Zack, age thirteen, bounced between the windows in his small home peering out of them with an unrivaled amount of curiosity. His energy seemingly boundless his mother mused as she watched the boy strain to see out the windows to get a look at their new neighbors. The truck had just pulled in an hour or so ago and since then Zack had started to pester his mother about going to greet them. She told him to be patient, which she knew was quite impossible, and that the neighbors needed sometime to settle themselves into their brand new home and than they could go over to officially meet them.

Zack stopped at one of the windows and blinked furiously, "Ma! MA! Look there!"

He pointed to the window not realizing how close he was and ended up slamming his finger into the glass. He whimpered and grabbed his finger and whined. His mother just giggled at the boy, she knew he was being over dramatic and that it didn't hurt the boy at all.

The boy, as she knew he would, just shrugged and continued, "Ma, there's a boy with them! I think he's about my age!"

She smiled at her boy his blue eyes glowing and his raven black hair bouncing in front of his face. There weren't very many children in the small town and Zack stressed this daily. His class was only a few children strong and even though Zack got along with all the kids he couldn't find one person he cared to hang out with for more than a few hours. Zack become bored easily and the kids, in his eyes, were just like this town; boring and dull.

Zack turned back to the window to stare at the boy. He was shorter than Zack was perhaps even as much as 3 or 4 inches shorter. His hair was bright and pale which Zack found to be remarkably similar to his skin tone. Zack pondered how someone could be so pale; wondering where exactly had the boy lived before this. In Zack's opinion the boy must've lived under a rock and never saw the light of day. Gongaga had anything but the lack of sun, and so everyone in town had a healthy golden glow. The boy inched closer to the window his nose pressed firmly against the glass. He couldn't make out the boys facial features very well so he focused on the boy's small frame. If it weren't for his short blonde spiky hair Zack would've sworn it could have been a girl. The boy was slim, lean, and visibly no fat at all. He noted how the boy's clothes, a white shirt and a pair of jeans, hung a little loose around the boy. His arms were skinny as well and the boy could only make out a bit of muscle tone peer through the pale skin as he carried boxes from the truck to the house. As soon as the other boy disappeared Zack began to pace away from the window. He hated waiting he wanted to go over and meet the mysterious boy. Zack smiled as he made up his mind finding a good enough excuse. He rushed himself to the door and threw on his shoes, "I'm going to introduce myself and go help out ok ma!" Before she could object he was out the door in a rush to meet the new boy and his family.

Zack stopped just short of running into the boy's mother. Zack scratched the back of his head with an apology sheepishly before extending his hand out to the woman, "Sorry about that. Names Zack, I'm your new neighbor I saw you guys moving in thought I'd ask if you needed any help." She smiled softly and ruffled the boys black hair and he dropped his hand to his side smiling back, "It's nice to meet you Zackary, and yes I would very much appreciate the help. It's just me and my son so any help would be wonderful, thank you. And if it's alright with your mother I can make sure supper if you already haven't had any."

Zack's smile beamed brighter. If the boy's mother was this warm and friendly he wondered how the boy would be. The boy obviously took after his mother; she had the same pale blonde hair and small slender frame. As Zack looked at her face he noticed the soft feminine features; she was a very beautiful woman and her eyes were the brightest crystal blue he had ever seen. He snapped himself from his thoughts and smiled extending his arms, "Load me up!"

The woman smiled down at him and grabbed a box for him to carry into the house. He took the box from her as she thanked him again as he made his way into the house with the box. He hadn't paid any attention to what lay ahead of him as he walked. He suddenly felt himself bump into something and he lost his balance. As he heard a similar thud to the floor he peered over the box now lying in his lap to the 'someone' not 'something' he had bumped into. His eyes brightened and his breath caught in his chest. Zack thought that the boy's mother had stunning eyes and features but he was taken aback by how beautiful the boy before him was. The boy's eyes were brighter and glowed more than his mothers. They were also a deeper shade of blue, still pale, Zack thought they looked like diamonds the way they shone.

"Who are you," The boy asked a bit confused as to why some random boy was carrying a box of 'his' things. Zack blinked than grinned, "I'm Zack, I saw you guys moving in and offered your mom some help, pretty lady; nice too!" The other boy stared at Zack blankly. "…We don't…" Before the boy could finish his mother walked in a laughed at the two, "No injuries on either party I hope?" The boy scowled and turned his head and Zack could only bring his hand to the back of his head and scratch at it. Zack's attention went back to the boy who he forgot hadn't been able to finish what he was going to say, "Oh so what were you going to say?"

