Hey there everyone and welcome to the remake for my story SOLDIER 1st class Cloud strife.I'm going to be doing things a little bit differently this time around. First and foremost I am going to be taking it a bit slower. I think there is some needed context of Cloud's earlier life that could enrich the story a little bit more. Secondly I think I'm going to be splitting this fic into multiple stories instead of just one massive one. This is more so just to help me keep things more organized, as well as give you the readers full stories to sink your teeth into. I plan for each of Cloud's tales to have a beginning, middle, and end. But they will all be part of Cloud's journey.At least this is the plan right now. Who knows how I will feel in a week. So let's just go with it. Anyway with out further delay, this is Cloud Strife: the boy.

Fire. Fire consumes all. The wood holding up the water tower burning to ashes. The paint of the walls melting as the wall it was once attached too crumbles to pieces. The smell of burning filled the night air as the flames consumed everything it touched. For Cloud Strife, his whole life seemed to be burning away.

He stood helpless as his house, his childhood home, was burning. The home that had so many memories attached too it, both good and bad, was being erased from the planet. And there was nothing Cloud could do, but watch. Try as he might he could not move, he was stuck under debris from the water tower. He heard her screams however, the screams of his mother as the fire slowly burned the flesh from her.

Until the screams stopped.

Tears fell from Cloud's glowing eyes, his mother was gone. Taken from him. Cloud's rage began to build more and more at the person responsible for this atrocity. He was going to kill them. No, he would destroy them. Cloud pushed with all his might and finally the tower began to budge. He continued to push and push until the tower suddenly rocketed off of Cloud and he could finally stand. Cloud took a good look at what was once a peaceful home, the place he grew up, learned to read, write.

Where he learned what love was.

His neighbor's house. Tifa Lockhart. The girl Cloud loves. Cloud can still remember the smell of her hair. The feel of her touch on his skin. Her lips on his. And now, he will never feel those things again. Her house was completely destroyed. With her inside. There was no fire, just rubble. It was destroyed by sheer force. By the same man that set this town on fire. The man who killed his mother. He wants Cloud to suffer.

Cloud looked down the road leading out of town toward the mountain and saw him there. Villagers struggled to ether run from the mad man or tried run from him but it didn't matter. They were all dead as soon as those pale green cat like eyes saw them. The thrust his sword through each one of the villagers, not caring that these people did nothing to him. And yet from the smile on his face, Cloud could see that he was taking pleasure in this. He was enjoying himself.

The final villager dropped dead on the ground and Cloud's eyes met with his. He gave Cloud a smile. A sadistic smile that Cloud will never forget. It was an invitation. An invitation to join the rest of his village, to join his mother. Cloud broke eye contact when the man turned around and Bagan heading down the road towards the mountain. And then flames consumed where he once stood.

Cloud stood there, staring at where he once stood. Fuming with anger. He was supposed to be a Hero to the people. He was supposed to be the greatest. No. He was a monster. He took everything Cloud held dear. His home, his mother, Tifa

His past

His future.

Cloud grabbed the giant sword on his back and swing it as hard as he could. The resulting gale of wind that came from the attack completely eradicated the fire in his way from that man. His new target. His revenge. He would pay. He would make sure he won't leave this place alive.

" You have gone too far. I'll kill you. I'll kill you for this. Sephiroth"

6 Years Ago

The room was dark. The curtains keeping the sunlight at bay allowing him to sleep just a little bit longer. Cloud clung to his blanket, relishing in the warmth it gave the 10 year old child. He was already awake, but he did not want to get up. His bed was far to comfortable for him to ever dream of leaving it. Cloud's mind wandered to a wonderful dream he had the night before. He couldn't remember much of it, but he could remember one thing. Tifa.

She always seemed to be in his dreams. She never seemed to leave him be, not that Cloud minded. He always liked Tifa. She was always nice to him even when others would just ignore him. Cloud lost himself in the thoughts of being around his one true friend Tifa. She wore her usual white dress, she had he black hair down and her Ruby eyes were so bright. Cloud just knew he could stare into then all day. Unfortunately the sun seemed to explode as all he could see is a bright light.

" Cloud, it's time to get up. You have school today." Claudia Strife, Cloud's mother said as she opened Cloud's blinds, breaking his thoughts on his dreams.

" Ugh...I'm not feeling good. Can I just stay home today?" Cloud said hoping he didn't have to leave the comfort of his bed. Claudia sat on the end of Cloud's bed and put her hand on the boys forehead. She gave him a quick smile before responding.

" No." Claudia said as she stood up and began walking out of her son's room.

" Ugh. This sucks..." Cloud said as he grabbed his pillow and put his face into it in frustration.

"'Come on, I got breakfast for you. Hurry up."'Claudia said as she made her way for the kitchen.

"...coming." Cloud mumbled as he threw his pillow to his side and riled out of bed. Cloud took a moment and simply say at the end of his bed examining his room. It was pretty tidy to say the least. Cloud had a desk in front of his window with most of his valuables. Which wasn't much. He had a few books, a portable video game system, some loose paper and some pens. Cloud sometimes liked to draw or write things down so he would use the paper for that. Other then that the only notable addition to his room was the chair in the corner that had a bunch of clothes that needed to be washed laying on it. Cloud took a deep breath. mentally preparing himself for the day he will have and began to get ready for school.

Cloud quickly got washed and ready for the school day and entered the kitchen where his mother was waiting for him. Claudia sat at the dining room table having a cup of coffee. She had the same shade of blond hair that Cloud had,came some oof it even stuck up a bit like his but she controled this by putting it in a pony tail. She looked up and saw her some enter the kitchen and she gave him a warm smile.

" There you are. I was just about to barge in there again." Claudia said as she grabbed a plate for her son and placed some eggs, bacon and toast on it. Cloud sat at the table and waited for his mother to join him. Claudia placed Cloud's plate in front of him and he began eating. Cloud took a few bites but notice his mother didn't have any food for herself.

" Mom? Are you not eating?" Cloud asked. Claudia gave her son a warm smile before responding.

" I already ate sweety. Eat up, or you will be late." Claudia said as she took a sip of her coffee. Cloud not being one to argue with his mother did as he was told. The two sat in silence for the duration of Cloud's meal. Claudia didn't seem to mind though. She knew that her son was very quiet, even with her. It was just how he was. But he really was a sweat boy. She just wished others would see that.

Now finished with his food Cloud grabbed his plate an headed for the sink to wash it. Cloud ran the water over the used plate and began scrubbing. After Cloud was done he placed the now clean dish in the rack to dry. Cloud noticed that his plate was the only player there. Did his mother simply wipe it down? Maybe. Cloud however knew what happened. They were running low on money. Cloud had began to notice over the last few weeks how for most meals he was eating alone, or his mother would say she ate already. Cloud could also see it in his mother. She was becoming thinner. And not the healthy kind of thin. She hid it from him well however. She would oftan ware baggy clothes to cover herself up more. Cloud couldn't help but admire how strong his mother is for doing this, but he also can't help but feel guilty. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't need to eat soon little.

" Thank you mom. The food was excellent." Cloud said as he gave his mother a smile. Claudia couldn't help but reach over and give her baby boy a hug.

" You never need to thank me. Okay?" Claudia said as she held Cloud close. Cloud closed his eyes and blinked a few years away. Instead of saying anything he simply nodded, but he vowed to himself, one day he would repay her. For everything she has given him.