HELLO! I would like to say thank you very, very much for reading my fic and please take just a little extra time to leave a review or send me a pm telling me what you think! Even if you absolutely hate it I would rather you tell me that and how I could get beater rather than having no idea what people think.

DISCLAIMER. I do not own final fantasy 7 or 13 or anything else final fantasy.

The world's strongest soldier

Click, Click, click, click was the noise being heard coming down the hallway of the large shinra building. It has been two years since the cure for the stigma was found. With the stress of causing the stigma lifted off the backs of Rufus and the rest of Shinra they managed start the company back up only this time they abandoned the use of Mako and the reactors and started finding other ways of electricity. Click, Click, Click, the loud clicking noise that could be heard in the otherwise silent hallway was coming from the highest ranking and strongest soldier first class in all of Shinra, it was none other than Lightning Farron. The pink haired soldier walked down the hallway, as her armor clanked, heading to see the president. The hallway was brightly lite, unlike outside, because it was already approaching 11 pm. Lightning was told that she was wanted by the president for he had a top secret mission for her. She now approached the door to enter the president's room so she knocked three times and waited until she heard the president's voice coming from the other side telling her to come in. She walked in the dimly lit room to see Rufus sitting at his desk with the new vice president Tsung standing to his right and Reno, who was now the highest ranking and president of the Turk division, standing to his left.

"Mr. president you asked to see me?" asked the soldier.

"Yes, I have a mission for you, but first I need to ask you a question."

"Anything sir."

"Do you know who the top three soldier first class have been? And if so how much do you know about them?"

"Well the third was a man named Angele and I don't know much about him. The second was a man named Zack Fair…"

Lightning zoned out for a moment when she sad that name for back when he was alive and even famous she was only 12 and she was a member of his fan club and thought it would be so badass to meet him. She quickly laughed at how foolish she was as she continued.

"He died in battle while protecting people of the city Nebilheim from monsters. And the last soldier was the strongest named Sephiroth. He was originally thought to be dead on the same mission Zack died in but we later found out that he lived and he wished to try and end the world. But he was stopped and is now dead."

Lightning stood there with her arms crossed like she always did as the president leaned forward and crossed his hands and sighed as he said.

"I see. Then there are a few things that I need to tell you like I figured. You see Sephiroth caused the meteor to appear four years ago using the black materia and also two years ago he was resurrected by a man named Kadaj who was a remnant of him."

"Why are you telling me this?"
"Becouse… A few days ago we found that Sephiroth didn't completely die part of his body lived on… it lived in the lifestream as energy. So we tried to remake Sephiroth but this time good. So he took some of his cells and ejected them into a man and the results?... The man turned into Sephiroth. Sephiroth was able to take his energy that flowed through the lifestream and enter the man thus returning him to his regular form."

Lightning's mouth dropped at hearing this as she listened to the president finish his speech.

"You see Sephiroth isn't a threat to just Shinra but to the world and he needs to be killed. You are currently my strongest soldier so I am sending you on this mission. However, you can't do this alone."

"So I assume you're sending Reno with me on this mission?"

She said this because it was common if there was a really tough mission she would be teamed up with Reno or another first class.

"No, Reno will be here with me. I am assigning you with a special soldier who used to work for us a long time ago. And here he is now."

She turned around to see that the door was open and a man leaned up against the door frame. He wasn't exactly tall for he was 5.7 just like her. He wore a long black cloak and had long spiky blond hair and bright blue glowing eyes. His eyes glow the way that only the eyes of soldier did. What you notice first about him though is not his eyes or his hair but his huge sword! His sword was as large as he is and a closer look you see that it's actually six swords in one that you could combine and detach. That's when Reno spoke up for the first time in this meeting and said.

"Yo Cloud how have ya been?"
The man answered in a cool voice as he said.

"I'm fine but we have more important things to discuss."

The president then spoke up and said.

"Your right Cloud. You have already been briefed on the mission so it's time to introduce you two. Lightning this is Cloud, Cloud Lightning."

Cloud and Lightning exchanged glances and nodded their heads to each other to silently say hello. That's when Lightning spoke up and said.

"So Cloud you used to be a soldier of shinra. What rank did you get? And what do you do now?"

