Hey everyone Thanks to those who reviewed- princess smiles, elebelly and mystery science seed 3000, I hope to thank others in the future so without further ado, here is chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
929 B.C.
In the city of Midgar the people walked around smiling and conversing about the latest gossip. "I heard that a Shinra Soldier is now working with the Ancients. He is actually here in the city." A peasant woman spoke and another woman frowned.
"That is blaspheme! That rogue belongs in the pits of the infernos not within our beautiful city gates… he'll only lead those barbarians to us!!" She scowled.
"Don't mind her she's just senile…" Another woman spoke, "I head he was quite the looker." And then another woman spoke.
"I heard he had brought a kid with him." She explained, "about five years ago he came with a kid too; they say the kid was insane because he had this look of madness in him… I heard this from the town curator's wife, Nell."
"What, we're harboring their kind now?" The senile woman growled and one of the women hushed her.
"The Soldier has been said to fight on our side against them… some say he was the one who nearly killed Sephiroth… if you don't mind, I wouldn't disagree having such a powerful ally." With those words said the senile woman shut up.
Several yards away a spiky blonde young man walked with a large sack over his shoulder and a small smile on his face. His parents had told him to bring their collection of wheat to the marketplace and they would meet him there. Cloud happily lugged the large sack over his shoulder not minding the weight and took it to the seller his parents had instructed him to.
"Wow, it's so nice out today." Cloud grinned as he looked up to the shining sun and smiled again. After dropping off the sack Cloud walked over to look at the flowers that the vendors had for sale and grinned. He had no clue as to why he loved the red roses so much but he could sense something was special about them. He had no memory of anything before his parents and Midgar. Cloud had come to them in his mid-teens with no clue of who brought him there or who he was. His parents or foster parents told him that the man who saved him called him Cloud. So he kept the name.
Cloud gave a sigh and felt his pockets for cash to buy a flower but had nothing. "Oh well." Cloud sighed and that's when a hand clapped his shoulder.
"Hey kid." Cloud turned and came face to face with the man four years his senior, Zack Fair. When Cloud had first come to Midgar Zack was his first friend, his only friend. Cloud knew Zack served for the Midgar army but that was the extent of his knowledge of Zack.
Zack, on the other hand, had kept Cloud's identity and his existence hidden from the others taking credit for Cloud's attack against Sephiroth. Zack had seen the pain in Cloud's eyes that horrible day and wanted nothing more than to give the kid a chance to live without having to see bloodshed. Zack saw the person he had used to be before becoming a warrior and he wanted Cloud to live out that life. If the Leaders of Midgar discovered that Cloud had mortally wounded Sephiroth, they'd make him fight, they'd have him kill and Zack wouldn't allow that, so he kept Cloud's identity and whereabouts safe.
"Zack, what's up?" Cloud asked and Zack just grinned. Zack felt relieved and saddened that after the tragedy at Nibelheim, Cloud had forgotten everything up to that point.
"I see you like flowers, uh?" Zack asked and Cloud just smiled.
"Yeah, it's like I… never mind it's nothing." Cloud smiled.
"No… go on" Zack urged thinking Cloud had at least one good memory from his past returning.
"It's just, I think I used to like this girl that used to live near me… but she left… I think she liked flowers… red ones…" Cloud smiled and then shook his head, "It's stupid, I told you, go ahead make fun of me." Cloud grinned but Zack shook his head and smiled.
"Excuse me madam, may I get a few roses for my buddy here… and it's definitely not in the way you think," Zack added with a grin and a wink causing the woman to smile and blush. Cloud gasped and began refusing but Zack stopped him. "Look, it's not like they're the cost of the kingdom, just promise me you won't go forgetting me when you remember everything." Zack grinned and left Cloud with the dozen roses. Cloud looked at the flowers and then after Zack before his head began hurting and what he believed was a memory came to him.
"Don't forget me Cloud." A voice echoed in his mind. Cloud gasped as the softness of the voice touched his heart but that was the end of his memory.
"A phrase is all I get?" Cloud whispered sadly as he headed back to the seller with the roses where his parents now waited for him.
"Son, how are you, and who are those for?" his mother asked and Cloud shrugged.
"I had a friend give them to me… I thought they reminded me of the past and he gave them to me… that's all." Cloud smiled. His parents smiled and touched his arm loving.
"Tell us, son, what you remembered?" his father asked and Cloud blushed not wanting to tell them but seeing that he really had not real choice.
"Don't laugh." Cloud grinned and continued to tell them the story he had told Zack but with a little more detail.
