Cloud Strife (Completed)

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Cloud is a withdrawn and shielded man, sometimes unable to express himself without some degree of difficulty. Because of this, he usually shields himself from contact with anyone else, and has shown that he can turn away from just about anyone without so much as a second thought or a glance. When shown affection, he finds himself sometimes flustered, unsure of how to respond. Very few people, the closest of his friends, are able to tear down this shield and get him to speak truthfully about himself and his feelings. Cloud, as a contrast to how he used to be, does not act rashly anymore, tending to think and calculate before he commits to any action or reaction, not wanting to put effort into something without a good reason.

Cloud tends to keep his distance from his friends and family, often feeling isolated, finding it ideal to deal with his issues himself. He is constantly plagued by his past, afraid that it would somehow catch up to him and cause him to be unable to protect all that he cherishes. Because of this, he will not go out looking for fights, but rather brandish his weapon for reasons of protection or defense. However, once he does fight, his pride and valor shines through, enabling him to shine even in the darkest of battles. Confidence flows from him, and he goes from being calm and collected to being a dangerous, stubborn opponent, sometimes letting a taunt slip while locked in battle.

Cloud, at times, finds it difficult to find any self worth outside of battle, finding himself doing mundane things (such as being a Delivery Boy, rather than a mercenary). He has forgiven himself for Zack, Aerith, and everyone else who had perished during the darkened times when Sephiroth roamed Gaia, but his mind and heart is still fragile from these experiences, causing him to push his loved ones away during times when he finds himself faced with these echoes of his past. His solitary attitude has more than once gotten him into trouble in the past, but he is never afraid to accept help from an ally, no matter how much it damages his pride. Thsoe who might take the time to get to know him will find he is quiet, reserved, and strong beyond belief. However, if they do not have the patience needed, he will disconnect himself and turn away, not findind the interaction worth the stress. Above all else, he retains his pride, honor, and strength for his center. The ones he loves.

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FF Wiki page

Cloud was born in the small town of Nibelheim, tucked away in the mountains. His father had died early in his life, which led to his mother being the one to raise him. Tifa Lockhart was his next door neighbor, though, he didn't speak to her much, being an outcast amongst the other children, though, he had a crush on the young brunette. When he was nine, her mother died, and Tifa was convinced that she could meet her mother again by going into the mountains. When she fell into a coma because of an accident, however, Cloud was blamed for it, and he had blamed himself as well, getting into multiple fights to become stronger, despite himself.

Five years had passed, and Cloud had decided to enlist into a group of elite warriors known as SOLDIER, after hearing about the exploits of the First Class, Sephiroth. He had hoped to gain fame from the status, and promised Tifa that he would return to rescue her under the star filled sky at the water tower. That next spring, he had left for Midgar to pursue his dream.

Unfortunately for the young blonde, Cloud was found to not be cut out for ShinRa, instead being placed in the infantry, performing several duties such as protecting Professor Rayleigh, battling the terrorist group AVALANCHE, and going on a mission to Modeoheim with SOLDIER Fist Class Zack Fair. Cloud and Zack became the best of friends due to their similar pasts and upbringings, both being country boys. However, he was unable to keep Hollander from escaping duringtheir mission due to the defecting SOLDIER First Class Angeal Hewley. He then aided in Junon from the Genesis Clones, soon after being sent on a mission with Zack Fair and Sephiroth to Nibelheim, where his life would ultimately be changed forever.

Embarrassed from not attaining his dream, Cloud kept his helmet on (except when visiting his mother) the entire time being in Nibelheim. Led by Tifa, he, along with Zack and Sephiroth, travel to the Mako Reactor on Mt. Nibel, where Cloud remains outside to guard her, though his identity remains anonymous to Tifa. Inside, Sephiroth makes the discovery of Jenova, believing her to be his mother, and is brought to the path of madness, thanks to Genesis intervening. Genesis knocks Cloud out, leaving Tifa to carry himi back to Nibelheim as Sephiroth locks himself in the ShinRa Manor, driving himself insane from the research he uncovers about Jenova and his past.

Spiraling into madness, Sephiroth burned Nibelheim to the ground, killing the inhabitants, returning to the Reactor to reunite with his 'mother' JENOVA. Cloud follows him there, finding Tifa severely wounded and Zack laying defeated. Taking up the Buster Sword, Cloud strikes down Sephiroth before returning to tend to his friends, only to be stabbed by Sephiroth. Using previously unknown strength, Cloud lifts Sephiroth by his own sword, and hurls him into the Reactor, passing out soon after.

