Author's Note: This is a rewrite of the original first chapter for this story. After I wrote it I found out it was a piece of crap right from the start. I'd explain what made it crap, but you probably already knew, if you read the original chapter. If not, it doesn't matter, because it was crap, and this is better, OK?

P.S. - The first part of this story goes quickly between the chapters, because of the obvious lack of concrete information. The parts covered by the game, and by the movie, and by the Kingdom Hearts series will be covered in detail, so don't expect this story to end anytime soon. If I don't update after a while, leave a review if you want me to update, as I will probably be distracted. Review, and I'll get my butt back on track and update within a week of recieving the review. If you're still reading my notes and not enjoying the story, than I thank you and apologize for taking your time, so I'll shut up and let you enjoy my story. Remember, If I screw something up, tell me. I haven't been able to play the game for several years, and I've never played Tactics or Dirge of Cerberus. Be nice and please don't flame.

Cloud: Shut up and let them read the story!

Admiral Andalite: Ok, Ok, shutting up. Commence story reading, please.

Cloud: Finally! I thought he'd never shut up!

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Chapter One Training Begins

"Attention! All new recruits are to report to the mess hall immediately. Repeat, all new recruits are to report to teh mess hall immediately."

I rose from my bed. The day wasn't over yet. Oh, well.

Today was my first day of official Shin-Ra training. I had been assigned my quarters the previous day, and given the brief and precise tour of the facility and grounds along with the other new recruits. Not that there was much of a "grounds" in Junon, just a set of fields near the edge of the lower city kept for training purposes. I had been out there today, doing basic warm-ups with the other recruits. There were also other exercises, to see each recruits capabilities. Nobody was very impressive. And even after all of that, they still wanted something more from the recruits. I sighed. Better get it over with.

I entered the mess hall quickly, as my quarters were only a minute's walk away. My roommate, Zephyr, was already there, he had been quite keen to eat when they were dismissed from the "drills". Zephyr was one of those people who had a naturally strange color. Who knew one could naturally have blue hair? But he did, and always wore it relatively short, except for the rather long lock that hung over his right eye. He fancied a red shirt and long denim shorts. He also wore a denim jacket with no sleeves. Zephyr claimed that he ripped them off, as the sleeves weren't comfortable. I figured he got the vest like that. Who buys a full jacket, just to rip the sleeves off?

Seeing as Zephyr was the only person I knew at this point, that was who I sought out and sat with. In the next five minutes, the rest of the recruits filtered in, sitting down to await whatever required them to postpone sleeping. After five minutes, the lights of the mess dimmed, and a figure moved to the front of the mess, in front of the cafeteria. It was the director of the facility, although no one knew his name. There was a rumore that no one under him knew his name, only his equals and superiors. In any case, everyone simply called him Director. It seemed a heartless title, but maybe he preferred it that way. The Director cleared his throat, and everyone turned to him.

"Recruits. It's good to see you've arrived with punctuality. Excellent. I require punctuality with all of your duties. Now, You've been brought here to recieve the assignments that will shape the nature of your training for the next year. The examinations you took earlier today have been evaluated, and now your training will be molded to make up for weaker performances, and to accentuate your strong points. There are three training "shifts", as I like to call them. Each shift is eight hours long, and is meant to accomodate all trainees at once with a smaller staff. Now, here's how each shift will work. A bell will ring an hour before each shift is to begin. This is to give you time to prepare, such as eating, etc. Another bell will signal the beginning of the shift. The shifts are named A, B, and C. Roommates will be placed in the same shift, so that they may assist each other in waking up if need be. Now, I shall announce the members of each shift. Listen carefully, as I shall not repeat names."

The Director pulled out a sheet of paper, and began to read.

"The members of shift A will include: Gurin, Arin; Ren, Wellen; Strife, Cloud; Winsen, Zephyr..."

After my name was announced, I tuned out the rest of the names. I now knew what shift I was in, so the other names didn't really matter.

Zephyr took the opportunity to open his mouth. "Shift A is in the morning. You know, "normal" hours."

I nodded. I could've learned that at my liesure. Besides, the Director would've mentioned it. In fact, he did, when he revealed the names of all who would be in A Shift. The shift would begin promptly at 0800, and lasted for eight hours. Then came B Shift, and then C Shift, before A Shift was up again. The Director, when finished with the lists, announced the end of his speech. Since A Shift would start the next morning, he dismissed them all, saying that the next eight hours would be the longest break they would have for quite awhile.

Zephyr and I both headed for our quarters, suddenly wanting to sleep. I was silent, but Zephyr was showing unrestrained enthusiasm, already claiming he'd be the best. I just shook my head, and walked on.

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I jerked upright as a series of bells anounced the impending beginning of Shift A. Zephyr had already awaken, and was getting ready to leave.

"Hey, Cloud. Get up! You want to eat last?" He found this amusing, and left, laughing his way to mess.

