Thank you for the wonderful reviews and here is chapter 3 for your enjoyment. And to those waiting for The Kingdom of Advent Hearts which is another fic authored by me to come out I am currently still working on it, I hope to maybe get that updated in a few days.

CHAPTER 3

Cloud awoke to the mourning sun outside his window and yawned loudly as he struggled to moved from his bed. He groaned softly and rotated his neck around his shoulders before sitting up. "Was last night a dream?" Cloud asked himself and got dressed and slipped out into the market place before his parents could stop him. "That woman… Tifa… that was her name… right?" Cloud asked himself aloud but shook his head and continued on. "Had to be a dream… the only Tifa in Midgar is the daughter of Zangan the tactical specialist for the army… impossible." Cloud grinned as he headed out to explore more of the city while thinking of the drop dead gorgeous woman of his dreams.

Cloud continued on his way until he was stopped by a hand on his. Cloud looked down to the womanly hand clasping tightly to his hand and then followed the arm up to the owner's face. "You…" Cloud whispered as Tifa lifted the shawl from her head just enough so he could see her.

"Hey… Cloud." Tifa smiled as she walked side by side with him.

"Wh… what… what… how… this… it… last night… happened?" Cloud asked in shock and Tifa smiled at him again.

"Relax Cloud, I want to apologize for pushing you…" Tifa explained smiling as Cloud looked at her confused.

"O…okay…" Cloud stuttered and remained silent. Tifa smiled at him and he looked down and away in a blush. Tifa laughed and hugged his left arm close to her and smiled.

"It's been close to ten years Cloud." She whispered and he gasped.

"Sorry… but I can't remember you…" Cloud sighed sadly but she kept her smile.

"Today, I'll help you remember" Tifa smiled and faced him. Cloud gulped and blushed a little more.

"Were we... uh?" Cloud began wanting to ask if they were in love but couldn't out of nervousness. Tifa waited for him but after he didn't say anything she finished it for him.

"We were the best of friends Cloud, and we promised to see each other again… you kept your promise Cloud." Tifa smiled as Cloud thought back to last night as the voices and their words ran through his mind and he spoke.

"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." Cloud repeated the words as exactly as he heard them. Tifa's eye lit up and she smiled.

"I made you promise me that remember?" Cloud looked at her and nodded his head not in compliance but confusion. He didn't want her to be sad so he just agreed. "Soon we'll be best friends again and everything just like before I left." Tifa smiled as the words 'You're leaving' from a voice similar to his own came to Cloud's mind. Cloud gulped and nodded.

"I want to be friends with you again Tifa." Cloud smiled and she laughed.

"Come on, let's get something to eat, my treat… I'm sure someone's selling something edible in here right?" Tifa smiled and Cloud's inside turned to mush at the glowing smile before him. He nodded and allowed Tifa to lead him.

For nearly the entire day Tifa explained to Cloud about his childhood and how her parents had died. He felt horrible about not remembering those moments and at one point even questioned if he was the one who she knew and Tifa told him that he was the only kid in Nibelheim with hair like a Chocobo. Cloud and Tifa parted ways close to sunset so that she wouldn't get in trouble and so he could be with his family. Cloud secretly had never heard of Nibelheim before and wanted to know what happened to have made Tifa so sad when she mentioned the town… his hometown.

"I see someone was out with a special lady today." Zack grinned as Cloud turned a corner right into the ex-soldier.

"So you were following me?" Cloud asked and frowned while Zack sighed and shook his head.

"I'm just checking up on you." He reminded and Cloud frowned.

"I'm from a place called Nibelheim… why did I come here Zack, how did I get here?" Cloud asked but didn't wait for an answer. "I'm sorry, it's just Tifa was so upset when she spoke of Nibelheim… our home… I want to know what happened." Cloud explained and walked past Zack who ran to catch up to him.

"Cloud, listen, it's not pretty what happened to your old home, it's the main reason you forgot who you are… I doubt you want to go chasing after those kinds of memories." Zack cautioned but Cloud shrugged, "hey I heard you're heading out to Junon in the mourning, take it easy out there understand?" Zack grinned as Cloud just nodded, "don't worry about the Shinra they're celebrating a week long celebration… they won't be about for a while so you guys go and get your goods and hurry back… and maybe I won't tell Tifa those flowers were for her." Zack grinned as Cloud blushed and tried to speak but Zack was already out of range.

