Well, with end of year exams finally out of the way I can focus on getting another chapter out and about. I apologise it took me this long though, but I have been very very busy lately! My original plan to get a chapter out as soon as exams were over ended up going out the window due to travelling plans to see the family and then being roped into a theatre production last minute :)

The next few weeks were spent around Nibelheim as Angeal and Zack had insisted that they stay when Cloud had suggested going back to Costa. Both SOLDIERs had claimed that the mountains were a nice change, and something different from both the beaches of Costa and the deserts of Midgar so it was still a holiday and, if anything, a better one than before.

There was not an idle day around the small mountain village though, as Cloud had quickly decided that he would train in the surrounding mountain; the range of creatures proving to be great challenges, especially the Nibel Wolves with their powerful pack attacks, while the rough terrain tested stamina and endurance.

Angeal had quickly put Zack on the same routine.

Vincent spent the majority of his days with Cloud, and later on Zack, in the mountains while he once again adjusted to having the prominent presence of Chaos within his body. While the demon was being surprisingly civil since Vincent woke, he doubted that it would last so he made sure that his mental walls were strong and ready to repel any unexpected take-over attempts.

Currently the stoic gunman was watching as Cloud and Zack worked together to defeat a rather large group of monsters; the two twisting around each other in such a way that they looked like they were dancing instead of fighting as they both defended and attacked in such coordination that Vincent almost felt sorry for the monsters who had absolutely no chance of landing so much as a scratch on either of the two swordsmen. Soon the two finished their practice battle and with a small flourish they both sheathed their large swords at the same time and Vincent saw them both send a small smile to the other.

Vincent had been surprised to learn about the connection between Cloud and Zack, but he had instantly approved of the positive effect it had on Cloud. It had always been rare to see the blond smile, but it seemed to be something that happened quite commonly around the young SOLDIER and the gunman's respect for Zack had sky-rocketed.

"Yo, Spike!" Zack yelled from where he was checking out a small pouch that one of the monsters had been carrying. "Check this out."

Cloud moved over from where he had been cleaning First Sword off and looked over Zack's shoulder at the small pouch. It contained a small pile of materia, all glowing softly within their leather confine.

"Good find." Cloud observed as he watched the gentle glow of the different materia. He could point out at least two fire materia, several cure and a few blizzard, each at different levels. He strongly suspected that who ever these had belonged to was most likely a traveller and not a fighter as it was common for serious travellers to keep useful materia in stock for common uses such as lighting a fire, while fighters would usually keep a wider ranger of materia that would generally include both attack and defence materia such as thunder and barrier.

"You bet Spikey!" Zack replied enthusiastically as he stood and attached the small pouch to his belt.

Cloud looked up at the sun slowly setting and sighed mentally, they would have to head back into Nibelheim soon if they didn't want to get caught out in the frigid nights that the Nibel Mountains experienced. Cloud knew that they would have to leave the small mountain town soon and head back to the crowded, over polluted city of Midgar and the Shinra compound therein for the SOLDIER exams... A thought that provoked yet another mental sigh.

The exams were something that had been coming to mind more and more often lately, it seemed that for every step he got closer to his goals there was a new obstacle and despite having known that he would undertake the exams from the start there seemed to be more questions and issues concerning them than ever before...

Cloud pushed the thoughts from his mind before they could properly take root and instead focused on his surroundings as he headed back to Nibelheim with Zack and Vincent. Somehow despite the complete absence of attack from Razor since the incident at the manor, Cloud still found himself remaining on alert for any sign of the Darkness and its followers.

Upon arriving at the Strife residence Zack, Cloud and Vincent met up with Angeal who had spent the day in town stocking up a few supplies for their return to Shinra. Ms Strife had apparently been busy in the kitchen as the house was filled with the delicious aromas of several different foods that instantly had Cloud remembering his childhood in vivid detail. It was like a step into the past, only put on fast forward as all of Cloud's favourite childhood dishes were identified one by one as each smell registered in his mind.