Cloud looked down to the ground and said.

"I technically only mad it to a grunt and now I'm a delivery boy for the company strife delivery service that I started with a childhood friend."

Lightning's mouth dropped nearly to the floor. Some of the thoughts that ran threw her mind right now were. "HOW THE HELL WAS IT POSSIBLE FOR EX GRUNT AND A GOD DAME DELIVERY BOY BE HER PARTER NOW ON THIS MISSION? WAS THE PRESIDENT MOCKING HER? WAS THIS SOME KIND OF A SICK JOKE?!" It was obvious to the rest of the room that Lightning was thinking these things and she was pissed, that's when she tried to comely say.

"Sir no offense, of course, but I personally don't believe that someone who was only able to make it to the level of grunt and is a delivery boy will be strong enough to help me on this mission."

"Don't worry Lightning Clouds not your average delivery boy. He will be plenty strong to help you. Now why don't you two go home and come back tomorrow and begin to track down Sephiroth."

Lightning said yes sir and fallowed Cloud out of the room. They were just about to exit when Rufus said.

"Cloud, it's good to have you back."

"I'm not back I'm only here to help for this mission do to certain reasons then after words I'm gone."

"Are you sure, Cloud? If you come back you will be become our number one soldier you would be rich?"

Lightning's mouth dropped again as she had the look of what the fuck on her face. She had been working hard every day for years but here the president is offering her position to this delivery boy why!? Her mind was put to rest when Cloud just merely sighed as he turned around and said

"Not interested."

Cloud then walked out of the dark room with slight hast as Lightning quickly fallowed. The two now walked side by side down the hallway in silence until Cloud turned to Lightning and said.

"I think it would be good if we exchanged phone numbers."

"Why would you say that, Arnt you just trying to get my number?"

Lightning said this with an obvious tone in her voice; Cloud was just annoyed as he said.

"No I'm just saying that being that we are a team wouldn't it be good if we had each other's number for in case either of us find out anything about Sephiroth we can phone in the verdict to each other."

The first thing that went through Lightning's mind was "Dame that's so obvious" Lightning couldn't believe how stupid she must have sounded as she just sad that. Without saying anything more Lightning pulled out her phone and handed it to Cloud For he could put his number in, and likewise for Cloud. The rest of the walk was in silence until they reached outside. The night air was not really cold but there was definitely a slight chill in the air. The moon was only half full but the sky was clear. And the stars hah you can't see them in this section of midgar at night with all the lights from the shinra building and the surrounding businesses but as soon as you got out of this sector or on the outskirts you can see the stars with no problem. The two then exchange quick goodbyes as they each then went their own separate ways. Cloud was just getting around the corner of the building when he started hearing someone yell.

"GOD DAME THIS THING WORK!"

Then he heard a loud smash! Cloud now being confused slowly looked around the corner of the building and not so much to his surprise he saw Lightning standing over her motorcycle as it laid on the ground. She was standing there mumbling a few words as Cloud approached and asked if something was wrong.

"It's just this dame bike it won't run!"

"So you kicked it and made it worse?"

Lightning had both a glare and pissed off look on her face as she glared at Cloud for deep down she knew that he was right.

"Anyway, Cloud, the Shinra repair shop is on their way to pick it up and they will have it done tomorrow."

"How are you getting home?"

"I'll call a cab."

"If you want I can give you a lift home, it's a lot cheaper than a cab especially if you don't live in this sector."

Lightning thought for a minute. She didn't really want to ride home with this delivery boy who had done practically nothing other than piss her off for the past 30 minutes, but it was true a cab to where she lives, two sectors away, would cost like $25 being they charged ungodly for traveling through sectors because of the chance of fiends. And she was low on money so…

"Sure thank you, Cloud."

