Chapter 1: Prophecy

It has been twenty years since Meteor struck, and the fall of Shinra. Without the organization of a global corporation, new nations arose. These new governments quickly found stability in its aftermath, but world unification was not to occur due to the ideals of their peoples. The world, however, is at peace.

The nation of Wutai has become a center of education and military superiority. Coral became a nation of resorts and recreation as the result of Costa del Sol and the Gold Saucer. Icicle is almost a deserted tundra due to the extreme cold, but many people congregate there to challenge Gaea's Cliff. Junon, the largest nation on the planet, became a scientific Mecca, and here is where the destroyed city of Midgar stands as a final relic of the Shinra. Mideel remained a nation of retirement communities, but grew its own tourism economy. Gongaga became a center of peace and serenity. The nation of Nibel, the only nation that can boast the ability of space travel, built a spaceport in the northernmost part of the nation. This is where Cloud, Tifa, and Caden live.

Cloud and Tifa fell in love shortly after Meteor struck and married two years later. Four years passed, and Cloud found a boy wandering through the Nibel Mountains near the abandoned Mount Nibel Mako Reactor. This boy looked exactly like Sephiroth, except as a boy of no more than four. Cloud drew his sword immediately, but hesitated when he saw the tattoo on the boy's right wrist, the number XIV. Cloud knew when he first saw him that this child was the final result of the Jenova Project, but did not know how. Cloud and Tifa took in the boy and named him Caden, as if he were a calling. They raised Caden as their own, but never told him anything about his origins or the Jenova Project, fearing another Nibelhiem incident.

Caden found at a young age that he had special powers. However, there was something different about him from the other "Sephiroth clones." He could hear things that no one else could. Never understanding it fully, Caden just listened.

Caden, now 18, was graduating from Wutai's elite Military Academy with its highest honor of Musashiden. It was graduation day for the academy; many came to the ceremony just to see the new military elite. Others were national representatives that had arrived to recruit the graduates from their respective nation into military services. The one who attains the high honor of Musashiden was the most prized of all the students. The story begins here on the green pastures of the academy campus.

Caden coolly leaned against the wall of a building as he waited in the noon day sun. He knew that the ceremonies would commence soon, but he needed to wait. "Why does she always do this? Ok, so I was late again. She had time to get it."

A young woman walked up next to Caden, "Got the camera!"

Caden looked at the woman, "Mar, you would think we would have enough pictures taken of both of us. Your father alone is going to take two or three rolls worth of pictures."

Marlene looked at the camera in her hand, "Nah, it's just the whole principle of the thing. I need to take pictures, and anyway I'll get to get a good angle of your speech. That face will be worth a thousand words."

"How about my impending bad photo make the speech, and not me."

"Ha ha ha! Come on, the ceremony is about to start." Marlene turned and walked away. Caden did the same but in the opposite direction. A hand suddenly grabbed his long platinum white pony tale. Marlene, with a sarcastic wit, said, "This way genius."

Caden allowed himself to be dragged, if only to avoid too much pain. "I- I knew that. Ow! Ow! Ow!"

The Academy, which was just south of the city of Wutai, was a like large city itself. However, during the graduation ceremonies it actually becomes the most populated city for a thousand kilometers. The graduating students wore light blue robes, but the Musashiden was required to ware a white robe and his sword. The entire student body sat in the front of the amphitheater. National dignitaries sat behind the students, and the student's families sat on both sides. The Five Mighty Gods of Wutai sat on the stage, so that two of them sat on one side, two sat on the other side and the most powerful of them, now the leader of Wutai, sat in the middle.

There were many speakers on hand, the next more boring than the preceding one, or so Caden thought. He was about to fall asleep when the last speaker finished. A man came up to the podium. He began to speak slowly "It is now time to present the honor of Musashiden. Would Caden Strife please step forward?"

Caden, without any hesitation, got up and walked to the stage. He could see Wutai's leader holding two amulets with green stones in them, one in her hands, and one around her neck. Caden walked up onto the stage as silence swept the crowd. He walked to the podium and bowed to the leader of Wutai. She stood up and walked out of the shadows to the podium, her face could now be seen by everyone.

Yuffie Kisaragi became the spiritual and political leader of Wutai when her father, Godo, was murdered outside the Pagoda of the Five Mighty Gods ten years earlier. She put up her usual fit about it. However, as the last one to defeat her father in battle, it was her duty to lead Wutai.