"Good, you're back." Angeal commented as the three of them took up places around the small kitchen area; Zack taking a seat at he table with Angeal while Cloud and Vincent each took up places leaning on the walls.

"Yeah, we were kickin' ass 'Geal! And I scored a bag of materia as well." Zack said, grinning like the boy who stole the cookie from the cookie jar and got away with it.

"Well done." Angeal replied, a soft smile gracing his face. It never ceased to amaze him just how much Zack could learn and just how fast the young raven-haired man was constantly getting better and better.

"Well I hope you boys are hungry." Ms Strife said pleasantly from her place standing by the old wood-fire stove where she was stirring the source of the delicious aromas filling the kitchen. Cloud smiled softly to his Mother while Zack replied with an eager 'you bet!', causing Ms Strife to chuckle lightly.

The group fell into a comfortable silence then with the soft sounds of food cooking mixing with the smells to create a lovely atmosphere. There was some idle chatter for a while as Ms Strife served the food she had made, something that turned out to be quite the feast, and everyone ate until they couldn't eat any more. After wards Cloud got up to help his mother clean up while Angeal and Zack continued to talk, soon enough though Angeal decided to address everyone...

"We will be heading back to Midgar tomorrow." Angeal informed them all, "The exams are due to start in a few days and it will be better to have a few days for rest and last minute training." Angeal added the last part as more of a formality really, it was more than obvious that Cloud would have no issue at all in passing the exams.

Cloud looked over at Vincent after Angeal finished speaking, he had been wondering if the gunman was planning on accompanying them back for the last few days and he had a feeling that Vincent had also been pondering the same thing. While Cloud knew that Vincent would have no issue sneaking into the Shinra compound with them, it would be difficult for Vincent to actually move around in Shinra with such an active Turk group. Aside from that, Cloud doubted that the crimson caped man would actually stay within the city with his dislike of large groups of people.

"I will be joining you for at least part of the way." Vincent said after a moment of consideration, answering the blond's unspoken question. Cloud nodded in response, having expected the answer.

"We will leave at sunrise tomorrow and try to get a descent day flight back towards Midgar." Angeal informed everyone, he was hoping to be back to Shinra before nightfall so that he could sort out a few things that had been worrying him after the attacks in the cadet dorms, but he would need time to get his tasks done and the sooner he could get started the better...

XxXxX

Everyone was up and ready before sunrise the next morning, including Ms Strife who had decided to walk the four boys to the edge of town despite the early hour. Ms Strife had been watching her son over the last few weeks and had noticed that he was different. Dramatically so compared to when he had left; gone was the slightly arrogant boy who had both shunned and craved friendship and had therefore gone off to make a name for himself, he had been replaced with a man who had seen more than he should have and who carried more regrets that the average person accumulates throughout a life time. She had worried at first, but had soon come to see that while Cloud was not the same, he had become who he needed to be.

Ms Strife had been sad to hear early the day before that they would be leaving and had therefore planned dinner accordingly with all of Cloud's old favourite meals in mind. She was sad to see her son go yet again, but she had an unexplainable feeling that it was a gift that was never fully deemed to be given. She was glad that everyone had enjoyed the feast that she had lovingly prepared the night before and had slept well with full stomachs.

Cloud walked next to his mother as they moved to the edge of town, he would miss his mother after having seen her for the first time in years, something that was all the more special considering she had been long dead in his original time, but he knew that it would be easier now that he knew that she was alive and well and that he would have to come and visit her again. He was also glad that despite his initial misgivings about facing the past for this particular portion of his life, that he had faced it.

The small group made their way to the edge of town as the first rays of the sun began to shine on the mountain top and just at the edge of town they all stopped. During their time there Angeal and Zack had come to view Ms Strife as an adopted family member and both would miss her greatly, even Vincent had come to like the small woman, something that rarely happened in such a short time period but he had instantly appreciated how the blond woman had not judged him at all upon their first unorthodox meeting and it had grown from there.