Cloud merely said no problem as he turned around and started to head back to his vehicle. Lightning was thinking about what kind of car Cloud would drive. Being he was a delivery boy he would probably drive a van. It didn't quite seem fitting for a man who looked like Cloud but whatever. When they got around the corner Lightning's jaw dropped because what Cloud drove was definitely not some van. He drove a badass bike that would put hers to shame. His bike was light and agile but yet still durable for it could take a hit and not brake. It even had slide outs for him to put his swords and pull them out easily and they even adjusted to fit a small sword such as hers. The bike wasn't good for just battle either, it was fast, way faster than Lightning's and to top it all off the bike was just plan awesome looking. Cloud then got on his bike and opened up the slots for the swords and motioned for her to put her sword in the slot. She did as she also got on the back of the bike. Then she slowly and hesitantly wrapped her hands around Clouds waist as he started the bike, before they took off Lightning told Cloud where she lived so he took off towards that direction. The ride was fairly swift, a lot faster than what a cab would have been, as they now pulled into her drive way. Lightning quickly got off and stepped down as Cloud turned off the bike. Lightning lives in an overall normal house that was definitely nice but not anything super special. On the ride when they stopped at red lights and stuff they had small talk and Lightning learned that Cloud lived in new sector 7, the same sector that shinra rebuilt after destroying it. But Lightning lived in sector 4 which was the absolute farthest sector away from 7, which meant that Cloud would have a little bit of drive before reaching his home.

"Cloud would you like to come in and have some coffee before your ride home to keep you awake?"

"Sure thanks."

Cloud then got off the bike and fallowed the pink haired soldier inside her home. Cloud entered the house to see a little room to take of your shoes and coats and hang them up. Cloud and Lightning took of their shoes and entered the house. They entered into a kitchen which flowed into a living/ dining room. Lightning entered the room but when she did Cloud heard and saw a small girl jump into Lightning's arms and yell.

"SIS YOUR FINALLY HOME I WAS SOOOOOO WORRIED ABOUT YOU! ARE YOU OK!?"

Lightning returned the hug and slowly pulled back as she said.

"Hi, Serah, yes I'm fine it's just that I had a late meeting tonight and I had a little trouble with my bike."

The young lady who Cloud assumed to be Lightning's sister named Serah then noticed Cloud as he stood there behind the two as she asked.

"Who's this Light is he your boyfriend?"

"GOD NO! WE WERE JUST PUT TOGETHER AS TEAMATES FOR A MISSION HATS ALL! My bike was broke and he offered to take me home that's all."

Serah just smirked and said ok as she then skipped into the dining room. Lightning told Cloud that he could wait in the dining room with Serah while she got the coffee ready. Cloud went in and sat down and while waiting he began to talk to Serah. He found out that she was two years younger than Lightning and already engaged! Even though she was only 20. Apparently his name was snow and Lightning didn't approve of their marriage at all, but that wasn't going to stop her. Serah seamed nice but definitely headstrong like her sister. Within a few minutes Lightning was coming out with three cups of coffee and sat down and handed them out. Serah politely refused and said that she was going to bed but before she did she turned around and said.

"Oh by the way sis this weekend I haft to go to old sector 7 to get the package for you being they can't deliver it now."

Lightning merely said ok and continued to drink her coffee, but Cloud on the other hand momentarily froze in his tracks at the mention of old sector seven. The old sector was never completely rebuilt they just rebuilt half of it it and called that new sector seven. Mentioning the old sector brought back a lot of old memories. Memories such as, the first avalanche mission, being at the original 7th haven with Tifa, and much more, that's when Cloud said.

"Be careful down there it's very dangerous."

"Of course I will! Gnight sissy."

And with that Serah ran into her room and shut the door. Lightning now leaned back in her chair and said thank you. Being confused Cloud asked her why she was thanking him. Lightning sighed as she took a sip of her coffee as she said.

"Because if I would of told her to be careful she would have gotten mad and said I was being overly protective but it wasn't like that if you told her."

"I see, well your welcome but I think it's time I get going."

Lightning then showed Cloud the door as they each said a brief goodbye and Cloud thanked her for the coffee. In a little bit Cloud was home at the new 7th heaven. The house was dark for everyone was asleep. Marlene and Densil have probably been in bed since about 9 and Tifa and Barret probably went to sleep around 11. 1 year ago Tifa and barret had actually gotten married and Cloud expected that they would want him to move but they didn't. They all said that they loved having him around. Anyway, Cloud then started to walk up the stairs then down the dark hallway down to his room when he heard a familiar voice from behind him say.

