Hey everyone back again, with a new fic that is the sequel

Chapter 1

Cloud POV

Four months… for four long months, I've grown stronger… I've killed… but I've yet to find the purpose of my heart. Midgar was a massive city far from Cocoon, the city of the nobles. Therein, the further elite live in Eden, Cocoon's capital and home of the country's ruler Galenth Dysley, was several weeks travel away. The man, in which, I was to slay in order to have her yet again, to feel her embrace, he was to die.

I had at first wanted nothing more than to storm Cocoon with the small group of sixty that had escaped Rufus's mansion, but Angeal and Sephiroth both denied me of that option, as they both knew it to be suicide and would defeat our purpose. I had a duty to the men and women that followed me. I was their appointed leader. I had to think of them as well. As months had passed we had swelled our ranks to nearly a thousand or so, now I had a multitude of lives to think of before rushing to action.

"Fenrir, are you ready for this days sparring session?" Sephiroth asked as I looked up from where I sat beneath the shade of a large tree. We were in the outskirts of what was known to many as the Pulse Wilds, we chose this location due to the fact that as escapees we had to hide until all believed that we perished along with Rufus and the other nobility… besides, no one dared venture near the wilds.

After Rufus Shinra's death, Sephiroth instructed me to lead everyone from the mansion and he stayed behind to set ablaze to the mansion. I recalled seeing the night sky brilliantly glowing with the red and yellow flames that licked the skies as the place of shame and misfortune for so many of us now burned to ashes. Sadly though, the pain would not easily be removed as the walls were.

"I am…" I told him and stood drawing the First Tsurugi, the key blade of my fused swords. In the months passed, Sephiroth had took it upon himself to train me, stating that Angeal only would hold me back. The two were at odds it was plain to see but I knew their story was their own, and none of my concern. I truly cared little that they were at odds, as long as I held Lightning again, that was all that mattered.

I stared hard at Sephiroth and he merely grinned. "Come," he motioned to follow and I did. We walked a good distance from the others and that's when he turned and instantly swung at my head. I ducked and pushed forward knowing that our training had begun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lightning POV

I sat at the table in conflict. A part of me was glad to be out of the confines of slavery, but there was great sorrow for the price for freedom. Four months ago, Dysley had purchased me from Rufus's home and immediately returned me to my status as one of the head colonels of the Cocoon forces. Though to have a title again was reassuring but with my old life, meant leaving another behind. Within days of my reinstatement, I heard news that Shinra Mansion had burned down in an inferno that could have taken the entire surrounding city with it. What made my heart sink the most was the fact that from all reports, that all but one perished in the inferno… Sephiroth. The man who was to fight Cloud had survived and that meant only one thing.

He was gone…

"Claire, how are you?" I looked up from my work table and stared at the man in which I held such strong hatred, Galenth Dysley.

"I've told you countless times to never approach me unless the world itself was burning… and even then I'd pray you had already burned." I hissed as I stood and crossed the room to stand in front of him.

"I merely came to inform you that your dear husband, Cid Tarcious Raines has finally returned from his campaigns in the mountain islands of Wutai." He grinned as my heart quickened and I looked down in despair, "I would think you to be exuberant, you no longer need to lust or crave the touch of a slave." He grinned as my anger exploded and I grabbed him by his collar and slammed him up against the nearest wall.

"I'll kill you!" I growled as he only smirked.

"Go ahead… do so, when my blood is upon your hands, do you think your sister will ever be safe?" He asked as my anger ebbed away. "I think it hilarious that though you were fucked like an animal by countless men, you but think of a single slave… who is long since dead." He laughed as I held my anger in check. The fool before me would one day see his demise, that I swore, but what I had to focus on now was the fact the man whom I married well over five years ago, out an arrangement my father made is now returning. I held no deep feelings for the man, he was kind, loving and handsome but outside of friendship, I had no deeper feelings. "Be lucky I only informed him of your desertion and not the whorish acts you have done… he knows nothing of your years in servitude… he believes that you were away searching for your sister who is known to have been a slave. I expect you to perform at the level in which you normally have. The past is just that… the past… we can put our differences aside for a moment can't we?"

I growled and before my words could vacate my word a messenger entered. "Lord Raines returns, milady, he is ecstatic to learn of your return." The young man stated as he smiled from Dysley to me.

"Make haste away, I have much to finish before… my husband's return, tell him I shall not be long." I instructed as the messenger left abruptly. I turned to Dysley who merely smirked and began to leave.

"Fenrir is a memory, meant to fade away." He grinned as he opened the door and turned to me one final time, "I will see you soon Mrs. Raines." He grinned as my blood ran cold with hate for the man.

I sat back in my seat and held my head in my hands, I had to live for Serah and her safety… everyone and everything from my short time as a slave was gone, Cloud, Fang, Vanille, Hope, Sazh… all dead. I would move past this and find a way to make Dysley regret crossing me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cloud POV

Our training lasted the entirety of the day, Sephiroth was a much fiercer opponent and teacher than anything I'd seen under Angeal or Genesis. He pushed me to my limit each day and over time, fighting at such a rapid pace became easy. It made me wonder if he had been tainted like, Angeal, Genesis, and myself. I wondered what so called god gave him his ability… or was he really as the legends stated… a shadow of death?