Cloud took a moment to steel himself before turning to his mother with a soft smile, getting one that was nearly identical in return.

"Be careful out there." Ms Strife warned as she pulled her only son into a firm embrace, "Don't forget that whatever you are going through, you have friends that will stay by your side."

Cloud could hardly be surprised that his mother at least suspected something was amiss, and while he took the advice to heart he already knew that his friends would stand by him. It had taken him many years to work it out the first time around, and he would not make the same mistake again.

"I know Mum." He replied softly, pulling back from the hug to look at he woman that had nurtured and raised him after his father had disappeared. "You be careful as well... Things are constantly changing, and it is not always for the best." Cloud wasn't sure what had brought the thought to mind, it had originally been Nanaki that had told him that, but just then it seemed appropriate.

Ms Strife smiled and nodded her head in acknowledgement before turning to Zack and Angeal.

"I am glad that Cloud found you two, I don't think he could get better friends... Please watch over him while he is so far away from home." She said, the words carrying a heavier meaning than even she herself knew.

"Of course." Angeal promised solemnly. "I swear it on my honour."

"Yeah, Spikey will be fine with us!" Zack added with a small fist pump to add emphasis to his words.

Finally Ms Strife turned to Vincent, who had taken up a place slightly separate from the group.

"I know that I do not need to ask you to take care of him," She said, her blue eyes twinkling with a hidden knowledge, "I have a feeling that you have been watching over Cloud for a long time, even if I don't know where the feeling came from."

Cloud, who had been feeling almost uncomfortable with his mother talking about him as though he wasn't there, was surprised by the words and turned his eyes to his mother once more. There was still a knowing look in her eyes that reminded him of Aerith for a moment and he was left wondering how much she actually knew and how much was instinct. Or perhaps even intervention for the flower girl herself.

Ms Strife then proceeded to go to Zack, Angeal and even Vincent in turn and gave each a hug and a small bag of home made treats. Everyone had been surprised when she had hugged Vincent and the gunman had allowed it, even Vincent himself had been slightly surprised.

Cloud smiled at the sight of his friends and his mother and could only hope that this was something that would happen again, and after one more quick embrace from his mother the small group got ready to leave.

"Wait!" The voice rang through the quiet mountainside village, halting the group after only a few steps. Turning to see who had called out to them, they saw Tifa running towards them at full speed. She soon caught up to the small group, and after a failed attempt at speaking due to loss of breath she had to take a moment to rest with her hands on her knees.

"I...I just knew that you were leaving today..." Tifa said finally, still short on breath but good enough to speak now. "Why... Why didn't you come to say goodbye?" She asked, her chestnut eyes raising to meet Cloud's.

To be truthful, Cloud had spent a lot of his time avoiding his childhood friend after what had happened at the mansion. He knew that Tifa was not the sort of person to run away from an unpleasant experience, but he had been unsure about how much she would push him to explain the event.

"I didn't want to disturb you..." Cloud hedged softly, looking away from Tifa's gaze. The words sounded hollow even to him. Tifa stood up straight at the words and placed her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowing to glare at him.

"That has to be the worst excuse ever!" She grumbled. "Look Cloud, I don't care what happened at the mansion, all that mattered was you kept your promise! So don't avoid me because of it."

Cloud's eyes had snapped up to meet Tifa's at the mention of their promise, made so long ago for him. The promise that he would come for her if ever she was in danger had always been something that Cloud had regarded as yet another failure, another fault of his own making because he had been to cowardly to even show his face in his home town.

"Sorry Teef..." Cloud apologised, running his hand through the back of his hair, it was so like Tifa to get right to the point.

For the second time since he had arrived in Nibelheim Cloud found himself in a tight hug from the young woman.

"Just don't do it again." Tifa said with a sigh. A moment of silence passed with Tifa holding Cloud close before she pulled back and smiled at him. "And come back in one piece."