The boy just shook his head as he stood, "Nothing, don't worry about it…"

Zack nodded solemnly and before the boy got a chance to walk away he piped up, "Oh I never caught your name."

The boy looked over to Zack and sighed under his breath, which Zack almost didn't catch; almost, "Cloud…"

"Cloud huh. I like it," Zack nodded as he spoke pushing the box to the side before standing up himself, "So let's get some more boxes Cloud."

Soon, with the two boys helping, they were able to finish. It only took perhaps an hour or so and Zack made it a point to try to break Cloud's barrier during that time. Cloud, for whatever reason, was pretty withdrawn. Zack being a complete opposite image of Cloud in physical features and personality understood that Cloud just wasn't going to be like him. But Zack still thought it really strange that the blonde kept his distance. He was a molded in the beautiful image of his mother but really that's all they seemed to have in common. His mother was warm and welcoming and very affectionate. Cloud on the other hand was pretty quiet, ridged, and distant. Even when the boy would speak Zack felt his heart weigh heavy in his chest at the thick sound of Cloud's monotone responses. He wondered why Cloud acted the way he did, and he made it a point to find out.

The two now sat in Cloud's new room, Zack helping him unpack the boxes silently at first until he decided to break the silence.

"So, where'd you and your mother move here from?"

Cloud paused a moment from pulling another object out of the box in front of him before continuing and responding, "Nebelheim…"

Zack blinked and suppressed a laugh, "Nebelheim? That sounds like such a backwater town."

Cloud shook his head and scoffed, "Gongaga's not much better."

Zack wiped a tear from his eyes as his laughing died down and nodded thoughtfully, "You got me there Cloudy boy!"

Cloud cringed at the nick name.

"So I haven't seen your dad around…," Zack's voice caught in his throat as he saw the dark look in Cloud's eyes. He hit a sore subject and he regretted voicing his curiosity, "I'm sorry…"

Cloud sighed softly and his eyes seemed to dim with a tint of sadness, "Don't worry about it…"

Zack felt even worse at the mention now seeing the pained look in Cloud's eyes. Zack new the feeling, he grew up with few memories of his father. His father had joined the Shinra army and was away for long periods of time. But with one of the many skirmishes between Shinra and Wutai his father's platoon had been ambushed. His father had fought bravely, they told him, but it wasn't enough. Zack felt pride in his father but missed him madly all the same. He wondered if it had been the same for Cloud. Had his father been an army grunt? By the look in Cloud's eyes Zack dismissed that being the case. Cloud's look portrayed nothing of a look of respect for a great hero, but rather disappointment and shame.

The silence was uncomfortable for Zack and he had to break it, "You'll have to meet my mom, and the other kids. Well, there's not really much going on around here. And there aren't many kids, but I can still show you around either way. Whatcha say to that Cloudy?"

Cloud let a ghost of a smile haunt his lips as he spoke softly, "Alright…"

That was all Zack needed he jumped over to Cloud and grabbed the boy's hand leading him to the door, "I'll bring Cloud back later! We'll be back for dinner!"

Cloud's mother watched her son being literally dragged out of the house by the rambunctious boy. Cloud finally composed himself as he managed to keep up with the boy dragging him along. He could have easily torn his hand from the other boy's grasp but instead he let him lead him through the town. Zack busing himself with showing Cloud around, naming off the house's and where people lived. Going on about stories of all the kids, couples, and elders in the small village; Cloud had begun to think the stories Zack told would be endless. But for some reason Cloud didn't mind. The more he walked around with Zack and the more they spoke, well the more Zack spoke, he found himself relaxing and smiling. Zack went on, "So this is the Lionhart's place. They have a boy named Squall he's pretty quiet, smug though. This one time we were playing a game of football with me and the other boys, it was only four against four," Zack noted sadly," But he was getting all cocky cause he scored a couple touch downs." Zack grinned and gestured to himself with his thumb, "But this kid right here turned that game around. I scored twice as many as he had. I didn't let him get another touchdown throughout the rest of the game. What can I say I got skills!"

Cloud raised his brow with a small smile gently pushing the boy breaking his defiant stance, "I thought you just said Squall was the cocky one."

Zack brought his hand to the back of his head once again with a slight flush, "Well…."

Zack paused and his eyes brightened his smirk reappearing with vengeance, "I almost forgot Cloudy! I didn't show you 'MY' spot. I don't usually show any one but… That's ok. Just don't tell anybody! They might get jealous!"

