Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ A Hearts Second Chance ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Final Fantasy franchise. This story is purely a fan based creation. Final Fantasy and all the characters are the property of the Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and the publisher Square Enix.


Warning: This has a mature rating for later chapters. This will contain Male and Male, as well as female and male intimacy.

Cloud brought his sword up barely in time to keep his head on his shoulders. He squinted his eyes against the sparks the two swords made from the forceful attack. He staggered forward a step or two when his opponent disappeared, turning cloud barley dodging another attack. Damn the brat was fast.

"Your getting slow old man." The boy laughed, his green eyes sparkling.

"Tsst." Anger surged through Cloud at the remark. He brought his sword down to block a powerful swing and was pushed back several feet. The boy twirled his sword above his head causing a light blue glow to form around the blade, smirking he swung the sword down in an arc towards Cloud, launching a blast of light at him.

"Shit." Cloud muttered, raising his sword to block the blast. When it collided with his sword he realized too late that it had more force behind it than he could deflect. Pushing all his weight into his sword Cloud tried to keep on his feet, but his effort was worthless against the power of the attack. Loosing his footing he was launched from the roof of the building, blown through the brick wall of the building across the street.

Groaning, he thought the boy may have a point, he did feel really old at the moment. Blinking the dust from his eyes he looked up the blade of the sword pointed at his throat.

"Do you yield?" The boy asked standing over Cloud.

Dropping his head back on the remnants of the wall, he sighed. "Yes."

The dark haired boy let out a whoop and jumped from the hole in the wall to the ground three stories down. Cloud got up slowly and walked to the hole he had been blasted threw. There buried in the ground where the boy was standing was his sword. Somehow he had dropped it when he was launched from the building across the street.

Tifa ran up to the brunette boy and popped him in the back of the head. "You're not supposed to use all your strength when training." She shouted.

"But I didn't." He replied rubbing his head. When she glared at him he held his hands up, "I swear."

"Alright my man." Barret's voice boomed from the rooftop of the building. "Good job."

Cloud looked up at the giant of a man yelling from above him and shook his head. Apparently everyone of his friends saw his defeat by someone half his age. Jumping down to the ground, Cloud walked over to his sword.

"I'm sorry Cloud. I could have sworn I didn't use much power." The brunette said looking down at his feet.

"You did fine Denzel." Cloud said patting the boy on the shoulder.

"You're not hurt are you?" Denzel asked.

"No." Cloud replied looking at the young man. It still amazed him how big Denzel had gotten over the years since the remnants had been defeated. The dark haired boy had grown taller than Cloud, a full head taller, that still disgusted him. Why did everyone have to be taller than him?

Denzel would have made a great SOLDIER. Just like Zack, Denzel could charm the rattles off a snake, even though he had the power to level an army. It had been Tifa's request that had Cloud training the young man to fight. She said she wanted him to be able to defend himself just in case Shin-ra tried to revert to their old ways of world domination and destruction. Cloud had agreed to train Denzel but not for the reasons Tifa had thought. He was training Denzel to be his replacement, having lost his desire to be the world's hero a long time ago. Sure he enjoyed a good fight but the constant attention from the people was wearing him down.

Cloud wrapped his hand around the hilt of First Tsurugi. Pulling it from the ground he turned to Denzel and held it up. "You have become a very strong man and deserve a sword that matches your ability."

Denzel looked so shocked Cloud almost laughed. It took him a moment before he even touched the sword. "But Cloud. This is your sword." He said as he touched the blade reverently.

A rare smile crossed Cloud's mouth. "I have taught you all I know and I want you to take it." he said as he turned and walked away leaving Denzel holding the sword.

"Cloud…." Tifa said reaching out for him, but she stopped herself, letting him walk away.
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Standing in the doorway of Aerith's church, Tifa watched Cloud. He was standing in front of the pool of water that covered the long gone flower garden. She could hear him talking to himself, but not what he was saying. He had been like this off and on for the last two weeks since Denzel had beat him during their last training session. Tifa was starting to get worried about him.

Even though Cloud had been a loner most of his life, lately he had been visiting all their friends. Then tree days ago they had all gotten together for a reunion party at 7th Heaven. Since that day he had returned to the church and refused to leave. She had been checking on him frequently, and every time she came she could hear him talking to the water.

"Tifa. Is he still standing there?" Denzel asked from behind her. Denzel had also started to check on Cloud, all the time thinking he was the cause for Cloud's current withdrawal from the world. Tifa didn't think that this had anything to do with Denzel, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Just then Cloud fell forward into the pond, disappearing below the surface.

"Cloud!" Both Tifa and Denzel yelled as they ran to the pond. Tifa dropped to her hands and knees at the edge as Denzel dove into the water. It wasn't that deep, they should be able to see him, but the water seemed to be murky. Tifa's hand went to her throat, surely she had imagined the arms coming up from the water moments before Cloud had fallen in.

Denzel broke through the surface of the water, pulling Cloud with him. Tifa grabbed Cloud's arms to help Denzel pull him from the water. Laying him back, she checked his pulse, then laid her head on his chest, "He's not breathing and his hearts stopped."

She began CPR as Denzel watched. After a few moments Denzel put his hand on her shoulder. She shook it off and continued as tears flowed down her cheeks and landed on her friend.

"Damn it Cloud." She yelled, punching him in the chest. She just couldn't believe he would die like this. He was supposed to live into old age with her. She sobbed as she continued to breath into his mouth, and pound on his chest.

"Tifa, you need to stop." A female voice said. Startled, Denzel and Tifa looked around at the empty church.

"Who are you and what did you do to Cloud?" Tifa screamed. As she stared at the pond she saw someone slowly appear, standing on the water. Gasping she couldn't believe her eyes as the dark haired woman stared back at her with her sad green eyes.

"Aerith." Tifa cried. "Why?"

Aerith didn't say anything, she just watched the two of them.

Denzel stood, grabbing his sword, and shouted, "Why did you kill him."

Aerith's green eyes focused on him, "Cloud is not dead."

"Yes he is you bitch." Denzel yelled back at her, crouching down ready to launch himself at the woman who had once been Cloud's friend and comrade.

Aerith looked down at Cloud, "This body is not Cloud."

That statement froze Denzel in his place. What the hell, couldn't this woman remember what Cloud looked like? Looking down he saw Tifa look up at him with such sadness it caused his chest to tighten. He fisted his hand over his heart subconsciously trying to stop the pain.

Tifa looked from him to Aerith then asked, "Where is he?"

Denzel looked from Tifa to Aerith and back. Dropping the sword Cloud had given him he looked at Aerith, "He's not coming back, is he?"

Aerith shook her head, confirming both Tifa and Denzel's fears.

"Why?" Tifa asked, pushing Cloud's hair from his forehead.

"He is no longer needed here." Aerith answered looking at Denzel.

"I'm not strong enough to take his place." He whispered as he dropped to his knees.

"You are far stronger than Cloud. He is very proud of the man you have become." She said softly, smiling at him.

"Where is he?" Tifa asked again, hoping this time she would get an answer.

"He is were he needs to be." Aerith said cryptically.

"Will he be safe and happy?" Denzel asked.

"Yes." Aerith answered.

"Thank you. Please watch over him." Tifa said.

"You have my word." Aerith said bowing her head. Then she disappeared with the sound of Tifa's sob following her to where she had taken Cloud.
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