Cloud nodded once and dug up a small smile for her sake. After that Cloud, Zack, Angeal and Vincent finally turned around and began their downhill trip to the air strip at the base of the mountain, with Tifa and Ms Strife standing watch from the edge of the town as the morning sunlight slowly spread its warm fingers over the surrounding land until well after the the small, motley group was of sight.

"What do you think will happen?" Tifa asked softly, remembering Cloud's actions at the mansion, the sorrow and knowledge... the age that had shone in his eyes.

"I don't know..." Ms Strife answered, "We can only hope that he is strong enough to face whatever it is..."

With those words the two women turned around and headed back to their homes, both without thoughts of the blond man they had watched grow up...

XxXxX

According to Zack, the trip down the mountain was comparatively better than the trip up the mountain and the group made good time in reaching their destination. They arrived at the air base not too long after midday and were quick to charter a small air plane for the trip back to Midgar and were in the air within the hour.

The first half of the flight ran smoothly with the occupants of the small plane each occupying themselves with their own thoughts. Vincent had chosen to remain near the back hatch, his usual habits of scoping the area and keeping an exit close by still very prominent in his behaviour. Vincent had taken the first hour or so to thoroughly check and clean Cerberus. Angeal was sitting next to Zack on the seats in the middle of the plane on the left hand side and kept himself occupied by going over his plans for everything that he needed to do once they arrived at the Shinra compound, Zack had been dozing for a while, more than likely storing up excess of his usual energy, while Cloud sat across from them with his mind in the past yet again.

The only sounds other than the whirring machinery of the plane was the soft voices of the two pilots in the cockpit, both had stepped up to fly the group to Midgar despite the short notice and had been friendly and professional in their manner of work; something that is hard to come by in remote areas like the Nibelheim air base.

But alas, the silence was not to be as it was suddenly shattered when a gut-wrenching, bestial cry rang out through the skies, causing everyone to jump and come instantly to full alertness as the sound faded from the sky leaving an uneasy feeling within each person aboard the plane in the resulting silence.

"What he heck was that!?" Zack exclaimed and everyone reached for their respective weapons.

"Something that can't be good." Cloud answered as he stood up and moved towards the cockpit. He only made it part of the way before the plane shuddered violently and he was sent tumbling forward to the ground as the loud shriek of tearing metal rang through the hull and was soon followed by the same bestial roar as before, now only much louder and much, much closer.

"Dammit!" Cloud cursed under his breath as he quickly got up and regained his balance before moving to the cockpit where the pilots were frantically trying to keep control of the plane as several alarms sounded and warning lights flashed for specific areas of the plane.

"What the hell was that thing?" One of the pilots yelled out as he desperately scanned the skies for any sigh of what had attacked them.

"What did you see?" Cloud asked upon successfully reaching the cockpit. He was in no mood to dance around the subject.

"This huge, damn, flying lizard!" The second pilot answered as his hands flew across the controls around him, trying to stabilise the craft. Cloud was about to ask for more details when a shadow caught his eyes ahead of him.

Upon fixing his eyes on the creature flying directly towards them Cloud knew they were in some serious trouble. The creature was much like the pilot had described it; it was very lizard like in appearance with a large, long body ending in a tail, four large leathery wings sprouting from its back and four clawed legs all poised for the next strike. It was definitely not a dragon, yet it looked as though it could almost be a cousin of the dragonoid species, the creature was easily three times bigger than the plane and it knew it had the advantage as it charged directly for them with no hesitation. The worst thing that Cloud saw however, was the brightly glowing red eyes that practically screamed 'Darkness'.

Cloud quickly figured out that there was no way to fight off the creature as it closed in on the plane at an almost painful speed and he doubted that they would be given the chance of a third strike to the plane. If it hit now, and it was going to hit, then they were going down.

Turning and sheathing First Sword, Cloud barely had time to shout a harried warning to his companions before the creature hit its target and he, along with all the other occupants of the plane, were violently thrown into unconsciousness.