"Hey yo fool! YOU SURE STAYED OUT LATE TONIGHT!"
"Barret, shut up you will wake up the kids!"

Cloud turned around to see Barret and Tifa standing there looking at their friend.

"Why did you two stay up?"

"Because we were worried about you cloud, you told us that Sephiroth was back and it's not like you to not call if you were going to be out all night" Tifa said.

And that's when out of the blue the phone rang and Tifa had multiple house phones around so she grabbed one that was close and looked at it and said that it was Reno. So she answered and put it on speaker.

"CLOUD! GET YOUR ASS TO THE SHINRA BUILDING NOW ITS SEPHIROTH HES HERE! LIGHTNINGS ALREADY HERE BUT HURRY THE HELL UP!" ( BANG BANG BOOM! They then heard a few gunshots and a loud explosion) DAME…"

Click, the phone then hung up and Barret and Tifa looked up to Cloud and saw that he wasn't there anymore as they heard the door shut. Cloud was already on his way. In mere moments he was there. He looked at the top of the building as a helicopter was flying away. He looked in and saw that Rufus and the vice president tsung where in it. Cloud then ran into the building and took the elevator to the top floor being that was a much faster way then taking the stairs. When Cloud got to the top floor he ran and busted into the presidents room being that's where he heard the fighting. He walked in to see Reno and Rude on the floor knocked out and Lightning laying on the floor by the door and in the center of the room stood him. The calamity the demon… Sephiroth!

"Well, well, well if it isn't my old friend Cloud." Sephiroth said.

"Were not friends anymore Sephiroth!"

Cloud then looked around and saw that Reno and Rude would be fine they just need some rest but Lightning, however, had a hole in her chest and was bleeding.

Cloud ran over to see if she was alive. He checked her pulse and saw that she was but if she didn't get help fast she might not be.

"So Cloud, which will it be? Will you stay and fight me or will you leave and save this girl and let me escape for my business is finished here."

"Why did you come here!?"
"Simple, I came to take mother for I could use her cells to revive a few helpers, but the president ran off so I'm done here."

Cloud then picked up Lightning as he turned to Sephiroth and said

"Sephiroth, this isn't over."
"I hope not." Sephiroth claimed

Sephiroth then opened his wing and flew out the window. Cloud then walked out of the room while carrying Lightning. He quickly took her to the hospital and got her checked in and called Serah on Lightning's phone and let her know what happened. Serah instantly got in her car and got there as fast as possible. After about 15 minutes Serah was there and in the room with Lightning and after about an hour Reno showed up to shed a little light on the situation. Cloud asked Reno what happened and he said.

"Well you see Sephiroth showed up and the three of us tried to hold him off while the president escaped. In the battle Rude shot a special missile at Sephiroth. The missile had a special toxin in it that is meant to heat the body to really high temperatures and numb them and eventually kill them. Well Sephiroth deflected the blast and it ended up hitting Lightning."

Cloud's eyes shot opened as he glared at Reno who continued saying

"Don't worry there is a cure but only one. There's a herb that can neutralize the toxin but it only grows in one place, the North Crater. You see it lowers the body temperature therefore counter acting the toxin."

After Reno was done he slowly walked past Cloud and went into Lightning's room, Cloud fallowed. When they entered the room they saw that Lightning was awake but really week. Reno explained the situation and where the cure could be found. Reno then said

"Shinra will put together and send out a unit to collect the cure. We will also cover your hospital bill and add a substantial bonus to your check of course."

Lightning nodded and said ok. When you looked at lightning you could tell that she was pissed off about how she was so week in the condition that she was in and that she even got hit by the toxin. Reno then pulled out his cell phone and went to call Shinra but when he did Cloud put his hand on Reno's shoulder and said.

"Don't worry about it; I'll go get the herb myself. Besides it would be faster if I went and got it myself versus mobilizing a whole unit to go get it."

Reno shrugged and said thanks as he began to walk out of the room. That's when Serah jumped up and said.

"BUT CLOUD YOU CANT GO ALONE! Come on it's the north crater the strongest monsters in the entire world live there. You would be killed."

"Don't worry about our Cloud here, he's plenty strong for that cave." Reno said.

