Midgar

Midgar could be seen from the river, so close it almost seemed it was built on it. Inside the city, the palace stood exactly in the centre. King Rufus, his brother Vincent and the Princess Tifa were the royal family and Tifa was beautiful. The guards often went to battle claiming they were giving their lives to her. But Tifa was not interested, she knew that her soul mate would come and it was not any of these.

On the highest turret, Prince Vincent and Tifa were standing with hawks. Behind them, was Tifa's lady in waiting, Yuffie. Tifa giggled as the hawk's feathers tickled her face before she moved her arm and let it fly away. She covered her eyes with her hand to watch it, giving a small squeal of delight. Yuffie tilted her head to the side to watch it also. Vincent smirked and moved his own arm.

The hawk took off immediately flying in a small semi-circle. The Princess' eyes turned to her brother's bird. The doors of Midgar groaned open and she glanced a little to see two blond men walking through the gates. One was older with greying hair and the other was obviously young, with spiky hair. She turned her attention back to the hawk.

"Are you sure it will come back to you?" She asked. Vincent laughed.

"Of course he will." He replied. "He knows I'm his Lord and Master." Tifa smirked a little.

" Very well, Lord and Master," She said teasingly. "Go and get him." Vincent looked to see if she was joking but she had a serious face on. With a sigh, he began to walk down the stairs for his bird.

However, the hawk had other ideas and Eric barely had time to look up before it flew onto his arm. He laughed a little and stroked its head.

"What a beautiful bird." He commented. Vincent appeared suddenly and scowled at him.

"That's mine! Give it back boy!" He snapped. Above him, Tifa and Yuffie watched in fascination. Cid turned and rolled his eyes at his son's behaviour. Eric looked Vincent up and down.

"Who are you calling a boy, boy?" He asked mockingly. Vincent snorted.

"I'm the Prince of Midgar and I'll call common men what I please." Eric raised an eyebrow as the bird flapped its wings. In a patronising manner, he leaned over to the bird.

"Oh, what's that?" He asked the creature before he turned to Vincent. "He says I am no common man but a blacksmith. I am tamer of fire and the elements and that is what you should call me." Vincent swallowed unconsciously as Tifa took a breath, her eyes fixed on the blonde-haired person.

In a split second, Vincent went for his sword but before it was even halfway unsheathed, Eric had his weapon at the Prince's throat. Yuffie glanced nervously at Tifa but she kept staring, knowing he wouldn't go through with it. The guards saw the commotion and got out their weapons and it didn't go unnoticed by Eric. Cid sighed and turned to his son.

"Eric, give the Prince back his hawk." Eric frowned a little in disappointment but he did as he was told. He pushed his sword back into his sheath before he moved his arm, allowing the bird to fly onto Vincent's arm. Vincent gave the blacksmith one last glance before he walked away.

Eric turned his attention to the guards when he heard swords being unsheathed. With a smirk, he got his weapon out once more and stood in a battle stance.

"I hoped you wouldn't give up so easily." He smiled and no sooner had the words left his mouth that two of the guards moved forward. Eric walked forward a little before swinging his sword, bringing it in contact with one of the guards. He quickly turned his body in a circle and clashed weapons with the other before he jumped out of the way, making them attack each other. Another guard came up behind him and grabbed his neck but Eric shoved his elbow back hard before swerving and kicking his attacker in the chest. He leapt out of the way of another, landing on the steps. He frowned and glanced up, having the feeling he was being watched.

Tifa immediately averted her eyes and brushed her raven hair back with a look of disinterest on her face. He smirked a little before turning his attention back to the battle. He blocked the attack aimed at his head, and then the one at his body before he pushed down with all his strength, smashing the sword in two on the ground. Th guard looked up in surprise and Eric laughed a little.

"I'll buy you a new one." He assured him patting the guard on the back. Cid rolled his eyes, knowing what Eric was like and what his son called "fun." The guards continued to stare in shock while Tifa had a look of awe painting her features. She wondered who the blacksmith was, she had never met anyone who was brave enough to stand up to the guards. She hoped she would be able to get to know him better so she could understand the fast beating of her heart.