"That guy is something else." Cloud grinned as he headed home.

The next day, Cloud and his family packed up a wagon and pulled out the best Chocobo to pull the wagon as they met the other families just outside the city gates. He sat in the back of the wagon while his parents directed the two Chocobo. Cloud had gotten a sheet of paper and began to write down whatever came to his mind during the trip. He wanted to make sure to write it all down so maybe if he recalled something important he could tell Tifa and she could help him remember better.

Cloud and the caravan of travelers had continued through the wasteland through nightfall and into the mourning of the next day. They had wanted to rest at daytime so that threats would be clearly visible. The entire voyage took a total of five days from the moment they left Midgar and saw Junon in the distance.

"I told you we'd make it without any problems." Cloud's father said as Cloud just nodded, disgruntled that he hadn't come up with anything from his past during the trip. The wagons pulled into the Junon village and instantly Cloud sensed something wrong. He looked from the covered wagon into the town and noticed there weren't any people around.

"This is strange… where are the traders and the other villagers?" Cloud's mother asked as the wagons moved deeper into the village confused until they came upon a cross which held a man horribly disfigured. "What on Gaia…" Cloud heard his mothers gasp and looked out ahead and saw the dead body and gasped. In that instant spears flew from every direction skewering many and killing others. Cloud tried to shield his parents but a spear through his arm pinned him to the ground and he reached out to his parents just as his father protected his mother from a fatal spear that killed the man instantly. Cloud screamed in agony as a horde of men appeared and began sorting through the bodies for those strong enough to live and dragged them to the village's center. Cloud was thrown next to his mother who was sobbing uncontrollably at the loss of her husband. Cloud hugged her close and looked at the muscular men surrounding them. He then noticed that there were others held captive and then he laid his eyes on a woman with two multicolored eyes.

One of the men lifted her and made her stand to look at the newly captured. "You see, if you don't help lead us into Midgar, we'll slaughter these fools as they come. They're too stupid to recognize their people are missing, hell they don't even understand their High Summoner is gone." He sneered into her ear and gave it a little flick of his tongue and instantly the woman struggled against him but a sword sliced through one of the other villagers and the woman stopped in fear.

"NO!!!" She screamed as a young woman fell dead from the sword. "Stop this!!!" She screamed in fear as another woman with blonde hair yelled.

"Leave Yunie alone!!!" She shrieked but a warrior pushed her face down into the ground.

"Lady Yuna what will it be?" He asked her as her eyes closed and tears fell from them.

"I… I… I can't…" She whimpered sadly.

"Take the new prisoners away… kill them every now and then…" He ordered. The group of twenty grabbed Cloud, his mother, Lady Yuna and the others and put them in a central location. The people were trembling in fear as they waited for the next execution.

Cloud sat hugging his mom crying just as hard as she was. He wanted to live, he wanted to have his family alive… his father had died because of something so foolish as this war… Cloud wanted to go back and keep his parent in Midgar safe from the Shinra. Lady Yuna sat huddled in a corner crying. She had the abilities to use magic and fight them but that was how the village had lost so many the first time… she had begun to resign herself to the fate she had brought upon herself and her cousin.

"Yunie?" Rikku asked softly as she crawled over to her cousin who held the injured young woman. "We have to keep faith… and when we get out of this, I'm living in Midgar with you, I'll never leave your side so you won't have to visit me ever again." Rikku cried.

"It's my fault Rikku, I shouldn't have tried to fight… I wasn't strong enough…" Yuna spoke softly through her tears as she held her cousin. She knew these people must hate her for not giving them the chance to live and now they would all die and eventually even her cousin.

The Shinra Soldiers came in and grabbed a villager from his family and led him away screaming until an unsheathing sword was heard and finally silence. Cloud looked at the children in sadness, they had lost someone they loved… just like he had… Cloud's eyes watered as he hugged his mother closer and cried with her silently.

"I love you my son…" She whispered to him and kissed his forehead while her own tears flowed. Cloud could do no more than cry harder. At that moment the soldiers returned and spotted Cloud crying with his mother and laughed.