"But Cloud can you imagine how long it would take to get there on your bike?" Asked Serah.

"Don't worry I have other means of transportation."

With that he turned around and began to head out of the room as he pulled out his cell phone. He then called said someone but Lightning's vision was starting to get blurry and she passed out. The only thing she heard Cloud say before she did was. "Hello, Cid…"

Before she knew it Lightning was waking up as she felt a herb being applied to her wound. She shot awake to see a doctor standing over her applying a blue herb. She looked to her right to see Serah sitting beside her bed. She asked Serah what and where the herb came from and she couldn't believe her ears when she said.
"It's the herb to make you beater. Cloud went and got it and brought it back. And believe it or not he came back without even a scratch on him!... I was worried about you sissy you were asleep for 2 days. But the doctor says the toxin is nearly gone and you should be able to leave by tomorrow at the rate your healing!"

She just couldn't believe that Cloud, the delievery boy, out of all people was able to make it to north crater and get the herb and get back without a single scratch being put on him. Sure she probably could of done it to of course…

THE NEXT DAY

It's now the next day and amazingly Lightning had made a complete recovery after. Cloud had called her and said that he found some new info about Sephiroth and if she wanted to come over to his place tonight he would tell her what he found. She obviously agreed so that night she drove to Clouds place for they could talk about what he found out. She was now in Clouds drive way on her bike as she let out a big breath for she knew she had to at least try and be nice in here being Cloud did just save her life after all. She then got off her bike and slowly walked up to the door. She saw that Cloud really did live at the bar in his case lol. She stepped inside to see a bar hostess with long black hair standing behind the counter cleaning. The hostess looked up and said.

"I'm sorry we are closed right now, but we will be open in about 30 minutes."

"I'm sorry but I'm not here to drink I'm here to talk to Cloud."

The hostess then said

"Oh well in that case come on in. My name is Tifa, I'm a childhood friend of Clouds, nice to meet you."

Tifa then reached out for a hand shake and Lightning begrudgingly accepted and said.

"Hi my names Lightning."

"Here let me get Cloud for you."

Tifa then walked away with a smile on her face. She then walked over to the end of the stairs and yelled loudly.

"CLOUD YOUR GIRLFRIENDS HERE!"

Lightning's skin cringed as she just wanted to rip Tifa's head off for saying that but she managed to keep her composure as she said.

"Tifa, we aren't together we are just coworkers who were put on the same mission."

"Oh, sorry."

"Out of um curiosity, does Cloud have a girlfriend?"

Tifa then looked down at the counter that she was scrubbing and sighed and said.

"No… not anymore."

Lightning wanted to know why she paused but right then at that moment Cloud came down the stairs. They exchanged hellos as they then sat down in a booth in the corner of the bar as Lightning listened to what Cloud started to say.

"Well you see while you were in the hospital I did some looking around and found out that Sephiroth took something while he was at shinra, I think that was what he was doing there. He stole papers on three ex Shinra employees. What's unique about these three though are the fact that they are all ex-soldier first class and they are all living but as of last night they all came up missing. I found out that with these men Sephiroth can bring back Kadaj and his gang with a vile that he probably took from Shinra as well."

"But what would his reason for reviving those three be? Would it be he has some plan and he needs the extra help?" Lightning asked.

"No Sephiroth is too strong for that, even if he wanted to take over the world, he almost did it once with the black material, by himself. What I think he is doing is… well Kadaj is a remnant of Sephiroth so Kadaj with the help of jenova can transform into Sephiroth if he's dead. So if Sephiroth dies kadaj can transform into Sephiroth therefore it's kind of like Sephiroth has an extra life in a sense if Kadaj is alive, and he needs a soldier member to revive Kadaj. We will haft to defeat Kadaj before we do Sephiroth or else it wouldn't be worth it. It would be much easier to defeat Kadaj versus an extra Sephiroth."

Lightning then leaned back in the booth as she crossed her arms and said.

"I see well let's get out there and search for Kadaj then.

"No, Reno and Rude each have a chopper and they are looking. We are supposed to wait and once they find them they will let us know and then we head out."