"The great Leviathan has watched and protected Wutai for generations. He commands the power of water to ward off those who bring harm to innocence and peace. Leviathan's power is contained within the sacred materia. Each day it grows more powerful, and once a year, a new Leviathan Materia is born.

"Those who become Musashiden have shown their wisdom and valor; the signs of Leviathans ever protecting nature. To distinguish those who attain this honor, the newborn materia is given to them. This amulet ensures that Leviathan is with those who ware it."

Yuffie turned to Caden, and placed the amulet she was holding around his neck. Caden bowed toward Yuffie. Yuffie turned again to the podium to speak, "Ladies and gentlemen, this year's Musashiden."

Caden walked up to the podium. As Musashiden he is required to make a speech to the graduating class. Even though he had a speech written, Caden was not ready to speak. All he could do was fumble with his notes. Caden was about ready to begin when an explosion was heard in the dormitory sector. Under his breath, Caden said with relief, "Saved by the explosion."

A phone rang behind Caden and Yuffie answered it. She muttered only a few words and hung up. "Caden, there was a bomb in one of the dorms. I need you to help evacuate everyone to the shelters in the East Quad." She turned to the podium to explain the situation as Caden ran off the stage. "Everyone please stay calm. All civilians must report to the East Campus Quad. Instructions will be given there. All cadets assist the civilians to the East Quad, and all military personal report to the stage."

By the time she finished, Caden had arrived at the shelters and was herding people in. He looked back up at the stage and saw Yuffie and the other dieties were still up there. He then looked over at two advancing soldiers and thought to himself, "why do they have their rifles fixed at the stage? No!" He knew what they were doing. He turned to Marlene who was helping people into the shelters. "Marlene, take over for me!"

"Caden, we have an emergency here! Where the hell do you think you're going!?" the strain penetrating her voice.

"I'm going to keep this emergency from becoming a tragedy!" he turned again and ran to the stage.

He reached the stage before the two soldiers. Yuffie stared at him, angrily, "What are you doing here!? I sent you to help get the civilians into the shelters!"

"The civilians are safe. I think that they are after you. Come on, we need to leave!" Caden said this just as the pair of blue clad soldiers walked up behind them. Neither of the soldiers had any expression behind their amber visors. Their eyes trained on a single target.

One of the soldiers pointed a gun at Caden as the other walked up to Yuffie and her companions. The first soldier shouted, "Freeze! Don't move!"

Caden, with only defiance in his eyes, found only a few words to say. "Not on your life!" With just as much fire, he pulled out his sword. He quickly dispatched one of the soldiers, but he could not get to the other soldier quick enough.

The remaining soldier shot once. Caden evaded, but the bullet ripped off the band around his ponytail. Caden's silvery-white hair was allowed to fall long. The soldier took one look at Caden, and was struck down by fear. With a stutter in his voice, he said, "N-no! It's not possible," Suddenly he lunged forward, and with his last gasps of air muttered his final words, "But...you're... dead..." With those words he collapsed and died.

Caden looked at the dead soldier and saw a dagger in his back and Yuffie standing behind him. She pulled the dagger from the bloodstained uniform and places it in a sheath on her right ankle. "We can defend ourselves… but, thank you. Guess that's the end of that raid." She turned to walk away, and said one last thing, "Caden, you should probably bind your hair back up."

As soon as everyone was released from the shelters, Caden left the stage and watched as a red haired beast with a fiery tail walked toward Cloud. From the distance he was at, Caden could see a large fin-like main and the number XIII on his left hind leg. Two men in robes, boh elderly, flanked him.

Cloud was surprised by the unexpected visit, but knew why he came. "Nanaki, you're here because of Caden?"

"Yes and no, there is more to it than that. This attack was not from the normal separatist factions. They were from some terrorist faction from deep in Junon. This was their first act of aggression that we can squarely pin on them, but I fear it is not the last. We don't have a clue who's leading them, but we think they are operating out of the Midgar Ruins" Nanaki's was completely serious. Cloud could see strain on his old friend's face.

"Is Reeve one of them?" Cloud inquired realizing the terrorist consisted of former Shinra soldiers and operatives.

"No. He's still the chairman of urban development in Junon.

