Um just a quick note. I've made it so that the Costa-De-Sol continent and Junon continents aren't far apart enough for a boat ride. It's just a little river which separates them. That is all.

Ghost in the Mirror: Me too. And Reno and Rude was a good guess until I put Reno in there. But the wait is over, the characters taking on the roles of Timon and Pumbaa are…

Princess Thief Rikku Ayaman: Yup but it's meant to add to Cloud's angst later on. And I love writing this story so you're welcome lol.

Silver chocobo15: Everyone's been asking about Timon and Pumbaa lol. Revealed this chapter.

Chapter 8: Beginning A New Life

Cloud pulled himself out of the river, his young body exhausted and demanding breath. Looking back, he could see the coast of Junon and for a moment, his expression just stayed in the pining, sad one it was. However, he got a hold of himself and started to walk on. The sun was blaring down on him and he grabbed his shirt, taking it off. It was still to hot. He wiped at the sweat on him but he couldn't handle the heat. He looked around while his brain could still register and groaned at the sight of endless sand ahead of him. How did he end up in a desert? He wondered his luck. There were a couple of mountains surrounding it but other than that, it was just desert. He willed himself to move on, forcing every step. His throat was sore from thirst and eventually, his body gave up and he collapsed into darkness.

The world was silent around his still body. Not even a little whisper of wind could be heard. Then a soft flapping of wings was evident and three vultures swooped down. Almost as soon as their feet touched the boiling ground, a series of gunshots roared through the air. The birds squawked before they flew off. A blond man ran out across the sand, picking up stones and throwing them at the animals.

"Yeah get the hell out of here you denatured beasts!" He shouted.

"I didn't even hit one." Another man grumbled.

"Because you've gotbad aim." The blonde replied.

"I'm not that bad!" The other countered. The blonde shrugged and lit a cigarette. His eyes widened as he saw Cloud lying still.

"Hey Barret, look at this." He pointed. Barret turned around to face him. His expression turned from bored to surprise as he saw the boy.

"I think he's still alive." Cid stated. Barret raised an eyebrow and walked over.

"We gotta help him."

"Cid are you feeling ok?" Barret asked.

"He's just a kid." Cid replied. Barret looked down at the kid.

"Well, I guess it's not right to leave him alone." He started.

"Damn right."

"I never said a definite yes foo'!"

"I don't give a flying…"

"Not in front of the kid! I don't want him swearing all the time."

"He's eleven years old! And not to mention unconscious you idiot." Cid scoffed, easily picking Cloud up and heading over the small mountain. He slid down the slanted ground and placed Cloud by the lake. He cupped his hands in the water and quickly threw it at the child. Immediately, blue eyes snapped open from the cold liquid. Cid held him up and guided him to the water. The boy only took one drink before he looked around. Barret reached the lake and stared back at the young blond.

"Where…what…?" The confused youngster tried to speak but didn't know where to start.

"You nearly died kid." Cid explained. "We saved you. I'm Cid and this is Barret."

"Cloud." The kid replied. "And thanks for your help." He added softly, pulling his knees to his chest. Cid frowned. Cloud's thanks didn't seem very grateful.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Where you from?" Barret asked.

"Doesn't matter. I can't go back."

"That's cool. We're outcasts too. Well I'm not but Barret is." Cid answered. "What did you do?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Good I didn't really want to hear it." Cid replied, dodging the hand Barret sent his way. Cloud smiled slightly but it was gone in a second. Barret sighed.

"Look kid, bad things happen and you can't do anything about them right?"

"Right." Cloud answered looking up at him.

"But there's no point moping about it cause' there ain't no stopping this train we're on." The youngster looked around in puzzlement.

"I don't see a train." He stated, confused. Cid laughed.

"It's a metaphor kid. Life moves on and you gotta just forget the past cause you can't change it. And you can't stop life from going by so you gotta make the most of it. Instead of moping begin to think: If the world turns its back on you, you turn your back on the world."

"That's never what I was taught." Cloud replied.

"Then kid, here's to the new lesson." Cid grinned, offering his hand to help the child up. Cloud looked at it cautiously for a second, before he took it. In his mind, he knew it was his only choice.

Aeris knocked on Yuffie's door before entering. Ilfana looked up at her daughter.

"How is she?" Aeris asked.

"She'll be ok." Ilfana replied. "In physical terms anyway." She added softly. Aeris looked down sadly.

"I don't think she'll ever cope with losing Cloud and Zack." She said. Her mother got up and hugged her.

"I know it's hard. I know you and Cloud were close." Before Aeris could say anything, Yuffie gave a small groan. Ilfana rushed to her.

"She's coming around. Go and get Tifa, quickly."

Cloud coughed slightly, and remembered his thirst.

"Man I could drink a whole gallon of coke." He laughed. Cid stopped and stubbed out his cigarette.

"Uh…no coke here kid." He replied.

"Any Sunny delight?"

"Nope."

"…beer?" Cloud tried.

"Ok first you're not old enough for that. And we don't have it anyways. If you're going to live with us, you're going to have to drink like us."

"Ok…what do you drink?"

"Tea."

"Isn't that a meal?"

"You've never heard of tea? Where people sit and drink out of cups?"

"Like coffee?" Cloud asked, remembering Ilfana and his mother used to drink coffee together.

"Yeah, except coffee tastes like horse…"

"Cid!" Barret interrupted suddenly. "Not in front of the kid."

"Sorry." Cid replied, rolling his eyes. Cloud raised an eyebrow.

"So, where do I get this…tea?"

"Our house is just over there." Barret explained, pointing.

"Kid, you're going to wish you lived here all your life." Cid added, throwing his arm around the blonde's shoulders.