I got out of bed, dressing hurriedly. It would be a bad idea to screw up your first day of training by being late. Contrary to Zephyr's statement, I was one of the first to enter the line of the cafeteria. I was served, than sat down with Zephyr, who simply looked at his food. "Today's menu: Shin-Ra slop with a side of toast." Great. Zephyr was a morning person, and the class clown. Would I have to deal with this EVERY day? I looked at my meal, and realized it did indeed look like slop. Only the toast was really recognizable for what it really was. They can train soldiers for the greatest army in the world, but they can't cook worth a damn. Hmmm... Nope. Can't ignore it. Gotta eat it sooner or later. Believe it or not, it didn't taste that bad. It wouldn't be my first choice, but at least I won't have to gag every time I smell it. The half hour leeway time quickly disappeared and I found myself running to the training fields. When the bell rang to signify the start of Shift, I was standing in line at attention with the other recruits. As soon as our instructor, Lieutenant Carn, arrived at one end of our line, he began talking.

"Ladies, welcome to your first day of real life! I'm Lieutenant Carn, and I'll be your formal instructor for the next year. You don't like it, tough shit, you're stuck. Now, everyone drop and give me fifty!"

As we all dropped, I decided that I didn't like Carn. Not surprising. It must be in the instructor's job requirments: Must be a total asshole with a knack for calling recruits "ladies". Oh, great. Making jokes. Not a good way to go. Zephyr would never let one like that go, he'd already pegged me as the one who kept his mouth shut, 24/7, and didn't give a damn about anything else. Truth be told, he wasn't too far off the mark, if his interpretation of my reasons were screwed to hell.

'Just because you're insecure, and afraid of retaliation if you opened your hole.'

Damn. That voice again. I thought I was done with it. That voice has plaqued me since that incident on Mt. Nibel. My conscience? Guilt, maybe? Try both. The voice has been with me as I listened to the insults and threats of the adults, blaming me for the accident. And it was still trying to simultaneously make me think the accident WAS my fault, and bringing me out of my self-imposed indifference. As Carn's count continued, I thought back to that day. I relived the fear, the helplessness I felt as I watched her fall. My shame at not being able to prevent it, and my anger at having the blame thrust on me by angry adults. My sadness as I watched her, hoping she'd recover soon. My only friend, and I'd let her down. That was when the voice, born of my guilt, started to torture me endlessly. I made the decision to join Shin-Ra after that, so that I could escape the angry glares cast in my direction when they saw me, the hurt in her eyes as I was forced to stay away from her. Eventually, she found a way for us to communicate. She told me that, no matter what her parents said, she didn't blame me, that we were still friends.

After a while, her parents lessened their restrictions on our contact when they found out I was joining Shin-Ra. She asked me to meet her by the well, the night before I left. When she asked me to promise, I remembered the accident, and the voice assaulted me again, but it still only tried to make be believe the accusations thrust at me. My silence after she asked was due to my struggle with the voice. My answer was slightly strained, daring the voice to pop up again.

As the count reached fifty, we all stood, and Carn moved us on to running drills. After that, familiarizing with one's weapon. As Cloud ran, and later, went over every square inch of Shin-Ra's standard military firearm, I continued to think about her. She was a friend who stood by me when everyone else shunned me. Young love? A crush? Uh-uh, no way. She was a friend, nothing more. The only person who believed me, trusted me, but still, just a friend. She had her pick of guys to date. She didn't need me for love, and I didn't care. Being her friend was enough.

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I dwelled on these thoughts for the rest of the day, on what her friendship meant to me, how it withstood the accident, her parent's criticism, and my own unresolved guilt. I numbly followed everyone as the shift ended, and we were to be sized for uniforms. I accepted my two sets of Shin-Ra garb, listened to the regulation of wearing them to shift from now on, changing uniforms every week, changing to everyday wear between shifts, and so on, without really listening. During the evening meal, Zephyr saw my obvious distraction, and asked "Wat's on your mind?" When I didn't answer, he left me alone. The voice crept up again. I ignored it. It kept pushing, and soon developed into a headache. I walked to my quarters, and lay down, falling asleep, with her face in my mind. My dreams that night shifted constantly, from reliving the accident, to replaying other moments of home. Eventually my thoughts drifted to the times when she talked about her ideal wedding. Then I was standing in a church, watching as she was wedded to some guy. The it rewound, and she was wed again, but to someone else. Each time a thought in the back of my mind wished that thee man standing beside her was me. Suddenly, I was. As the line, "You may kiss the bride" was spoken, she turned to me. I saw her smile, one of happiness. Then my reason cut in, screaming at me with a thousand voices. It wouldn't happen. She was my friend, nothing more. I wouldn't do that. I couldn't. Why would she want me, anyway? She could have anybody she wanted, and she certainly didn't want me. I was her friend, and I knew that neither of us wanted to go further than that. As these thoughts raged, the picture of happiness faded. Was it my imagination, or did her smile of bliss change to a look of hurt, and sadness? Was my mind playing tricks on me, or was I seeing the glistening of tears in the corners of her eyes? Was because of my being there, or of my retreat into my own mind? As all my dreams faded, the voice taunted me again.

'She may not hate you, but she won't ever like you more than a friend. You know that. She may stay as your friend, but you know that your future and hers do not go one that way. In all of your mind, you know it's true.'

And I did. At once it pained me, but also calmed me. She was my friend. Anymore than that, and I would cause her pain. Any less than that, and I would be the one in pain. The friendship was the balance between my despair, and hers. Tifa Lockhart was the balance. As I realize this, my troubled rest calms into a deep sleep, dreaming of our friendship in the years to come, hoping it would stay that way forever.