"It is likely the terrorist are interested in the autocratic rule of the Shinra. However, the most disturbing news is that the Midgar Reactors have been reactivated. Cloud, the life of the planet is again in danger. It is time Caden knows the truth. Tell him before he finds out by other means." With that said, Nanaki walks away followed by the two men who accompanied him. Before he was out of sight, Nanaki shouted back, "I told you years ago that my name was not so important, so what ever happened to calling me Red XIII." Cloud could only laugh to himself.

"I wouldn't worry too much about Caden. He did make Musashiden, he does possess great self-discipline. Cloud, he deserves to know." Cloud turned around and saw Yuffie standing behind him.

"Did you hear everything?" Cloud asks.

"Yes. Cloud, it may be wise to tell him soon. During the struggle, one of the soldiers knocked Caden's hair free and was paralyzed with fear. It may force him learn of his origin in a way that could destroy him, or worse." As silently as she appeared she began to walk away, but before she was out of sight, she said, "It was a good thing he came back to the stage. He was able to warn us of their true intentions before it was too late. Trust him, his loyalties are true."

"I will… I will," Cloud said silently.

A few days after the graduation ceremony, Cloud and Caden were preparing the old buggy from the Gold Saucer. While Caden did some minor mechanical work on it, Cloud put a large steel blade into it.

"Where are we going? You hardly ever take out that sword. Must be going some place dangerous." Caden closes the hood and put his sword into the vehicle.

Cloud just continued his work, ignoring Caden's inquiry. Cloud couldn't bare the thought that the sword was to protect him from Caden, had he lost his mind. He finally answered, "We're going to Icicle. We have something to take care of near Bone Village."

"Well I'm ready to go, what about you, Father?"

"I'm ready, but… it's nothing, never mind… Well let's go." They soon departed, and did not look back.

The open road was quiet and filled by miles upon miles of farmland and small "one horse" towns. Nothing major happened until they reached the port city of Asgard.

The only way to get to Icicle was to cross over by a ferry at Asgard or Costa del Sol. This remote city was no more than a small village during the crisis of Meteor, but when the new nations were conceived, it grew. As Cloud drove through, he noticed a small crowd near a pier. However, he soon realized it was not peaceful.

"Caden, do you see that crowd up ahead?"

"Yeah. Do you think there's trouble?"

"I don't think they're just betting on chocobo races. Let's check it out."

They got out of the buggy and ran toward the pier. Most of the people in the crowd were bystanders watching as three men fought. There were two men viciously attacking another. One of the two men was holding a dagger while the other held a small axe. The third man was barely fighting back, but he was cornered against a stack of boxes and creates. He held no weapon. Cloud and Caden reached the pier and drew their weapons.

One of the men noticed Cloud and Caden as they approached the inner ring of the fight, and yelled, "This is none of your business! Leave now and you won't get hurt!"

Caden's reply was not subtle. "It's our business now! You threatened us!"

"Oh, now your gunna pay! Get 'em you fool!" The man with the axe attacked with a single swing of the arm. He missed. The other man stood behind Caden and Cloud, but did not strike.

Cloud could only jab at Caden's remark, and it's effect, "Nice diplomacy Caden."

"Hey, I learned war tactics, not diplomacy." Caden deflected an attack from the man carrying the dagger, and lunged for the one holding the axe. He was able to knock the man down, hard. Caden held his sword to his rival's throat and with a calm voice, spoke, "Now leave, and don't look back."

"That pendent… shit! I picked a fight with a Musashiden!?" The man quickly got up and ran. His cohort was not far behind.

Caden had just watched the two escape behind a corner, when he realized the man they were attacking was also gone. "What happened to the other guy?"

Cloud looked around. "He got the hell outta here when those assholes came after us."

"Coward," Caden quietly commented.

Cloud began to walk away from the battle scene. "Yeah, well he would've gotten in the way. Come on, we'll be late for our ferry." Caden followed Cloud, but he wondered, who was that man and why was he ambushed? He couldn't shake it from his mind. When they reached the buggy his mind was still wandering through all the questions he had. He almost missed Cloud saying his name, "Caden, you alright?"

Caden broke from his daze, and looked towards Cloud. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just have the feeling that I knew that guy from somewhere. Like he had some importance to me… Maybe it's just me, but I can't shake the feeling."

"I know the feeling all too well," Cloud said as he opened a hatch on the buggy. "We better get moving, or we'll have to wait three days for the next boat."

