Cloud sits and drinks the rest beverage he has in his cup. Elmyra looks at Cloud as if to tell him something.

"Cloud, I have to tell you something." Elmyra finally says.

"Yes?"

"I was telling the truth about searching for you in the beginning. But after a long while, I stopped thinking that you wanted

to be alone."

Silence occurs and Cloud listens attentively and waits for her to speak further

"...But recently, four days ago, I got a letter from your comrade, Barret"

"Barret?" says Cloud in a surprised manner.

"Yes, I had contacted him Corel in the past when I was looking for you. He and Tifa took me in there home when I visited and gave me a few clues to where you might be. But that was five years ago, and I hadn't heard from him since. But in this letter he had informed me of the turbulent times that Corel is facing. With the rewarded Gil they received for the heroic deeds, they went back there to built it up from the poor status it had for a long time. And they had done well, with setting up coal factories, schools, hospitals you name it. They did so much for the town, there funds where depleted and they still had bills that needed to be paid. He went to different organizations for Gil, but they thought Corel was well taken care of already and concluded that he was irresponsible with his funds. So he admitted to me in the letter that he went to different people, those of which had bad reputations, and got the Gil that he needed to pay off the bills. But again the bills piled up and he needed more Gil, so much that he was putting himself in debt to the people. I'm sorry to tell you this Cloud, they took Tifa and Marlene."

"What?!?" Cloud exclaims jumping out of his seat.

"They said if he didn't pay the Gil back in four weeks, they'd kill them. He seems desperate Cloud, after that sentence his handwriting is almost indecipherable."

"Why didn't you say this in the beginning?"

"How would it have looked for me, someone you haven't seen in ages, come up to you right off the bat with bad news? As soon as read the letter, I attempted to find you again. I wanted to make this known to you as soon as possible. I came to Nibelheim thinking that I would get some shred of something that would point me in the right direction. But Instead I found what I was looking for."

"Well...I mean...Man, this is terrible!" Cloud paces back and forth, not knowing what to do.

silence incurs.

"I think he needs your help."

"What about the others?"

"He says that Yuffie gave him a little financial help, also Cait Sith. But Cid's in Outer Space exploring the galaxy, and Vincent and Red refused their reward."

"I don't even know how I suppose to help him. I'd do it in a second but I don't have any Gil to pay off a town's debt.".

"You didn't get any gratuities like they did?

"I refused at the time. I didn't want or need the Gil like I do now. Well, why did he contact you?"

Elmyra slowly reaches into her purse and retrieves an envelope. She takes the letter out of it and unfolds Barret's letter. "The last two sentences are the only ones I could decipher. It reads 'I don't know if you found Cloud or not. But if you did, I really need his help.' Its full of grammatical errors but I got the idea." Elmyra then refolds the letter and places it on the table. Cloud eases himself into his chair at the table and stares at the letter. Elmyra glances at the window to see the night sky. "Its late, I must go Cloud. But I'll leave you to your thoughts. Ill be at the local Inn. I'm sorry again for bringing this burden upon you. "She walks over to the end of the table where Cloud sits lifeless. She puts her hand on his head and leans over to give him a kiss on his head. "Ill see you in the morning" she whispers, and then walks to the door. She opens it and turns her head back to him. "I love you, Cloud." she says. Cloud remains silent. Then she turns her head and walks out of the door. Cloud did just that, he was alone with his innermost thoughts. He went and laid in his bed till morning, in a trance staring at the ceiling. Cloud loved Tifa and Marlene. And yes, even Barret. He then felt a guilt fall upon him because of his selfishness to be alone and he didn't want to have to expose himself to the kind of publicity he once was plagued with. But he knew family was involved and that was more important than his own comfort. He broke his trance and quickly went into his closet. He stripped down to his undergarments and reached in there, pulling out his hooded poncho, sheath and old SOLDIER uniform which still had its mail intact for another run. Going towards his sword rack, he lays his hand upon the Mythril Sword. But then he questions himself about his choice. He asks himself, "What has delivered him out of the most dangerous situations? What has never failed him in all his days of battle?" He paces to his bed and pushes it all the way to the wall. Taking a dagger off the nightstand, he wedges it in between the floorboard. He pops open them one by one to reveal a long, rusty case. He pulls it out and lays it on the bed. Pausing for a moment, he reflects on the choice he is about to make and the journey he will embark on. He unfastens the locks in the front of the case. Gently, he opens it, exposing the legendary Buster Sword. Its beams as the morning light from the window hits the clean, unblemished surface of the blade. Seven years ago, he swore to himself that he'd never wield the sword that was infused into it so many memories of the past. He'd smelted it, cleaning it of its scummy dross just before putting it away indefinitely. But as he gaze into its brilliance, he knew his resurgence was about to begin.