By Cloud Strife

Cloud looked into the mirror. The face that looked back was not one that he recognized, nor was it one he wanted to look at. He stared at the fine lines of the wrinkles that cut across his face like miniature canyons. The bags under his eyes were dark and his once shocking blonde hair was now gray, showing off his old age more than any of his now withered features. His eyes though were still as bright and Mako-filled as the day the planet’s force was infused into his being. He looked into those eyes now trying to see the man that he was in his youth. Cloud Strife. The man who defeated the Great Sephiroth, twice. The man that looked back at him now wasn’t the hero from all those years ago. At least not to the old man looking into the mirror now. Cloud looked away from the mirror not wanting to stare at the disparaging image any longer. He started to rise from his sitting position but found that he lacked the strength necessary to lift his body. This was not the first time this happened and Cloud hated it more every time his body failed him. He grunted and reached for a walking stick he always kept near him for just such occasions. He leaned on it and used it to support his body as he slowly rose from the chair. Cloud gradually made his way over to the far wall in his simple house on the outskirts of the Northern Continent. The house was isolated from most places by dense forests and the almost constant snowfall. Cloud didn’t mind the solitude; he preferred it. It was his idea to live on the brink of civilization and he was quite content to live out the rest of his days here. The way he was looking and feeling Cloud thought those days might be far shorter than he thought before.

Cloud looked up at the mantle of the wall. He ran his eyes across the huge sword that hung there. The ivory blade still as bright as the day it was first presented to him. The streak in the middle of the sword’s blade still as blue as a hundred oceans. This was Ultima Weapon. The same sword that struck down WEAPONS, Jenova, and Sephiroth alike. And now it hung as a reminder to Cloud Strife of days past when he was someone great. When he was a hero to millions and when he and his friends in AVALANCHE saved the planet. Another reminder of his youth that he could not forget. So much time had passed since the day they saved the planet from Meteor. He doubted now if anyone remembered what they had done for the people who lived then and the countless generations that would follow. In a way he was glad he was forgotten into the realm of history. This at least secured his solace. It wasn’t always like that though. It wasn’t always like that though. After Lifestream destroyed meteor, AVALANCHE were hailed as heroes. They were admired by the world. There was everything from television specials to Cloud Strife dolls. The attention was overwhelming. But they understood it. They just saved the planet and all of these people. Attention had to be expected. They knew that eventually the constant attention would fade as well. And it did. After a year they were all still recognized but they were no longer hounded constantly.

It was about this time that Cloud decided it was finally time to confess his feelings for Tifa. The aged Cloud smiled at the memory of that day. Tifa was standing behind the counter of her new 7^th Heaven bar in Rocket Town. Cloud walked up and had a seat in front of the counter. She smiled and he ordered a drink. She turned around to make the drink. Cloud then silently jumped over the counter and went down on one knee right behind her. She turned around and was startled. She dropped the drink when she saw Cloud on one knee holding up a diamond ring. She dropped down to her knees when the words "Will you marry me?" escaped from his lips. She whispered back immediately with a tear-filled "Yes."

Cloud’s eyes were now teary after thinking of that day. It was one of the happiest moments of his life. But now was not the time to reminisce. He had work to do now. Time was running short and if he didn’t do it now then he hated to think what the consequences would be. If he didn’t go now, back to the North Crater, he night never get the chance again. Cloud could still remember very well that place. The site of his final showdown with Sephiroth. But more importantly to the now, the site where the WEAPONS were kept until they were needed. He looked again at his Ultima Weapon. It was a product of the planet, made with materials that no one had seen before and probably would never see again. Now it was time to return Ultima Weapon back to the planet and maybe Cloud’s time too. That part still bothered him. He wondered if it was finally time for his journey to end as well.

Cloud sighed and shrugged. He slowly made his way to the door of his simple abode and opened it, creaking slightly. He looked out into the complete whiteness of the recent snowfall. "No sense putting it off any longer" he said out loud. The journey wouldn’t be long from here. At least he wouldn’t have to be concerned with monster attacks. For the past seventy years no monster had been seen on the planet. Cloud had his theories as to why this was but at the moment he really didn’t care.

The only thing Cloud really had to worry about was freezing to death. That would only be a concern from the trek inside the North Crater. The journey from his cabin to the Gaea Cliffs would be made by Cloud’s gold chocobo, a present from Vincent when he couldn’t persuade Cloud to abandon this quest. Vincent had also resigned himself to a life similar to Cloud’s. He lived closer to the former Bone Village site whereas Cloud resided in Mr. Holzoff’s cabin after he died but still managed to visit Cloud every week. Cloud would have rather remained alone but he didn’t mind Vincent visiting. He was perhaps the only man that could understand his pain and his reasoning for taking up the life of a hermit. Cloud had to admit that sometimes the solitude would be too much for him. But somehow he managed to survive. Cloud looked up to the blue skies above him. He wondered if anyone was looking down on him. Enough reminiscing he thought.