"I'm ready when you are," Caden replied. "Let's go."

It was mid day when they arrived, but for the wary travelers it may well have been evening. Caden looked to see what looked like jagged crystal spires peering out of a cave.

"Welcome to the City of the Ancients... Follow me, I need to tell you something," Cloud spoke without breaking his demeanor. "There is a building two-hundred meter down this road. We can rest there."

Caden still stared at the spires, and said nothing. He turned and followed Cloud. After about a minute or so Caden broke the silence with a tremor of disbelief in his breath, "This is the city of the Ancients?"

"Yes this is the ancient City of the Cetra, abandoned for thousands of years. Only a few of us have seen it since. This is the city were many lived, and died… Come, the building is right around this bend." Caden could see the sadness in his father's eyes.

"Father, if this place hurts you so much, why did you bring me here?" Caden did not know what to expect from Cloud, much less an answer.

"Caden, I brought you here because you need to know… you need to know where you're really from… We're here. I'll tell you more inside, but let's just rest for now."

"Ugh! I feel like we've walking for an eternity," Caden says while flopping onto one of the mysteriously well-kept beds. "We defiantly didn't need those dragons." Caden looked at the fresh linens, "Hey, I thought you said that no one has lived here for thousands of years."

"Do you really need to here a ghost story now?" Cloud said as he sat on another bed

"Oh, I… uh… see," Caden sat up.

"Now I need to tell you something. It has to do with this place. Twenty years ago, the world was at the brink of annihilation. A warrior named Sephiroth had returned from the dead, or so we thought."

When Caden turned pale when he heard the name. He heard stories from other people of an enigmatic destroyer named Sephiroth. Caden had always thought that he was just a 'monster under the bed. "Sephiroth?" Caden quietly queried.

"He claimed that the planet was his and Jenova's, a creature that had once nearly destroyed the ancients. He summoned the most powerful magic in all existence, Meteor. We stopped him, but only after he murdered... Aeris…

"Aeris' life was cut so short. It wasn't an easy life for her either. Only weeks after she was born, Shinra's chief scientist, Professor Gast, was murdered by his assistant, Hojo. Hojo kidnaped Aeris and her mother, Ilfalna, to be studied like animals. He did sickening tests on them; that is until they escaped. Sadly, Iflana died trying. Before she died, she gave Aeris to a widow.

"Aeris grew up with her foster mother in Midgar. She grew to learn her power; a power to hear the planet. She also carried a strange materia her mother gave to her. It was a White Materia. She used to say it did nothing, that is, until the Black Materia was found.

"Black Materia was the materia that summoned meteor. Aeris saw her destiny laid before her. She had to summon the one thing that could fight meteor, Holy. Her White Materia was the key. When Holy was cast, the materia glowed a pale green. That's when Sephiroth came..." Cloud's rock like demeanor began to crumble.

Caden could see his father falling apart before him, "Maybe we should stop there, you're barely holding yourself together."

"No, you need to know," Cloud began to pull himself together as he said this.

"Then change the subject," Caden pleaded. "What about Sephiroth?"

Cloud agreed with Caden, "Hojo did his experiments to clone an ancient. That's where Sephiroth fits in."

"Wo wo wo, hold on! Sephiroth was an ancient?"

"No, he wasn't. Hojo took cells from the dormant Jenova, thinking she was an ancient. Many members of SOLDIER were used like human guinea pigs. They were injected with Jenova cells, including myself. He tried to create exact clones of Sephiroth, but failed. What he created were hideous mutations.

"The experiments went horribly wrong. Several of the test subjects escaped and began to wreck havoc. SOLDIER was mobilized. Sephiroth led the expedition that included SOLDIER 1st class Zack, and two marines. I was with this party. We went to investigate the disturbance at the Mount Nibel reactor. What we found were the chambers that held the mutants. I was guarding the entrance at the time, but Zack told me that Sephiroth didn't see a mutant. He saw an exact clone of himself. It made him go mad.

"There is some uncertainty after that. According to Hojo's notes, after Aeris died, he took cells that he had collected from her and injected them into this clone. It was the only confirmed successful clone, and now was of ancient blood. For some reason it never left the pod it developed in. That is until about six years later when the Mount Nibel reactor was shut down."

Caden grew a little impatient, "So, what does this have to do with me?"