"You've finally broken free from the bonds of weakness… training with your ability against men as weak as those who follow dulled your skill but it would seem they are skills that are easily reignited." Sephiroth stated as he stood just a few feet away. "We're strong Fenrir, don't ever forget that." He then turned and began away but I gave him pause with a word.

"How," I began, "how did you know my real name… back in the mansion, you spoke my name twice… tell me how." I demanded as he paused and then looked over his shoulder at me.

"You truly wish to know?" He asked as he turned and smirked. I nodded and stood my ground as he approached and came within arm's reach. "The one whom you call the false god… Jenova… long ago she birthed me from her own womb… all that have came after are my brothers… that includes yourself, Vincent, Genesis and Angeal… we are all brothers… Cloud." He grinned as I frowned. "but worry not, for her goals are not my own… I am a man just as you with passions and desires… Galenth Dysley is my target… a target we both share."

"But that doesn't tell me how you knew my name." I growled as Sephiroth paused and then shook his head.

"As her true son, I am afforded a privilege… when she granted you your ability, she tapped into your mind… whatever she saw, I did as well." Sephiroth stated as I stepped back and shook my head.

"How can I trust you?" I growled as he shook his head as if in disappointment.

"I could have easily killed you back there Cloud… but I chose not to do so, as you put it yourself after killing Shinra, I too would not see another brother killed for another's enjoyment. The three of us should stick together… we are the last of mother's legacy."

"She's not my mother." I hissed as Sephiroth lifted his hands and nodded.

"Fine, but to me she is… I accept your feelings towards her, but my position concerning the goddess, my mother, will not change. I may honor her with a title but that is as far as my allegiance goes. I stand here not at odds with you as she was, but as a mentor who is trying to strengthen you in order for us both to achieve our goals. You wish to have the woman in your arms again and I wish for Dysley's head… two ends that are on the same path… mine is simply a bit further down." He grinned calmly as I nodded more to myself in acceptance of his words.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lightning's POV

I waited in the main courtyard with the hordes of other top ranking soldiers and officials. The sun was so bright this day… the birds were singing and the trees were in full bloom. I felt the entire situation was completely ridiculous… It was as though my forced husband was a hero… in a way he was… but at the moment he wasn't my focus…

"Here comes the general…" I heard several men and women cheering as my attention drew to the opening gates.

It was difficult to stand here and see such a sight, while my heart and soul was with another. I soon allowed my eyes to drift to the man in which I was promised and found that his features weren't unagreeable. Cid Raines, Legion General of Cocoon, he was a great man by any woman's standards but in truth my heart belonged to another… one who had, as Dysley stated, had passed.

I stared at his face as he came to me smiling brightly. I threw a quick glance to his left to see a man with wild spiky black hair. I was quickly pulled into an embrace and smelt the fine leather that he was adorned in. I had never cared much for such… ever.

"My beautiful and wonderful wife… it has been so long since I have seen you… it has been many years since have I been in your presence…" He paused and leaned close and whispered, "and yet we have shared bed…" He grinned as I smiled slightly but said nothing… instead I made mention of the man who seemed to be adorned in similar clothing.

"There is much I've missed in my years of absence… there is yet a newer face in which my eyes have not laid upon, nor my mind knowledge of." I stated as Cid turned and spoke.

"This man is a warrior and strategist of great note. Come forth Zack," The name gave me pause as the description in which Cloud gave me of his childhood friend caused terrible pain in my heart… along with anger… possibly Cloud's anger.

"Zack… by chance is your surname Fair?" I asked causing the man in question to seem puzzled and shocked. He nodded and stared at Cid before speaking.

"Your lovely wife is as intelligent as you stated… I wonder can she read minds?" He asked aloud as I scowled.

"No, just heard of the name, tis all." I lied as he grinned.

"Well I hope that with a name nothing bad was mentioned in the same breath." He tried to joke but I merely smiled falsely. This was the man, whom Cloud had once revered so greatly… this was the man that led to the Cloud accepting his fate… to becoming Fenrir. I had no mind in which to accept him, should I hate him for the pain he caused to a man I once loved, or be thankful he was the youngster who gave Cloud hope? I looked deep within myself and found my answer.

I extended a hand and smiled to him. "Well Zack, I assure only the positive will be what I will attribute to you now."

I think the best part about Cloud and Lightning being so much alike is that switching between the male and female aspect is quite easy to do, the personalities between the two makes the switch not so awkward. As a writer we have to try and get mentaly into character to write first person views and with Cloud and Lightning, to me it's as though they are just simple male and female versions with the same thought processes, but with the female view versus a male view.

Anyhow feedback is greatly appreciated and encouraged, I hope you all enjoy, so review and tell me what you think.