Tifa is rescued by Zangaan, while Zack and Cloud become test subjects for Professor Hojo. Cloud falls into a Mako induced coma, from the combination of being infused with high levels of Mako as well as JENOVA cells, albeit Zack remaining unharmed, due to an immunity from high exposure to Mako. Deemed failures, they are left in the ShinRa basement in stasis.

Four years later, Zack breaks them out and takes them back to Midgar after a year of running from ShinRa. After a desperate last stand, Zack Fair is gunned down on a cliff overlooking Midgar, while Cloud is left for dead due to his coma. Cloud, coming to soon after, awakens to find Zack mortally wounded, and receives the Buster Sword from Zack as he is told to become his living legacy. Cloud wails in mourning and madness, his mind breaking from seeing his friend die, causing him to remember himself in place of Zack as he travels the rest of the way to Midgar alone. He had succeeded in joining SOLDIER in his mind, becoming the Imaginary SOLDIER.

Finding Cloud, Tifa convinces Cloud to join AVALANCHE as a mercenary. After two missions destroying Mako Reactors, Cloud was trapped in a Reactor and fell into a slum below the plate. Luckily, he had landed in Aerith's church, surviving and assisting the flower girl in escaping the pursuing Turks. Soon after he had seen Tifa being taken to Don Corneo's, so Aerith convinced him to cross dress to rescue his friend. The three of them made a daring escape to the sewer, where they made their way to the tower holding up the Sector 7 plate. However, it was destroyed, and Aerith was captured. Cloud and his team rescue her, only to find out that Sephiroth was alive, having murdered President ShinRa.

Leaving Midgar after being pursued from the city, they travel the world, chasing Sephiroth while defending themselves from ShinRa the entire way. They finally reach the Temple of the Ancients, gaining allies along the way in a mission to prevent Sephiroth from attaining and using the Black Materia. Sephiroth murders Aerith, and soon takes control of Cloud's mind, and Cloud begins questioning his memories, being made to deliver the Materia to Sephiroh against his will, falling into the Lifestream. He washes up in Mideel, suffering from Mako Poisoning again. While being looked after by Tifa, he and Tifa both are thrown into the Lifestream again after an attack by the Ultima WEAPON.

Here, Tifa is able to enter his mind, assisting him in sorting out his memory and regaining his true identity. After being rescued by AVALANCHE, they enjoy a lovely evening together under the airship, and advance into the Northern Crater to defeat the true Sephiroth. They barely escape as Holy erupts from the Crater and stops Meteor, saving the world.

However, Cloud is then thrust into the realm of World B to fight in the 12th Cycle of the Dissidia Wars, Cloud being summoned to the side of Chaos alongside Sephiroth. He regains his memories, as well as who Tifa is, soon defending her from Sephiroth and advancing on Chaos on his own. Chaos is merely amused by this act of bravado, striking down Cloud effortlessly and leaving him for dead. His dying words were in a plead to Cosmos to protect Tifa, and, he is summoned as a Warrior of Harmony in the next cycle, being smiled upon by Cosmos for his bravery and heart. Cloud advances to the next cycle, journeying with Tidus, Cecil and Firion in search of their Crystals. Cloud soon encounters Sephiroth, defeating his nemesis and gaining his crystal, though reminded that the only reason he had gotten it was because of Sephiroth, and that the battles wouldn't end. Soon after Cloud assisted his fellow Warriors of Harmony in the final battle against Chaos, returning to his world victorious.

Cloud returned home, soon building a peaceful life with Tifa at the 7th Heaven, until the Geostigma had spread across the world. Contracting it himself, Cloud retreats to Aerith's church, deciding he couldn't take care of his new family with the disease.