Cloud looked at his adopted son, "Caden, you were this clone."

Caden had trouble with what his father just told him. "How is it possible? Am I supposed to believe that I'm just some mad scientist's experiment! ...Why didn't you tell me this sooner!?" he said as he stood up

"Do you think I wanted to tell you? If it were up to your mother and I, we would just go on living a normal life. Unfortunately, destiny called for you. When that terrorist's bullet ripped your hair band off, we all knew that you needed to know."

"Know what? That I am some kind of biological jigsaw puzzle!"

"No, that you are more important to this world then anyone had thought. The world is dying; it has been since Shinra began using Mako. It was believed that if Jenova was destroyed, the planet would heal itself, but it hasn't. Some one or some thing is out there killing the planet again, and you have something about you that may save everything."

Upon hearing these words, Caden immediately calmed down, "Why... why me? What is makes me so different?" Caden sat down again.

"A prophecy. When Jenova first appeared, she promised friendship to the ancients, but betrayed them. She was captured, but only after most of the ancients had already died or transformed into monsters. The ancient prophet Leonoe made a prophecy that said the descendent of the Grand Mage Ifalonoe will come baring the wings of an angel and the curse of the dark one, and will rid the world of the great evil that destroys existence.

"Caden, your skill with magic is no accident, and your strength with the sword is not either. You are a direct descendent of Ifalonoe and Jenova. You learned to use your powers with skill and discipline. There is no doubt that you are the one the prophecy speaks of. Caden, this city is your heritage; this is where your journey must begin. You know the Cetra language almost as well as I do, so learn from what is written here. The city will guide you, and you will know what says. Come, there is one more thing I must show you."

As he walked through the cavern, Caden was filled with awe by the crystal formations around him. Each one shimmered with it's own splendor and shade. One of the crystals caught his eye when it glowed with a strange but warm light. "What is this place?" Caden asked as he approached the glowing stone.

Cloud yelled to him, "Caden, don't touch that!" but he was too late. Caden had already touched the crystal. Immediately around them, all the crystals glowed, but this time with a dark foreboding red. From the cracks, a green gas flowed out, but it did not dissipate like it should. It flowed like a stream through the air and joined before them.

"Wha-what is that?" Caden said as he drew his sword, hands shaking.

"Lifestream…" Cloud eyes began to glow with the Mako in his blood. "Run now! It's after you!"

"Why me?" Caden asked while backing away and drawing his sword.

"You touched the crystal. Now run!" Cloud commanded as he began to withdraw.

Before they could escape, the crimson crystals grew out over the cavern's opening, blocking their only exit. An eerie voice echoed through the cave, "You will not leave here alive, Creature! The White Materia will remain here!"

"Who are you?" Caden asked preparing for attack.

"I no longer have a name nor a past. What I am now is the guardian of Cetra's final legacy!" the voice responded.

"Caden, did you bring your materia? Normal attacks will not harm the Lifestream," Cloud spoke with vigor and fear.

Caden looked at his sword's materia slots. "Not my best."

"Use it anyway. We don't have a choice." Cloud said as he placed orbs on his blade. "Let's just hope you don't have to call on Leviathan."

Caden looked at the pendent around his neck. He had almost forgotten it, but he was glad it was there. He looked up and saw the Lifestream swirling into a green mist with two dark glowing eyes piercing through it. The voice spoke again, "It ends now!" Soon after, a lightning bolt struck Caden and knocked him down, but he got up again, ready to cast his own spell.

"Fire!" The mist was engulfed in flames as Caden commanded, but it did nothing. "The hell! My magic is useless against it. I could use some help over here!" but before Cloud could come to Caden's aid, a crystal wall grew in front of him.

"It's useless to fight!" The mist attacked again with a bolt, but Caden evaded.

Caden could find no other coarse to go in his next attack. Fire did not work and his only other materia was Heal. His only choice was to summon Leviathan, the materia he had been entrusted with. "I have no other choice. Forgive me, Leviathan!"

Before he could finished, a portal appeared above Caden. From its depth a serpent came forth.

Caden could hear its thoughts as it came through the gate to his aid. Child, I understand. This fight is now both of ours. Leviathan summoned all his power together and in a mighty wave of sea, he struck the mist, only to disappeared again.