In the distance, Zack looked at Cloud from afar and grinned. "At least the kid had someone to look for, if he ever remembers… until then… I'll keep him alive." Zack spoke to himself before he turned back down the crowded streets of the market to the palace. Zack looked over his shoulder and noticed that no one was watching him and he easily leapt over the high wall diving the palace grounds with that of the commoners. Zack landed and turned to look towards the wall while he clapped his hands together and grinned. "Not to impenetrable are you?" He spoke to the wall.
"Well you are a First-Class Shinra Elite." A voice spoke as Zack turned and grinned. The woman in a pink dress spoke as she held a basket of flowers.
"For me?" Zack asked with false shock.
"No," Aeris replied and closed her eyes before opening her green orbs to glance at him, "I'm just picking them for fun." Aeris smiled as Zack pretended to faint but stood up.
"You slay me oh beautiful one!" Zack grinned.
"Come, the High Council of the Ancients wishes to have a council with you… they have heard rumors of another coming with you to this city years ago… before we go any further, tell me the truth Zack… if you love me at all, tell me the truth." Aeris spoke and looked at him. Zack looked at her with a pained expression before he nodded. "It's true then… you brought another with you. What else aren't you telling me?" Aeris asked and Zack stepped forward.
"Aeris, I don't want him to have to fight!" Zack nearly shouted and Aeris seemed taken back.
"Why would he fight?" Aeris asked softly with her eyes pleading for truth and Zack gave it to her.
"He's like me… but possibly even better… I told you about the raid in Nibelheim right…" Zack paused and took a breath. "Well I wasn't the only one to survive… there was this kid… Sephiroth killed his mother right in front of him and then I tried to stop Sephiroth to give the kid a chance to run but he didn't. I was disarmed and Sephiroth nearly killed me. That kid… he lifted my sword in one hand and caught Sephiroth off guard and pinned him to a tree."
"What?!" Aeris asked dropping the basket, "the massive thing blade you have now… you said it was exactly like your old sword…. no normal child could… he was one of the Shinra?" Aeris asked and Zack shrugged.
"I don't know… there has been no reports of our people fleeing the kingdom… I am practically the first. I thought that the tampering of the water by my people gave him his abilities but why only him… Aeris he moved faster than I could see. Sephiroth didn't even have time to react." Zack whispered as Aeris's eyes widened.
"Zack, if he's that powerful he must fight! We need him to end this war!" Aeris urged but Zack shook his head.
"He was in shambles after the incident… he lost all memory of what happened up to that point… he doesn't even remember me saving him and bringing him here… he has a fresh start… I won't let Shinra or the Ancients take that from him." Zack said forcefully and Aeris gasped and allowed a smile to come to her face.
"You care about him don't you?" She asked softly and Zack blushed a little. "He's like a little brother to you uh?" Aeris smiled and Zack just nodded. "I'll stick by your side on this… just be careful around Tifa, she was born in Nibelheim and is even more into this investigation than her father, Zangan." Aeris sighed and Zack's eyes widened.
"Tifa's from Nibelheim? The second greatest martial artist on this planet, the woman with the hot body…" Zack stopped as Aeris hit his arm. "I'm just kidding! But seriously, she's from Nibelheim?" Zack asked and Aeris nodded.
"Come on, we should have been there moments ago." Aeris led Zack through the palace until they came to a large chamber where nearly a hundred councilmen sat waiting.
"We're glad you could make it, Zack Fair, ex-Shinra Soldier." Aeris's father spoke. She smiled to her father and turned to see Tifa sitting in a chair next to Zangan glaring at Zack.
"Tell us Fair, that the rumors circulating through this city are false… that you are the only survivor of Nibelheim Massacre… the one in which you partially led." Zangan spoke and Zack could see Tifa's eyes fighting to restrain tears.
"I really don't see what does that have to do with anything? It's not as if anyone in Nibelheim besides myself could help the war against the Shinra." Zack countered and Zangan narrowed his eyes.
"This maybe true but you could also be a traitor smuggling in your people so that they may one day overtake this city!" Zangan accused and Lord Braska spoke.
"High Priest Juniper, allow my Summoners to probe the Shinra's mind!" He explained as Aeris's father thought and looked at Aeris who looked disgusted by the idea.
"That is a sick idea! How are we Ancients to live with ourselves if we are to violate another's privacy!?" Aeris shouted and Lord Braska snorted.
"She obviously has a strong bias towards him due to feelings… High Priest, don't allow your daughters feelings to sway you." Braska spoke and one of the two generals of the combatant warriors of Midgar spoke up.
"Auron and I disagree with Lord Braska, your excellence… we aren't barbarians…" General Jecht spoke as Lord Braska laughed.
"The generals merely wants to keep his super soldier in the ranks." Lord Braska explained as Zack frowned. At that moment Tifa stood up and left the room and instantly Zack looked around at the men before shaking his head.
