Chapter 4:

To All Opinions… battle with swords

Cloud looked up at the sky. The sky was somewhat overcast, and a slight breeze ruffled through the trees. He stood up to examine his surroundings. By the looks of it, it appeared that he was in a forest. He spotted the rest of the group, who were waking up as well. Tifa was the first one to sit up. She looked around and said, "Where are we?"

Cloud said, "I don't know."

Tifa said, "Well, at least everyone's here."

Cloud looked at the group, counted, thought for a moment, and then said, "Not quite! Rion is not here!"

Tifa quickly stood up and looked around as well. She said, "You're right! Where did he go? Could he have woke up before you and wandered off?"

Cloud said, "I doubt it. He would've stayed here and made sure we were alright."

Barret finally stood up and looked at Cloud and Tifa. He said, "What the hell was that portal?"

Cloud said, "I don't know."

Barret rubbed his head and muttered, "Hell, my head feels like it was whacked hard against a rock."

Cid sat up and said, "Well damn, it didn't feel good."

Yuffie jumped up and said, "No, but it was still somewhat fun. All that spinning just eventually got to me."

Vincent said, "Where the fuck are we?"

Cait Sith, who had just got up as well, muttered, "Maybe we're in the Neo-Classical Context."

Vincent said, "What?"

Cait Sith replied, "Nothing. Just a phrase I heard from a movie."

Vincent said, "Whatever. Now, how do we get back?"

Cloud said, "I don't know."

Barret exclaimed, "Well, hell! We're getting nowhere just standing here talking! We gotta find Rion and a way back home."

Cloud said, "Agreed. Let's go."

He led the group down the path in the forest, where he ran into a strange creature. It was green, similar to a frog, but stood on two legs. He carried a sword with him, and Tifa regarded him with some curiosity. Cloud gave a glance at the creature and moved on. It seemed Yuffie was the only one who approached the creature.

She walked up to it, gave it a quick glance down and up, and said, "Hey there cute fellow! Are you from around here?"

The creature looked at Yuffie and replied, "No, I am not. 'Tis just the decisions of fate that I have been brought to this location. Are you in need of any assistance?"

Yuffie grinned at the creature and replied, "No, I'm not. Hey, what's your name?"

The creature said, "My name is Glenn, but my friends call me Frog."

Yuffie said, "Glad to meet you Frog, my name is Yuffie."

Frog replied, "Yuffie… what a charming name. Is thy fair maiden traveling with those people there?" He pointed to Cloud and the group, who were watching carefully with mixed reactions.

Yuffie grinned again and said, "Yep, those are my friends."

Frog said, "Who is the one with the large sword and light messy hair?"

Yuffie replied, "Oh, that's Cloud Strife. He's the leader of our team."

Frog said, "I see. This may be a weird request, but ever since my friends have been separated from me, 'tis hard to know whether my sword skills measure up to other warriors."

Yuffie said, "Well, I shall see what I can do."

Yuffie returned to Cloud and the group and said, "Well, I know it sound strange, but this warrior is asking if Cloud would do battle with it. He claims that he was with a few friends when he was separated from them."

Cloud looked Frog over carefully and said, "What do we get in return for the battle?"

Yuffie said, "I don't know."

Cloud looked over Frog once more and said, "What's his name."

Yuffie said, "He says his name is Glenn, but his friends call him Frog."

Cloud said, "Then I shall battle this Glenn person. I want to make it quick, we have to find Rion."

Yuffie gave a squeal of delight and said, "Will do sir!"

As Cloud approached Frog, thoughts were racing fast through his head. He suspected that maybe this warrior knew where Rion went. Maybe Rion was with Glenn's friends, who must be in another place. Cloud still found this request a bit odd, though, in the prospect of battling someone who… well… was not even human.

Frog saw Cloud arrive and said, "Doth thou swear to make this a fair fight, with no magic spells, and make this fight a true test of swordplay?"

Cloud said, "Yes, I agree."

Tifa ran up and said, "Will you, after this fight, join us in our quest to find our friend?"

Frog replied, "I accept thy condition."

Barret walked up to Cloud and muttered, "Are you sure you can trust this guy? I know he seems sincere and all, but can he be trusted? What makes you think he won't pull some damn underhanded tactic and try to kill you? Shit, he could be some crazy nut wanting to take over the damn world! With you gone, he could really do it!"

Cloud replied, also in a whisper, "And if he does have a trick up his sleeve, I have my materia to counter it. No, this guy seems honorable enough. I believe he will live up to his word. To all opinions of what you and the rest have… this will be a plain battle with swords."

Cloud walked up, pulled out his buster sword, and said, "I'm ready… are you?"

Frog pulled out his masamune blade and said, "Doth thou feel the wind? The wind is the guide, which leads warriors to victory. Do not fight it!"

Frog raised his sword and charged Cloud. He jumped up, and with great power and strength, swung the sword downward at Cloud. Cloud raised his own sword to block it. The impact of the two swords created a shockwave, which knocked everyone watching back a few steps. The two swords grated against each other for a few seconds before Frog broke off. Both Frog and Cloud stared at each other in the eye for a second, before Cloud made up his mind. He went on the offensive this time, charging Frog with unimaginable speed. The dust cloud behind him was enormous, showing that his speed was not to be reckoned with. Cloud, however, looked like he was going to crash straight into Frog. Frog took a tighter grip on his blade and he stood there, anticipating the attack that was to occur. Suddenly, when Cloud was within sword range, he disappeared, and the dust cloud obscured the combatants from the crowd watching. Tifa watched with anticipation as the dust cloud hovered over the battlefield. All of a sudden, another shockwave ensued, throwing the whole dust cloud off the ground and into the sky, looking like a brown mushroom was growing in the sky.

Barret watched on in anticipation and said to Tifa, "I don't know about this. I don't give a damn about the outcome, but if they keep this up, someone's gonna die."

Tifa replied, "Not my Cloud. He won't die! He can't die! He's the best fighter we know, and I know for a fact that he will win."

The battle raged on for what seemed like an eternity. Each attack was skillfully executed by the attacker, and was gracefully blocked by the defender. Neither side seemed to be able to get an attack past the other's defenses. Each time they delivered a powerful blow to each other, another shockwave ensued. Each shockwave seemed stronger than the last, and the group watched in awe as neither of the two fighters seemed to want to give in.

Cid said, "Well screw this! We should worry about ourselves. If these shockwaves continue to get stronger with each blow, then I don't know how much more I can take. I don't know about all of you, but I want to live!"

Cait looked at Cid and said, "Wait! Something is going on!"

Cid looked over at the battlefield and saw that Cait was right. Both Cloud and Frog were standing on the battlefield, staring at each other with their swords down. Frog said, "You are indeed a skilled warrior, and I am humbled by your presence."

Cloud replied, "Well, you're a pretty good fighter yourself."

Frog said, "Doth thou wish to continue. We could both concede, and consider this battle a draw."

Cloud said, "Yeah, whatever… we need to save our strength for what might be coming ahead."

Frog said, "Well, I am humbled by the fact that I shall be joining you on your quest to save your friend. I can only hope that my friends are with your friend, and they both are fine. As the wind blows the sands around the beach, so too does the winds blow us apart from the ones we were close to for so long."

Barret looked at Cid and muttered, "This guy's a nutcase."

Cid whispered back, "Damn straight he is."

Cloud replied to Frog, "I am honored that you are joining us on our quest as well. For although we want to find our friend, we also wish to be able to return to our home world as well."

Both Frog and Cloud sheathed their swords and shook hands. Cloud knew this was going to be a long quest, quite possibly going to far places. Never had he dreamed that he would be right about that.