Four years Later...

    Cloud paced back and forth across the rim of the well in the center of town. She's not coming he thought as he stared up at the moonlight sky. I was a fool to thinks she was even going to show her face in front of me. Sighing, Cloud sat down as he contemplated why he had even try to meet her here. I just wanted to be strong he mused as he heard footsteps.
    "Oh you're here," Cloud said as he saw Tifa come crawling up the well, "I was beginning think you weren't coming."
    "Sorry, I'm late." Tifa apologized as she took seat down. "So what did you want to talk to me about?" she asked as Cloud started to blush a little at the statement.
    "Well I just wanted to tell you, that tomorrow I'm going to go off and join the SOLDIER." Cloud replied as he paced across the deck. "I'm wanted to be strong like my brother." he murmured slightly as he stared up against the star filled sky.
    "Vincent," Tifa breathed remembering the name of Cloud's brother, "he's made quite a name for himself in the war hasn't he." "I heard joining the SOLDIER is a really hard process," she added looking concernedly at Cloud, who merely smiled back, "are you sure you're up to it?"
    "Don't worry," he assured her, "I've been training real hard since I was a little kid for this purpose ever since my brother joined it's been my dream to likewise." "You aren't worry or anything?" he asked noticing some sadness in Tifa face.
    "No, it's just that a lot of boys now a days have been leaving their family to go join the SOLDIER." Tifa commented as put her arms around her knees. "Cloud," she asked looking up at him, "would you make me a promise?"
    "Sure," Cloud remarked, "what is it?"
    "When you become a SOLDIER and famous, will you promise to save me?" Tifa asked as the two-made eye contact.
    "I will." Cloud promised as Tifa smiled back.

    Meanwhile in the battle torn plain of Wutia, Vincent slowly made his way through the decimated battlefield. Surrounding him were thousands of corpses of Wutia and Shinra soldiers littered everywhere, crows were now flying above waiting to dive down and feed on the once proud soldiers in their death. What a waste he thought as he walked by corpse of two soldiers died by impaling each other. His attention was quickly detoured as he saw some shuffling in the mound of dead nearby. Slowly rising to their feet three skeletons of Wutia soldier slowly brought themselves up still clinging to their tarnished weapons.
    "Die Shinra scum." they hissed as charged toward Vincent. Snorting at his adversary he easily leaped behind them. With one swift kick shattered one of the skeletons in half. Growling one the two remaining swung a naginata at him. Vincent pulled out his sword and hacked the weapon in half; before he separated the thing's head from its body. Seeing its two companion destroyed, the remaining one raised its sword and charge toward Vincent in a mad cry.
    "Fire 2" Vincent said holding out his hand as fire consumed the skeleton to ashes. Clapping sounds could be heard as Vincent remarked, "Nice to find you here, Sephiroth."
     Kneeling on a pile of dead soldiers, Sephiroth chuckled, "Well I suppose you're here for the same reason I'm here then."
    "To find Masamune." Vincent and Sephiroth both stated as they stared at each other.
    "The Sword of Shoguns." Vincent mused as Sephiroth leaped off of where he was standing and came up to Vincent. "You do know when we do find the sword we are going to have to fight over it." Vincent added as Sephiroth merely shrugged and smirk. "That sword is suppose to be here, that's what intelligence reported. The last user died in this battle." he commented as he scanned the field of dead.
    "If that sword is so great, it seemed to not really help that guy when he died." Sephiroth snorted as they started walking through the field.
    "When he died, he already taken out over a hundred of our soldiers, fifteen SOLDIER third class, twelve SOLDIER second class, and six SOLDIER first class." Vincent stated as Sephiroth whistle at the figures.  "He probably could have taken you down if Shinra didn't drop all those bomb at him at once." Vincent added with a hiss.
    "Whatever," Sephiroth muttered as something caught his eye, "hey isn't that it." Pointing toward a large pile of dead Shinra SOLDIERs, on the top stood the dazzling blade of the Masamune sticking out there.
    "It's mine." Vincent said as he passed by Sephiroth like the wind.
    "Not if I get it first." Sephiroth countered as he raced after Vincent in hot pursuit.
    The two quickly scaled the mountain of dead as more skeletons rose up and attack them. Quickly dispatching of the obstacles, the two landed on the top of the mound. A fearsome fight took place as they attempted to each knock the other down as to claim they're prize. With a sudden rush of strength Sephiroth swung his sword at Vincent who raised his sword to parry. The force of the attack shattered both blades and sent Vincent flying from the mound. Doing a quick flip, Vincent landed on his feet as he stared toward the triumphant Sephiroth.
    "You win." he muttered as he toss the useless handle of his sword away and proceeded to leave.
    "Where are you going?" Sephiroth asked as heaved the Masamune onto his shoulder and ran up to Vincent.
    "To find the other blade I seek." he replied as he started to walk away. Noticing the surprise look on Sephiroth face, he answered, "Apocalypse, the blade of Destruction, the rival blade to the Masamune."
    "Oh," Sephiroth replied as he shifted the weight of the Masamune on his shoulder, "and another thing Vincent, I heard your kid brother Cloud just joined the SOLDIER"