"I'm outta here." He growled and left after Tifa who he found just outside the council doors in tears. Zack sighed and tried to place a hand on her shoulder but Tifa turned and swatted his hand away and pushed him to the ground. "Wow, you are fast" Zack grinned as he stood up and sighed.
"I want the truth!" Tifa growled and Zack paused.
"You knew someone from Nibelheim didn't you?" Zack asked with a smirk and Tifa frowned.
"My friends were all there… I was raised there you twit!" Tifa said and Zack scratched the back of his neck and nodded.
"I guess that was a stupid question uh?" Zack asked but Tifa's eyes narrowed and he held his hands up and looked around.
"Someone did survive didn't they?" Tifa asked softly and Zack nodded.
"Look, I can't say much now but I'll meet you later tonight, and I'll explain, but you can't say anything… he shouldn't have to fight like I do." Zack spoke and Tifa became confused as hope left her.
"What does that mean?"
"I'll explain later but you have to just let this go for now, please… for the kid's sake… not mine." Zack pleaded and Tifa nodded. He sighed and walked back into the council room to the angered roars of the council within. Tifa composed herself and ran to her room to ensure no one would question her tears.
In the common streets of Midgar, Cloud walked home with his parents. "Cloud we're going to be traveling out to Junon in a couple of days… and before you go on about how dangerous it is don't worry, we'll have nothing to fear, because we aren't apart of this war whatsoever. Hopefully we'll reach Junon without encountering any of the Shinra. Many say that tomorrow is the day they will be honoring their queen Jenova… I highly doubt they'll leave the city walls for a few weeks after raging on like animals. We need to head to Junon to gather more materials for the farm so that when the cold sets in we don't lose everything. I wish we didn't have to make the trip but it is a necessity. To help things go smoother they'll be eight other families traveling with us so there isn't anything to worry about." His mother spoke and Cloud thought over the words and smiled.
"I guess so, it seems like it'll be a safe trip." Cloud smiled as they made it to their home. "So what are we eating for dinner?" he asked with a smile.
"Good question son, how about your favorite! Chocobo wings!!" His mother squealed and Cloud frowned.
"Not Chocobo again!" He whined and his father ruffled his hair.
"See why we need to go to Junon?" He whispered and instantly the wife swatted her husband.
"Not funny dear." She growled as Cloud and his dad stood outside grinning.
"Definitely need to get to Junon," Cloud grinned as the trio walked into their home.
Several more hours passed and in the palace Tifa awaited her midnight meeting with Zack in the garden. She paced and paced until she spotted the ex-Soldier approaching.
"Took you long enough" Tifa exclaimed in an angered whisper but Zack just shrugged.
"Well your dad and Braska wouldn't stop grilling me." Zack grinned. "Follow me and we'll talk." Zack said as he and Tifa left the palace grounds unnoticed.
"Tifa, before I say anything I want you to know what really happened in Nibelheim." Zack spoke as they walked stealthily through the dark streets. He looked at her and continued, "When we went to that village we were only supposed to asked about Zangan and if he returned occasionally. Sadly, Sephiroth and then others went on a killing spree slaughtering everyone. I was too shocked at first to help but I quickly went after Sephiroth who was the only one who could order them to stop but it was too late, they had slaughtered nearly everyone. When I confronted Sephiroth a kid and his mom were about to be killed but I stopped him and just as I was about to fight Sephiroth, the civilians try to run. Sephiroth reacts faster than I can and kills the mother leaving the kid looking dumb and dazed." Zack sighed and shook his head as the next part seemed to confuse him no matter how many times he thought back to it
"So the boy is alive? Who is he?" Tifa demanded with urgency but Zack stopped her from talking.
"Listen," He said and when she quieted he spoke, "I fought with Sephiroth and he knocked my sword away and then the kid takes my sword… the same size as the one I have now, I mind you, and this shocks the hell out of me and Sephiroth. He starts blabbing strange things and then the next thing I know Sephiroth's impaled onto a tree and the kid is still mumbling." Zack finished and Tifa's eyes widened.
"Someone from Nibelheim is capable of defeating the most powerful warrior of Shinra?" Tifa asked slowly in shock. Zack nodded and then spoke again.
"After that day, he forced himself to forget everything… he doesn't remember anything before I brought him here to Midgar… he doesn't even know I was the one who saved him." Zack explained as Tifa gasped in awe. "Come on, I left him here in this house." Zack said as he knocked on the door and a woman came to the door after a few moments yawning with her husband in tow.
"You…" She gasped and turned to see Tifa staring at her.
"We need to speak with him… Tifa may know him." Zack explained as the woman and her husband bowed to Tifa the daughter of the best warrior of Midgar.
"Please it is an honor to have you here in our home!" She exclaimed as she let several candles to light the room. "Dear go wake Cloud up, hurry tell him Lady Tifa requests his presence!" She smiled while Tifa sat frozen gasping for breath. Zack looked at her and frowned.