Cloud couldn't help but chuckle, "There's that cockiness again… So where are we going, we don't have much time it's getting late. My mom will have dinner ready soon."

Zack just smiled, "It won't take long."

Twenty minutes of walking outside of town and Cloud's eyebrow twitched irritably, "I thought you said this wouldn't take long…"

Zack grinned, "Aw it's not that bad Cloudy…. Look we're almost there!"

Zack nearly sprinted forward and pushed through the brush. Zack had brought them out of town and into the woods. And it only seemed to be getting thicker and thicker with tree's bushes and tall plants. Soon they were face to face with what appeared to be a mountain of stone and in the distance Cloud could hear the faint rush of water. Zack pointed a little ways down to an opening in the rock formation and Cloud quirked an eyebrow in question.

"Right through there Cloud."

"You're joking right…"

"Me joke, Come on Cloud be serious!" Zack chuckled and continued on ward soon disappearing as he stepped into the hole carved into the rock. Cloud took in a soft breath and stepped in after Zack. The small tunnel wasn't very long at all, and Cloud had to duck a bit just to get through. When Cloud finally stepped out the other side his heart leap in his chest, the sight before him was stunning.

"This is where I come to think… This is my sanctuary…,"Zack looked to Cloud and smiled, "But I can share if you can keep this a secret between the two of us. Good deal Cloud?"

Cloud nodded not being able to speak. He looked around from where they stood. A tall waterfall tore down the rocks beside them. They stood at the base of the falls on a large formation of rocks that were scattered around the falls. Bright colored flowers bloomed through cracks in the rocks and in patches of dirt. The water slammed into the rocks and into pool of water at its base. The water was crystal clear, something rare, Cloud hadn't seen water so clear before. He could only remember muddy puddles and swamps near his home town. Not even necessarily near, they were still quite a ways away. Cloud shifted as he noticed Zack sit on the rock pulling off his shoes and dipping his feet into the cool water splashing it between his toes. Cloud soon followed suit and sat down beside Zack. They enjoyed the scenery and remained content in their silence.

Zack was the first to speak, "You know, my dad showed this to me. Told me to guard it, it was his and my mother's spot…," he trailed off before continuing, "He was a grunt in the Shinra Army, and wanted to be SOLDIER someday. " Zack's fists tightened and Cloud stare at the balled fists and then back at Zack dreading what he knew Zack would say next.

"He was attacked but a Wutai ambush, he fought the best he could but it wasn't enough. I don't remember him very well, he wasn't home very often. My mom says I look a lot like him," Zack's smile was empty and sad and it made Cloud wince. Zack reached his hand up to his face ghosting his fingers over his cheek, "I decided… I want to be SOLDIER. I want to realize my father's dream and become a hero."

There was a fierce burning of determination that echoed in the boy's throat. Cloud smiled as he looked over Zack's face again. His eyes began to soften and his sad smile turned to a grin of determination. Cloud at that moment wished desperately that he could be like the boy next to him, and he wanted nothing more than to bring Zack to accomplish his dream.

"I'll go with you…"

"Huh," Zack looked over to Cloud in a bit of surprise, "Aw you don't have to do all that Cloudy."

Cloud looked to the water as he gently shifted it against his feet, "I...I want to. I want to be SOLDIER; I want you to be SOLDIER, the both of us…," Cloud stated concretely.

Cloud nodded to confirm his own statement. He would help Zack become SOLDIER and he too would rise in the ranks. Cloud had always wanted to move out of his small town and go to Midgar. Ever since the reactor was built in Nebelheim he noticed the SOLDIER operatives and army grunts entering and leaving the area. He even snuck out a few times to see them. The members of SOLDIER's eyes burned bright with Mako. It was unnatural but mesmerizing. The intensity of the low ranked SOLDIER's was awe inspiring, Cloud could only image what it would be like to stare into the eyes of a first. Of the general himself, Cloud nearly shivered at the thought.

Zack smiled and ruffled Cloud's hair, "Sounds like a plan Cloud… Thank you."

Cloud was a bit taken back by the sincerity in Zack's voice. Zack offered his hand to the boy, "We better head back before your mom pitches a fit. I'm sure my mom's wondering where I ran off to as well."

Cloud nodded and pulled himself to his feet tossing his shoes on. Soon they made their way to Cloud's house.

"That was DE-LISH-OUS! Miss Strife," Zack patted his stomach in thanks as he leaned back against his chair. The woman only giggled her thanks, "Thank you very much Zackary, and if you could…." She stood from the table and made her way to the kitchen brining back another plate with her.