    Cloud gritted his teeth as the next blow made him want to cry in pain. The two SOLDIERs that were holding him up, smiled at his pain. Damnit, Cloud thought as another blow sent him buckling to his knee as he coughed up so blood. Smiling, Hedieggar look smugly at the fallen Cloud. Snapping his knuckles he resumed his assault, luckily Cloud blanked out soon after that. An eternity seemed to pass, before Cloud awoke as a voice echoed in his mind.
    "Yo, are you okay?" a voice asked kneeling beside Cloud. "By the way my names Zack, looks like you got in the way of one of Hedieggar's fits." Zack commented as he helped Cloud to his feet.
    "Thanks," Cloud choked as the coughed up some more blood; "I'm Cloud Strife by the way."
    "Strife?" Zack gasped at the name, as Cloud stared at him puzzle. "Then you're related to Vincent Strife." he replied as Cloud nodded painfully.
    "He's my older brother." Cloud stated as he clutched the side of chest in pain.
    "We better get you to the infirmary." Zack commented as he studied Cloud's wound. "But the younger brother of Vincent and I thought you were just one of the fool hardy cadets." Zack chuckled as they made their was to the infirmary.
    "Thanks a lot." Cloud choked as his vision got fuzzy.

    "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Vincent growled as he stomped to the helipad, Sephiroth in hasty pursuit.
    "Well our current quest had filled my mind for the moment." Sephiroth replied as he jumped in as the helicopter started to lift off. "Where are we going?" he asked as he climbed on.
    "The Ancient Forest, amidst the puzzle like atmosphere at the end lies the sword I seek." Vincent replied as he stared forward. "Besides the monster in there are tough ones, it'll give you a chance to try out the Masamune." Vincent added as he stared out the window.
    "Sure why not." Sephiroth remarked as he stretched and leaned back against the back seat. "I was hoping for a chance to stretch out my muscle with a short skirmish." he smiled as he rested the Masamune on his lap.
    "Best prepare for an all out war." Vincent remarked as they helicopter flew off.

    "SOLDIER training is harder then I expect." Cloud muttered as he did his hundredth push up after those three sets before.
    "You'll get use to it or die, whichever comes first." Zack commented as he continued his push up. "So how's it like being the younger brother to one of the most famous SOLDIER?" Zack inquired.
    "Nothing much, to tell the truth." Cloud responded as he took a short breather.
    "Hey you two slackers, pick up the pace." one of the head officers shouted as the two quickened there pace in response.

     "Damn these things are tough." Sephiroth panted as the small thing that resembled a weed continued to dodge his attack.
    "Told you." Vincent commented as he studied their surrounding from the top of a tree. "There's a cavern entrance about a mile ahead, the sword must be in there." he stated as he hopped down.
    "Bolt 3!" Sephiroth cursed as a lightning bolt slammed form the sky, frying the weed. "I hate those plants, won't stay still." he growled as he stomped off after Vincent.
    Coming upon a giant open flytrap on the ground, Vincent mused, "Interesting flora in this place."
    "Who cares," Sephiroth replied as he took a step onto to the plant open maw, "Let's just hurry up and..." His voice was cut off as the thing maw promptly closed on him. Sounds of cursing and banging could be heard from within. Spotting a yellow materia on the ground by the base of the plant, Vincent quickly picked it up as Sephiroth cut his way out of the plant with the Masamune.
    "That was unpleasant." Sephiroth commented as he stormed off still dripping of the plants digestive track. "And not a word of this to anyone." he added as Vincent merely chuckled behind him.
    As they entered the huge cavern in the end, after Sephiroth discover there were many other things in this forest willing to eat him whole, they spotted a single chest in the back. Sephiroth, who happened to smell terrible due to numerous things trying to digest him whole, motioned for Vincent to end this trek as soon as possible. Vincent still chuckling at Sephiroth's misfortune nodded and proceeded to the chest. Opening the lid carefully he withdrew the Apocalypse from it.
    "Now that's one deranged looking sword." Sephiroth commented as he squeezed the back of his hair trying to get as much of the numerous digestive fluids out of his hair. "So what's so special about it?" he inquired as Vincent walked down.
    "It has the power to increase the amount of power a materia receives when it takes a life." he answered back flatly as he started to leave. "Anyway let's get out of here before anything else tries to eat you." he added as stood in the cavern entranceway. Nodding in response Sephiroth quickly followed suit after his friend.