The mist slumped down to the floor beneath it as if it were a living creature. "No! I cannot fail again. Jenova must not destroy the planet!"

Cloud watched as the specter broke down. Watching it from behind the veil of crystal, he had a sudden revelation. He knew who this spirit was, this vanguard soul before him. He cried out, "Caden, stop! It's Aeris."

"Aeris?!?!" Caden asked as he looked questioningly at Cloud.

"Cloud?" the specter spoke softly.

Again, Caden questioned the mist, "Who are you?"

The mist swirled again, but this time formed into the image of a young woman with long brown hair. Cloud watched from behind his makeshift prison as this happened. When it was over, the wall before him shattered and fell, and the cavern reverted to its previous form. He walked over to Caden, who was now deeply confused. Cloud, now filled with a flood of emotion, spoke to the ghostly image before him, "I-is it really you, Aeris, but how? ...Twenty years... There are so many questions I have. I… I don't know where to begin."

"It's a long story," Aeris said calmly. ""The planet asked that I stay and protect White Materia. The planet still was aware of the threat from Jenova, and that he may return to this city to destroy it, in some form."

Cloud was confused, "But we defeated her."

"No, you didn't defeat him. The body Hojo kept was a dummy, just something to throw off anyone that tried to find the real Jenova, after it escaped. Jenova is immortal, but Holy can destroy him. However only a descendent of Ifalonoe can wield the White Materia… and I was the last. Now do you understand why I had to stay? "

"Then I think it's time for you to meet some one." Cloud turned to his son, "Caden, meet you genetic line."

Caden stood still, "Umm... hi."

"I knew there was something different about him, but how." Aeris looked directly at Caden's gently glowing eyes. "He looks just like him, even those eyes."

"He was cloned from Sephiroth, and injected with your cells. Hojo had always tried to clone an Ancient, and finally succeeded. Caden is in a way, your brother or son."

"He is different from the others," Aeris concluded. Caden, follow me." Aeris turned and led them from the cave to a small building to north. "In here you will find the Crystal Shrine, Ifalonoe's last great work. Follow the stairway down to the altar. I will meet you there." Aeris burst into the spirit energy and disappeared.

Cloud was disturbed by the directions, and felt he could not go. "Caden, you go without me…"

"I understand." Caden walked into the shell structure alone. Inside he saw a large hovering image of a fish in the middle of the otherwise empty structure. When Caden approached it, the image disappeared. The image was replaced with a long stairwell. Caden began to descend into its depths. He saw the magnificence of what was beneath, as city of crystal shone before him. He continued his descent down into the marvel of this ancient culture. When he had reached the end of his descent, Aeris was there, waiting.

"Follow me." Aeris turned and walked about a meter in front of Caden. "Because you are last descendent of Ifalonoe, you must protect the White Materia from Jenova. If he controls it, there will be nothing to stop him from destroying the planet." They walked until they reached an altar on a platform. Caden looked down and saw dried blood on the otherwise crystal clear floor. "This is why Cloud didn't come down here. This place must still haunt him. I can't blame him… Caden, pick up the White Materia. You are now the protector of Holy."

Caden stepped up to the altar and looked down again. On the altar were two small round clear stones. "Wait a minute, there are two of them. Which one is the White Materia?"

"They both are. Legend goes that, 'after the fall comes, an angel will appear from the darkness and mend the broken soul of the Cetra.' Other parts of the legend call him Cetrae Angelus."

"So I'm supposed to be the one who can restore the materia into one, but... how?"

"You will know when the time comes. The planet needs you to fulfill your destiny. Just know that when both glow a pale green, Holy is ready. It will only present itself when you prove that you are the 'angel' the prophecy speaks of."

"Then my destiny awaits, and I will not fail. For my family's sake, for my honor's sake, for the planet's sake I will not fail." Caden took both materia and equipped them into adjacent slots on his sword. "When they merge, I will be ready."

Some time passed before Caden returned to Cloud. "Father, I now understand why I'm here. You will not be disappointed. Thank you."

Cloud wondered what Caden meant. "For what?"

"For showing me the path, for showing me that I do have purpose in this world. You brought me here not knowing what demons I would unleash... I knew I was different as a child, but never knew how. Now I know, so thank you."

Cloud was touched, but did not want to admit to it. However, in a effort to maintain his demeanor, Cloud tried to change the subject. "Now let's get home before your mother kills me."