"Tifa?" He asked as she stood up from the chair and watched the passage-way where the husband returned with a young male who was nicely built with spiky blonde hair. Cloud rubbed his eyes furiously trying to wipe the sleep from his eyes. Tifa fell into tears and ran into him.
"Cloud!!" She cried and hugged him tightly. Cloud stood confused not even knowing what was going on. He finally saw his parents smiling while Zack stood shocked but with a grin. Cloud tilted his head down to the woman crying on him and reluctantly and with total confusion just hugged back. At that moment, Cloud smelled the pleasant vanilla and berry scent her hair gave off that intoxicated his senses. Instantly, Cloud wasn't complaining about hugging the woman who clutched to his form tightly. He could feel the largeness of her breast pressed tightly to him and blushed as his thoughts became less than appropriate.
"Uh… it's okay?" Cloud tried in confusion trying to mask his sudden arousal. Tifa pulled back and stared into his eyes with a smile and Cloud's eyes widened at the beautiful features that stared back up at him. "Wow…" Cloud whispered and Tifa's smiled widened as she buried her head into the nook of his neck. Cloud did his best to keep his crouch far from the woman but she was making it terribly hard… in both senses for him.
Tifa finally pulled away smiling happily and turned to Zack with a huge smile before looking at Cloud. "Cloud, do you… do you remember me?" Tifa asked and Cloud's face paled as he looked away. She was from his past… the one he couldn't remember. He heard her give a sad sigh so small that he thought he had imagined it. Cloud looked at her and saw the sadness in her features and prayed that maybe she was the voice he had heard.
"You told me never to forget you." Cloud started as Tifa's eyes snapped up to his and her mouth feel open.
"That's right! What's my name, Cloud… who am I?" Tifa asked with happiness as Cloud's eyes clouded with confusion as he shook his head but nothing came to his mind. Zack took that moment to stand and grabbed Tifa's shoulder.
"He doesn't remember… let's come back tomorrow." Zack insisted but Tifa shook him away.
"Cloud, it's me Tifa remember?" Tifa asked pleading him and Cloud frowned and shook his head but tried something else that he had recalled today.
"Did you like red flowers?" Cloud asked shyly and Tifa laughed and nodded.
"You're remembering!! You can do it Cloud, come on remember me." Tifa pleaded looking into his eyes. Cloud stared back at her and tried hard but couldn't remember her name on his own and shook his head in despair, "Cloud keep trying." Tifa begged near tears as Cloud's head began to pound in agony. He shook his head trying to clear the pain but Tifa took it as something else and continued, "Please Cloud, please remember me…" Cloud stepped away from her and clutched his head in pain before a vision flashed across his mind.
In Cloud's vision blood was everywhere and everything was in flames. He saw people screaming for help and dead bodies littered the ground. All the while voices were echoing in his head,
"Penelope… love him as if he was your own… please…"
"Hey, look it's the glow in the dark kid
"My mom told me hugs and kisses make people feel better."
"You're leaving?"
"Promise that we'll see each other again… promise that we'll find each other again and that one day we can protect each other."
Each voice was bombarded Cloud's mind over and over again before he yelled in pain and passed out. Zack and Tifa caught Cloud before he fell and spoke their apologies as Zack pulled Tifa from the home.
"You shouldn't have pushed him like that!" Zack shouted as Tifa gasped already feeling horrible about what she had done.
"I… I didn't mean to… I…" Tifa stuttered but Zack just smiled.
"So you're the one he wanted those flowers for uh?" Zack asked as Tifa blushed and shook her head.
"Leave him alone." Tifa spoke but Zack just laughed.
"I never said that there was anything wrong with him giving you flowers now did I? Care to explain your persistent need for Cloud to remember you? We're you two… romantically involved?" Zack asked as Tifa's face reddened and she denied him almost too quickly. "Well that answers that question."
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked flushed as Zack grinned.
"Well Cloud said he had flowers for some girl… guess it's not you… red flowers too." Zack added as Tifa frowned.
"What?" She asked in confusion as Zack turned and grinned.
"Gotcha!" He grinned as Tifa's face reddened even more, "look if you love the kid…"
"He's not a kid," Tifa corrected and Zack grinned.
"You're right, if you love Cloud then love him… but if his memories come back, be ready for a hailstorm of sadness… like I said, Sephiroth killed his mom right before his very eyes… if he isn't a Shinra like me… then let's just say that his rage is something to watch out for." Zack cautioned as he headed to his home in the common area while Tifa headed back to the palace feeling greatly pleased. Cloud was alive and for the moment she would be satisfied with that. She'd eventually help him remember.
That's Chap 3 so review, The action is coming along with the romance I promise. This is a Clo/Ti fic after all.