"Oh Gaia Miss Strife, I couldn't fit another bite! I might explode," Zack gestured the effect of him blowing up with a big 'pa-poooow'. She only smiled and set it down, "For your mother silly."

"OH… Gotcha, Thank you Miss Strife! I know she'll gobble it up, probably quicker than me. That woman has a knack for eating… Don't get me wrong the woman's fit…"

Cloud shook his head at Zack's rambling and his mother 'shoo shed' him, "I understand what you meant to say."

Zack nodded looking out the window, "Wow when it gets so dark. I guess I should get going… I hate to run…Oh hey Cloud."

Cloud looked up at the boy and motioned for him to continue, Cloud couldn't speak with the food still in his mouth. If he did it probably would've been sent flying throughout the room.

"Why don't you hang out at my place tonight? I'll invite a few of my friends over and we can just chill."

Cloud looked to his mother who nodded eagerly with a smile, "You can go honey, and just don't forget to grab a spare change of clothes and your toothbrush."

Cloud rolled his eyes at his mother mumbling a response as he swallowed his last bite of food. Before long the boys were gathering Cloud's things before running around the town gathering a few of Zack's friends.

Now content with the small group Zack brought everyone back to his house. Cloud looked briefly around the group trying to remember all their names.

The girl on the left, her name must be Yuffie; Zack had said she had been adopted. She had short and straight black hair. She was just as short as Cloud was and had just as much energy as Zack. He remembered Zack saying she was a fun girl, and that he really enjoyed hanging out with her. But he did also mention that she could be quite a handful… and for Zack to say that she must be a nightmare at times. The boy next to her must have been Squall; the cocky one Zack had put it. He was a bit taller than Zack, and sported an odd scar across his face. Cloud made sure to remind him later to ask Zack just how he got that. The other boy, if he remembered was Vincent, he had hair just as black as Zack's but his eyes had an odd glow of red. The boy seemed to be pretty quiet and he reminded him of himself. He wondered if Zack could make him crack a smile to.

The five all made their way into the house and Zack's mother greeted them in teasing Zack at the same time.

"You go bounding off to make a friend and then you bring a whole swarm of them back with you. What am I to do with you Zackary?"

"Maaaaa," Zack whined at his mother using his full name. Miss Strife calling him by it didn't really bother him, but his mom in front of all his friends. Zack sighed handing his mother a plate, "Miss Strife asked me to send it over."

His mother scrunched her eyebrows together in thought before she gasped an 'Oh', "You mean the new neighbor?"

Zack laughed, "Oh, yea! I forgot! Mom this is Cloud, Cloud Strife."

Cloud almost as if on cue walked over to the woman extending a hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Fair."

She smiled warmly, "What a polite boy," she shook his hand in greeting before parting. "Zack you could learn a thing or two from this boy."

Zack nodded, "Yeah yeah, maybe. We'll be upstairs if you need us."

Zack lead the group up the stairs to his room. It was cozy and a decent size at that. Yuffie was the first one to talk Cloud's ear off. She bombarded him with question after question and Zack watched the poor boy's head spin. He peered over to Squall who was ranting on about the amazing things he did that day to Vincent. And Vincent stared blankly at the boy with his arms crossed, half-heartedly listening to the boy's words. Zack again smirked a bit. This was going to be one 'interesting night.' But what was really on Zack's mind was the promise Cloud had made Zack.

'We'll become SOLDIER's the both of us…' Zack smiled to himself. Zack knew Cloud and himself needed to prepare. They would need to put this plan into action, so by the time they were sixteen they could leave and join SOLDIER. Where to start Zack pondered, and his thoughts were immediately drawn to a conversation he had with his father when he was young. One of very few he remembered. His father had told him about the honor in dying by the sword, and the honor by living by the sword. It would require endurance, strength, and agility, Zack decided. And he couldn't wait to start training with Cloud.

"HEEEEELLLO," A pair of hands waved in front of Zack's face snapping him from his deep thoughts. Yuffie gave him a puzzled look, "Geez, thought you left us there space cadet!"

Zack grunted, "Yeah, whatever."

Cloud even mused himself over how Yuffie was now lecturing Zack about how rude it was to zone out in the middle of his own slumber party and leaving his guests to fend for themselves. Cloud couldn't help the smile that spread across his lips as he thought to himself, 'So this is my new home… It'll definitely be quite interesting…. "

END CHAPTER 1

Just getting started I'm really excited about this one! I thought about it on my way to work at….3:30 in the AM ha-ha… So… anyway REVIEW tell me what you think so far!