"Look at this." The soldiers laughed drawing all of the villager's attention. Cloud looked up and shivered in fear as the soldiers laughed at him and approached. "He won't let go of his mommy." They taunted as Cloud shook his head.

"No… please." He begged.

"Why should we let you live?" They laughed. Cloud stuttered and his mother spoke up.

"NO!! Leave him alone!! Take me you monsters!!!" She screamed as the men slapped her to the ground and Cloud went to his mother helping her stand again.

"Mom, stop, don't do this." Cloud whispered softly through his tears.

"Cloud I love you…" She whispered as he cried more. The men approached Cloud and pushed him to the ground and grabbed his mother. Cloud jumped up and ran after them but one of the men punched Cloud backwards to the ground. His mother and several other villagers screamed in fear as the men laughed.

"That will teach you momma's boy." One laughed as Cloud struggled to stand as he watched his mother be held as the other soldier aimed his sword. "Here's a show you'll love!!" He grinned. Cloud's mother turned to him and smiled sadly through her tears.

"Cloud live please…" Her words were cut off as her head was severed from her body. Cloud stood frozen as the villagers screamed in terror and fear. He gasped for breath but no air reached his lungs. Suddenly, his head pounded as flashes of fire and death came to him along with several random voices.

"Leave us alone!!"

"Please, let us go…"

"Why?"

"We don't want to fight we don't… we just want to live our lives."

"I never said you could leave…"

"Plea…please… live…. Cloud…"

"None of them matter anyway, no one cares if these fools die."

"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."

"Promise me Cloud, promise we'll meet again… you have to or else I'll never leave… I can't leave knowing we'll never see each other again!

"I promise then… I promise we'll meet again and everything."

The voices echoed into Cloud head as it pounded insanely before the face of a long white haired man blocked his vision. Cloud's breath caught as his memories came flooding back to him. Nibelheim… Tifa, His first step mother name Penelope… Zack… "Sephiroth!!!" Cloud roared in fury as he moved forward faster than the Soldier's expected and ripped the blade out of the executioners hand and killed him and then the soldier who held his mother's body. The villagers were screaming in fear and this caused the other Soldiers to come see what they thought was the death of the villagers but saw Cloud standing above the fallen bodies of their allies.

"What the hell?!" The leader growled and looked past Cloud towards Yuna who was still in shock. "What did you do!? I guess their lives don't matter to you at all!!" He roared as he stepped forward but Cloud cut him off.

"Don't move…" He growled in a voice that he barely recognized. Cloud forgot everything and stared ahead at the close to twenty remaining Soldiers.

"So who do you think you are?!" The leader asked furiously as he and his men unsheathed their weapons. Cloud shook his head and clutched the sword in his hand that was of normal size and shook his head again.

"Get out of here!!" Cloud growled as the villagers realized he was speaking to them. Yuna and Rikku helped the people run while Cloud remained still facing the twenty Soldiers alone. He snapped his wild eyes upwards to the leader and growled. "Where is Sephiroth!?" Cloud roared as the leader laughed for a moment before his laughter faded as he recalled Sephiroth's past injury… the only one ever given to him.

"You… you… you're the… you're the one who attacked General Sephiroth!!" The leader stammered in fear unconsciously taking a step back. His men heard him and their laughter stopped as they realized the threat that was now before them. Cloud's eyes intensified in anger before he dashed forward and killed five of the men with his weapon. The leader and the remaining Soldiers all ran but Cloud chased after them.

Yuna and Rikku were shocked at seeing the carnage but followed the blonde man. "Rikku, I need you to get back to Midgar and tell the others… inform Zack Fair first… I think he may have something to do with this guy." Yuna said as she and Rikku ran after Cloud.

"No way Yunie, I'm not going to abandon you. Besides what could Zack have in common with that blonde chocobo head?"

"Zack claimed he was the one to harm Sephiroth… obviously he was lying." Yuna said as they stopped just as Cloud had finished off the entire group of Soldiers and now had just the leader left. Yuna looked to her cousin and frowned. "Go, I'll handle this." Yuna explained as Rikku finally agreed. Rikku ran back towards the others and prepared them to leave while Yuna watched Cloud from afar.