His chocobo, Eden, warked as he approached. He stroked the golden bird’s feathers and she cooed in response. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few greens. Eden then proceeded to gobble up the greens as fast Cloud could feed it to her. He slowly climbed up onto the saddle he put there for the few occasions he left the cabin. He gently grabbed the reigns and eased the bird away from the cabin. Cloud looked up at the Gaea Cliffs. He remembered how hard it had been the first time he and his friends in AVALANCHE climbed the cliffs. This time things would be far easier with Eden here. It would just be a matter of time before he would reach the North Crater. "Hyaa!" he yelled out and Eden took off in the direction of the Gaea Cliffs. The chocobo galloped at a terrific pace. Cloud’s hair blew violently in the wind. He slowly closed his eyes. Vincent trained Eden well. She would take Cloud straight to the crater without direction from Cloud. All he would have to do is conserve energy for the task at the North Crater.

Cloud opened his eyes. To his astonishment he was at the North Crater. Eden had gotten him faster then he first thought. He took hold of the reigns once again and steered the golden bird into the entrance. The two of them gradually made their way down the winding path of the North Crater. It was just as Cloud remembered. He had been here three times before. The first when he handed over the Black Materia to Sephiroth, the second time to defeat Sephiroth and save the world…and the last time… Cloud’s vision became blurry as tears filled his eyes. He didn’t want to think about this now. He roughly brushed the tears away and continued on in his journey. Eden continued to tread carefully in the rocky terrain. Eventually he came to an intersection. Cloud remembered this well. The right and left paths would lead o the center of the cave where the showdown with Sephiroth and Jenova occurred. The middle path would lead to the chamber where the WEAPONS were held. He steered Eden to the middle path and took her slowly in. As they got to the entrance to the chamber, Cloud got off. He reached into his pocket and fed Eden the remaining greens he had. She cooed happily as Cloud stroked the bird behind its ear. "Thank you," he said to her softly, "and thank Vincent. Tell him…tell him…I’m sorry. This is the only way I can do this." With that Cloud sent the chocobo on its way. He sighed as he watched it gallop off, looking back occasionally at him. Cloud entered the chamber with Ultima Weapon at his side. Cloud looked around. "It’s like nothing’s changed," he said aloud. Crystallized Mako showered the room with a spectrum of color. The Mako cocoon where Sephiroth once slept still hung from the ceiling. Huge holes littered the area where the WEAPONS once lay dormant. Cloud approached the opening on a far wall. Somehow he knew this is where Ultimate WEAPON once lay.

Cloud unsheathed the huge blade. He held it in both of his hands as he stared at the unearthly glow that was now emanating from the blade. The aged Cloud felt a surge of power overcome him. Ultima Weapon grew brighter and brighter in his hands. The light was blinding but Cloud could not avert his eyes nor could release the sword. It was as if another force was keeping him from doing so. This force felt familiar somehow but he could not remember where or when it was that he encountered it before. The air crackled with energy from Ultima Weapon. Ribbons of energy danced around the entire chamber but Cloud held on. The air became hot and heavy. The old man now had trouble breathing. He fell to his knees still clutching the sword. He tried to get up but could not regain his balance. Cloud drove the blade into the ground in an attempt to get to his feet. The moment he did this, the air around him exploded. The materia around him shattered and the ground split open. Cloud gasped as snakelike tendrils of Lifestream slowly rose up from the cracks in the ground. Its motion was hypnotic and Cloud couldn’t help but stare. The tendrils of green energy wrapped around Cloud’s body and he felt himself rising up into the air. He looked up and saw the shards of the materia that shattered were swirling around the room. Cloud was ten feet off the ground when he stopped. Lifestream flowed across his body infusing it with power. Cloud’s eyes grew to a bright blue as more Mako energy was infused into his body. Abruptly Cloud was thrown back into the wall where the WEAPONS were held. He saw that the materia shards had now stopped moving. Cloud suddenly felt very tired and couldn’t keep his eyes open no matter how hard he tried. The last thing he saw before the old hero closed his eyes for the final time was materia shards closing in and forming around him. And Cloud Strife was no more.

Well this is the first chapter of what is going to be a long fanfic. Yeah I know what you’re saying, "What the hell does Cloud Strife have to do with Final Fantasy VIII?!" Just bear with me and all shall be revealed in due time. Comments are welcome and appreciated but please no flames, just constructive stuff. Email: AzStrife@hotmail.com

~Cloud