Cloud would continue his delivery work, however, and while on the way back to Midgar, was attacked by Remants of Sephiroth. Rufus Shinra, having already known of the Remnants, summons Cloud to aid them in fighting the Remnants, but Cloud declines, returning to Aerith's church. He finds Tifa passed out, then suffers a Geostigma attack. He awakens in their house, finding out that Denzel, Marlene, and the children are missing, having been taken to the Forgotten City by the Remnants. Cloud goes there to save the children, but is defeated due to the Geostigma, but is saved by Vincent, who fills Cloud in on the Remnants, who they are, and what they were planning. He returns to Midgar, engaging the summon Bahamut SIN, and with the help of his friends, defeats the Dragon, pursuing Kadaj through the city. After defeating Kadaj, Cloud's foe reunites with JENOVA, using the cells to recreate Sephiroth. After a long battle, when all seemed lost to Cloud, the Imaginary SOLDIER finds his strength, and defeats Sephiroth. It is after this when Cloud comes to terms with his past, restoring the Buster Sword and leaving it in Aerith's Church in memory for his fallen comrades.

Cloud had been doing the usual business, delivering packages and messages, making a comfortable living for himself, Tifa, and the kids, while Barrett was off doing Gods knows what to the Oil business. The loud voicemails were always an indication of good news, and Cloud very rarely listened to them all the way through if Barrett sounded excited for any reason. Then, of course, it would have to happen, one day when he was away from home, returning from the Healin Lodge, something seemed to open up beneath him. A tear? A hole of some sort? He didn't know, nor did he have any time to think as he and Fenrir were both swallowed up by the rift, vanishing without a trace, other than the abruptly stopping tire tread marks in the barren land.

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Cloud, although being somewhat deprived of his memories, is constantly haunted by echoes of his past.

The dusk had finally settled over the town known as Traverse. Lights, lamps, and lanterns flickered on across the town one by one, basking the town in a low, orange glow that seemed to dance along the walls and the ground. The residents settled in the streets in chairs and steps, some climbing on roofs, others leaning out the windows, looking to the sky eagerly.

Fireworks began shooting up along the north wall, bringing gasps of awe and cheers out from around the town.

A lonely figure sat up on the south wall, looking towards the north as the sky flowers lit up the town while atop his motorcycle. Cloud Strife stood, watching, waiting, enjoying the show and for the first time since his world fell, he was relaxed. He had found Cid, Tifa, Aerith and Yuffie, so far, and it was a matter of time before the others would show up. Barret and Marlene. Vincent. Red XIII. He wondered where they were, and how they were... if they ad run into Sephiroth, or maybe if they had been lucky enough to stumble across Sora.

He revved up the motorcycle and traveled up the wall a short distance, lining himself up with the town square, where, unbeknownst to him, Sora had met Donald and Goofy for the first time. He dismounted the bike, and pushed a switch, engaging the bike's hideaway scabbards for his swords, which when assembled, creates the Fusion Sword, similar in shape and size to Zack's Buster Sword. He even wondered that, because Aerith was back, perhaps Zack was around... it was hard to tell, though... and he had chosen not to get his hopes up regarding that he may see his old friend again.

He peered towards the Fireworks, and let a small smile play on his face for a moment, and enjoyed the show, unseen by anyone below.
A bright flash caught his attention as he skid to a halt on the wall, looking down at the plaza with curiosity. He then idled for a moment, looking into the sky.

"Hm." no fireworks. Must be an intermission. He rolled down some steps and coasted past a blonde young man that looked oh so confused and hopeless. He ignored the young man and kept going, blinking when he saw people crowding around a girl. Was she the cause of the flash? Who knew. What he did know is that people started to murmur about Heartless, and Monsters. He couldn't blame them... when worlds are lost, what could one do other than come to Traverse Town? This was a home away from home, but not for this Delivery Boy. Not for Cloud...

Used to strange things, and people, he rolled up between the crowd and the girl. Several recognized Cloud as being a part of the Hollow Bastion Restorative Committee, and relaxed as he stepped off of Fenrir. "You ok?" he said. This girl had an air of dread around her, which made Cloud's instinct shout Just walk away. She'll be fine. But, then again, ti was more or less against his Psyche to leave anyone alone, possibly hurt, in a place where she could be mauled for her little display of power. Even Mages catch flack around here, because of their Magics... last thing this party needs is to turn into a lynch mob.

"Nothing to see here folks, just a visitor." he said, glancing over his shoulder, his Mako Green eyes glowing in the dim light. People shrugged, and went back to looking up at the skies, waiting for more sky flowers to explode and light up the usually dim town. Cloud held out a hand and awaited the girl's response.

"Welcome to Traverse Town..." he said quietly to the girl, hoping not to scare her.

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