"He took everything from me!!" Cloud yelled as he threw the leader across the ground. The leader of the now non-existent Soldier force was trembling but refused to speak. "I'll find him… and make him suffer!!" Cloud roared as he slammed the sword through the man's skull between his eyes dividing his head in-half. Yuna gasped and that's when Cloud's blind fury ended and he looked down at his hands at the blood all around him. He blinked back his tears and stumbled away from the body. Yuna ran over to him and kept him from falling.

"You okay?" She asked as Cloud's head hurt and he just frowned. His memories seemed to rush to his mind swiftly and he couldn't stop them from popping up. Tifa… Nibelheim… Sephiroth… Zack… Penelope his first mother, no the second… Cloud's mind froze on that thought as a flashback came to him again.

"Cloud, listen to me and don't speak until I'm done… I'm not your real mother… she died giving birth to you and made me swear to protect you… your father and I found her pregnant with you mortally wounded… she fought through the near death experience to give life to you… do you understand…. I know this is so much to understand but never forget what I've told you!! I mean it… You have to get out of here and live, for your mother who survived a year just to give you life, you have to live for me and your father… I know I should have told you sooner but …"

Her words echoed in his mind as he stared at the one blue and one green eyes of Yuna. Cloud leaned up and finally sat up fully with Yuna supporting his back. He caught his breathe and gulped as Yuna came closer to him. "You're Yuna… Lady Yuna… I mean."

"Call me Yuna please." Yuna smiled at him and Cloud nodded, "you know, you remind me of him… Tidus I mean." Yuna smiled. "I haven't seen him in a long time." Yuna smiled trying to ease the conversation while getting Cloud away from the bloody scene.

"He's the son of General Jecht… right… you are interested in him?" Cloud asked confused as Yuna's eyes widened but she smiled.

"Maybe… why should you care?" Yuna asked and grinned, "are you trying for my hand now?" She joked but Cloud frowned and turned slightly red.

"No…" he whispered as Yuna laughed,

"Come on, let's get you back home…" She spoke but Cloud frowned.

"I have no home… Midgar isn't my home…Nibelheim…" Cloud whispered and Yuna heard him. She gasped and nodded.

"Let's go to Nibelheim then." She grinned and Cloud broke his frown and shook his head.

"No… you should go back to Midgar… back to those who love you."

"Well then you should come with me… I'm sure Zack would like to see you again… despite what you think there are still people who care about you." Yuna spoke and Cloud looked at her and frowned.

"You're reading my mind…" Cloud started as Yuna blushed.

"I had to, I needed to make sure you're not violent," Yuna said but then looked at the bodies and continued, "towards me." She added and Cloud looked away. "Cloud, Tifa will never forgive me if I let you go alone." Yuna said and Cloud's eyes widened. Yuna waited and finally Cloud just nodded.

"Fine… but after Nibelheim, I'm going after Sephiroth… alone." Cloud added as he walked away but Yuna grabbed him and turned him around. She frowned at Cloud who just leaned away from her trying to shield his eyes but Yuna saw his tears.

"You can't hide your tears forever… I'm here Cloud." Yuna whispered softly as she hugged him and patted his head as his tears wet her shirt. "Let it out… I'm here." Yuna whispered as Cloud continued to cry. Yuna continued to stroke his back softly and finally Cloud leaned back and thanked Yuna for being there. "It's fine." Yuna whispered leaning close enough to see his eyes through his blond bangs hanging in his face. She smiled and for an unknown reason her eyes trailed to his lips and then back to his eyes.

Cloud's eyes then did the same. His eyes dried and he pulled Yuna close and kissed her briefly and then pulled back in shock. Yuna stared at him wide-eyed and Cloud mimicked her look. "Yuna… I'm sorry." Cloud whispered embarrassed as he released Yuna from his arms and stepped away from her blushing. Yuna just smiled and looked around nervously.

"Hey, how about we get out of this place… I doubt it's safe." Yuna smiled nervously as Cloud nodded.

Cloti fans don't hate me, just a lil bit of Clouna for those that may be reading... and thank you to those who have read and continued to read this fic. until next time.