In the weaponry, Rufus greeted Cid and Eric enthusiastically and glanced at the sacks. Cid slowly untied them and spread the swords out. Rufus whistled slightly as he picked up each one in turn. His eyes fell on a particular shiny one and he grinned at Vincent who was behind him.

"Look at this one." He stated. "It's beautiful." Vincent smiled a little, glancing nervously at Eric. Rufus turned to the other man in the room.

"What do you think Sephiroth?" The silver-haired man jumped lightly at being addressed but he took a breath and replied.

"Yes, it is quite the blade." Cid laughed.

"You have good eyes, all of you. That sword was forged by my son here." Eric stood proudly as his father pointed at him. Rufus nodded towards him.

"Well you know your trade well Eric. I've always said that a good blacksmith would know how to use his weapon."

"I assure you I do." Eric answered, glimpsing at Vincent who looked away immediately. Rufus turned to Cid with a look of distress.

"I need your finest steel straight away." He said. Cid frowned.

"Whatever for?"

"We're going to the Forest of Bahamut. The dragon is awake." Rufus replied grimly. Eric's eyes grew wide at the words. He could not stand dragons.

"Brother let me go with you." Vincent began but Rufus laughed slightly.

"You know my answer Vincent. It would be unwise to put the King and the Prince of Midgar in danger." Vincent opened his mouth to argue but the King threw him a sharp look. Eric took his chance.

"The creature must be stopped. I too ask to join your quest to defeat the dragon."

" That job is for the King's most trusted men." Sephiroth sneered. Eric looked at him with a frown and then at Rufus who just shook his head.

"I'm sorry blacksmith." He sighed. Eric looked down, trying to control his anger. He wanted to go but he knew that Rufus would not relent on this.

The smithy in Midgar looked like it had barely been used at all but Eric didn't let that stop him. He carried the meteor rock carefully in his arms as he walked to the fire. Slowly he put the rock in and pulled on the bellows. As the meteor began to disappear, he could see Aerith's face in his mind.

"I will love you, forever."

This sword would be made from the meteor and he would carry it everywhere to remember the night that he met her. And even when he went back to her, after finding out who he really is, he would carry the sword.

"Tamer of fire and the elements." Came a sudden voice. Eric glanced up to see Vincent standing in the doorway. "May I enter?" He asked. Eric smiled a little.

"You may." He replied as he stopped pushing the bellows and used tongs to take the heated metal out. Vincent watched in fascination.

"How do you know when the fire is hot enough?" He asked. Eric placed the metal on the plank and started hammering it into shape.

"It's just the skill." He answered before he glanced up. "What about you? Do you have a craft?" Vincent scoffed at the words.

"I'm a Prince. It would bring dishonour to my brother for me to work." He said. Eric turned back to his work.

"Don't you get bored?"

"All the time! If it wasn't for my sister I'd go crazy!" The Prince exclaimed. Eric nodded a little.

"She's quite a pretty woman." He commented. Vincent smirked.

"All the guards are taken by her but she's not interested." He replied.

"So what kind of man does interest her?" Eric asked. Vincent's smirk grew as he leaned in front of the blacksmith's face.

"Why? Are you taken by her too?" He questioned teasingly. Eric shook his head.

"My heart is elsewhere." He admitted, his mind drifting back to Aerith and he faintly wondered when he would see her again.

Cid entered the smithy at dawn and was surprised to see Eric was still awake. Eric glanced at him and smiled.

"I've finished." He stated, holding his sword up. Cid walked over and took it from him, testing it. He smiled.

"This is your masterpiece son." He congratulated. "What will you call it?" Eric frowned.

"I don't know, " Eric said scratching his head. "Why?"

"A sword as great as this must have a name." His father urged. Eric slowly took the sword into his fingers and stared at it. It was a huge, thick, and heavy sword but it seemed natural to him. He lifted it above the ground and closed his eyes, trying to think of a name.

"I shall call it the Buster Sword." He said eventually. Cid blinked.

"The Buster Sword? That was the name of the sword of the last King of Nibelheim. It was destroyed in battle. Why did you choose that name?" Eric stared at the metal and shrugged.

"I don't know." He replied. "It just came to me." Cid raised an eyebrow but said nothing more, instead leaving the smithy. Eric sighed and sheathed his new sword, his mind clouded with more questions that needed to be answered soon.