Lightning sighed and said ok as she then leaned back until she saw Tifa standing beside the table as she asked the two if they wanted a drink. Cloud agreed and Lightning said yes as well, being it was only one drink right? Tifa sat down two beers as people started flooding into the bar. Tifa went to go wait on them. Cloud then took a sip of the beer and then asked Lightning.

"So why did you join soldier?"

"Well two reasons. One and foremost was because my sister and I are orphans and it paid substantially well and I always had knack for fighting. And second well… it's embarrassing but. When I was a kid I thought that it would be really badass to be able to be a soldier first class like a soldier who saved my life when I was kid."

"Who was he?" Cloud asked.

"His name was Zack Fair."

At hearing this Clouds eyes shot wide open as he continued to listen in silence.

"When I was a kid I was in the slums here in Midgar with my sister but a few fiends attacked and I didn't have a weapon at the time. I tried to fight back but I was not much of a match with no weapon. But right before they hurt us a man appeared and killed them. After he did he turned around and put his hand on my shoulder and said.

"You did good kid. I'm impressed by your courage to try and take them on by yourself to protect your sis. Don't lose that courage of yours ok? Well see ya around!"

And then he took off."

Cloud snickered and said

"Hah seems like something he would say."

"WHAT YOU MEEN YOU KNEW ZACK!?" Lightning was obviously shocked.

"Knew him… I guess you could say that… He was my best friend and at one point my only true friend."

"WOW! I never knew that…It's a shame he had to die in that mission protecting the town…"
"THAT'S NOT HOW HE DIED!"

Cloud said this very loudly as he slammed his drink on the table. On the inside Lightning was thinking. "WHAT THE FUCK CLOUD?" but on the outside she kept her cool as she asked.

"Then how did he die?"

Cloud then stood up and said. "Do you want to go for a quick ride and I'll explain?"

Lightning nodded yes and followed Cloud outside. They then got on their bikes and rode off. Lightning followed Cloud to a rundown church. They got off and went inside in silence. Once the doors were open Lightning saw in the middle of the church a huge flower bed with a huge sword stuck in the middle, but not just any sword, the sword that was Zack's. She had a blank expression on her face as she looked at Cloud to explain. Cloud merely walked up to the sword and put his hand on it as Lightning followed him and did the same. Lightning ran her fingers up and down the blade as she then asked.

"This was Zack's sword. Who does it belong to now? And why is it here?"

Cloud closed his eyes and said.

"The sword now belongs to me."

Lightning's face dropped as she continued to listen in shock as Cloud continued by saying.

"Zack and I were best friends and one time we went on a mission together, but the mission went horribly wrong. After the mission the old president ordered for the two of us to be examined about how we survived. The two of us were experimented on and we were unconscious for quite some time. I had a severe case of mako poisoning bad enough were I shouldn't have survived. Anyway, Zack managed to get out and he took me with him. The old president then order for us to be killed for he knew that if Zack or I were to tell what happened they would be ruined as a company. They tried again and again to kill us but they could never defeat Zack. Finally they sent an entire army to kill us. Zack could have easily ran and left me and lived but instead… He fought them to protect me and by doing so he saved my life… at the cost of his. In his last dying moments he gave me his sword and told me that I was the proof that he existed and to live… live as his living legacy. And that he passed on all of his dreams, his honor to me. I used this sword a lot at one point but I decided to stop for that way it won't be damaged any farther. And this place is and was important to the two of us and no one ever comes here so I chose to leave it hear."

Cloud then turned around and began to head out of the church. As he passed Lightning he brushed her arm with his and said. "That's how Zack, the true hero, died."

Lightning was in shock at what she heard as she turned around to see Cloud walk out of the church. She had no idea that was how Zack died or that he and Cloud were friends. She now wondered… how much more was there that she didn't know about Cloud?

!IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!

The bonds of friendship between Lightning and Cloud strengthen slightly. New info about Sephiroth is reviled and above all someone from Clouds past comes into play, and Cloud doesn't know exactly how to deal with seeing them again face to face especially on top of having to deal with Sephiroth and everything else.

THE END.

SO….WHAT DID YOU THINK!? Please please, please, tell me what you think in a review or a pm and please also say how you think I can improve! Thank you!