The following day started as any other. Cloud woke up to his breakfast, his mother expressed her love for him, and then he went outside to see what kind of activities he could do by himself. As he passed by the water tower, three figures had loomed from behind the structure.

“If it ain’t the filthy pixie,” one of them said.

It was Faris, Bartz, and Galuf.

Bartz walked advanced Cloud with his shoulders high, “My old man gave me a whoopin’ yesterday for beatin’ your pathetic ass.”

Faris followed Bartz baring his teeth, “We were trying to avenge Tifa, and your mom had to come bitchin’ to our parents. All of us had a whoopin’ for doing the town a good deed.”

Gaulf followed as well, “We did you a favor by not beating you into a bloody pulp.”

Cloud gave them a cruel stare and said in his most defiant voice, “You’re nothing but turds. It took three of you to take one of me.”

Enraged, Bartz bum rushed Cloud into the side of the tower knocking him to the floor. Cloud reached for a nearby wooden plank. As Bartz was ready to step on his head, Cloud swung the plank to the teenager’s side. Bartz collapsed holding his abdomen in severe pain. Like a sudden reflex, Cloud sprung up and took a swift hit with the plank to Bartz head. The teen lay motionless in a fettle position. Galuf came to Bartz aid wrestling the weapon from Cloud. Galuf put him in a headlock squeezing hard with rage. The boy’s eyes rolled to the back of his head as the oxygen was slowly severed from his brain. Faris took a quick jab to Cloud’s face. With all his might, Cloud kicked Faris several yards into a barrel. Galuf cried in agony as Cloud bit his forearm. Blood gushed on his face as the young man dropped him. Cloud saw Faris running towards him. He picked up his fallen plank and struck Faris dead in his chest as he came hurling down the street. He fell to the floor with a hard THUD! Cloud thought he had the battle won until Galuf tackled him from behind. Both rolled in the dirt furiously brawling. Cloud head butted Galuf several times weakening him. He took his opponents hands pushing his fingers back with all his might. Galuf’s resistance was too great so Cloud head butted him one last time. Galuf’s nose burst with blood followed by his fingers snapping backwards to his wrist. Galuf’s cry was loud and ear blistering as his fingers hung by just the skins. Somebody grabbed Cloud from behind. He swung his arms frantically believing it was Faris or Bartz.

“Cloud! Stop it! Stop it!”

It was his mother. She hade seen the fight from afar and had come to stop the feud. Cloud calmed down. He looked around to find everyone in the village had observed the fight. They all gawked at the carnage like spectators. Blood dripped down Cloud’s face to his white shirt.

“What were you thinking, Cloud? What?” the mother asked.

He just looked at her. His hazel eyes were empty and bitter. His blood soaked face was featureless with no hint of emotion. The mocking and harassment from the children had taken its toll on him. His mother knew Cloud had snapped, and knew her son would never be the same again. She lifted young Cloud in her arms and embraced her child. The onlookers stepped aside as she made it through the crowd carrying her brave little warrior home.