Prologue: Swords of a Past Battle
As he looked across the field, he could see his opponents eyes, glowing with a deep mysterious green. The man's katana gleamed in the little light before the storm. As he watched the sword, he could only see the battle he had fought twenty years before. Suddenly, the cloaked man ran toward him, sword drawn, ready to strike. Their swords meet with sparks emanating from where they collided. They battled on this once peaceful ground. Their swords clashed again and again. The cloaked man soon knocked the other man's broadsword away, and it landed point first in the ground. With one quick sweeping kick, the cloaked man knocked his opponent down and lifted his weapon above his head. The downed man knew what would happen next, and the cloaked man did not disappoint. He brought the blade down to within inches of his opponent's face, and smiled as he offered a hand down to help him up.
The downed man looked up as he accepted the cloaked man's assistance. Once up he said, "You've learned to control yourself better since you came to live with us, Caden. It is no wonder why you are the top of your class."
The cloaked man gave a half-smile and placed the sword in a scabbard on his back. As he walked over to his opponent's sword he said, "And this is the same Cloud Strife that defeated Meteor?" He picked up the Shinra issued broadsword and returned it to its owner.
"I did have help you know…, but it did cost the life of someone dear to me… It's late, let's go home," the Cloud said. He continued to speak under his breath, "That battle was so long ago. Why does it still haunt me?"
Caden said nothing. When they reached their chocobos, Cloud faced Caden and said, "It's a long story, I'll tell you… some day." They rode away silently.