Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Even if the morrow is barren of promises... Nothing shall forestall, my return.

To become the dew that quenches the land...

I offer thee... This silent sacrifice"

Loveless

On this cold street toward sector one was a girl. She was wearing a red jacket over her white robe, and was praying on her knees in front of a pipe, through which a green energy escaped. This energy was called "Mako energy", and was this planet's blood, also called the Lifestream. She got up and walked toward the crowded street. Her flowers were only one dollar each, but still didn't make as many sales as one would expect. She felt like something big was going to happen as the air got heavy. At another part of this huge center building, a train was arriving at a stationl. As simple as that, except it was a train of destiny that would lead to a new story unveiling before your eyes. 

As time goes on, men always stroke for new submits, but what happened will forever be, and so goes on, that's why one must strive to 

"Embrace your dreams..." The train stopped at the station where the infantry men were ready to inspect it. One of them disappeared so fast that his colleague didn't even see him ! 

"Hey, what happened ?" Said the soldier before a girl rushed toward him and kicked him in the stomach. A big man got out of the train, black sunglasses on his nose. His short hair slipped back elegantly. A mountain of muscle. However, the first thing people usually notices was the weapon he got that replaced his right arm. A massive machine gun, that wasn't there just for show. 

"Get down merc" the man who was on the top of the train jumped down, his blond hair waving with the motion of his body. He wore a black overall with a black top sleeveless. He also had one shoulder pad on his right and two different gauntlets. He sheathed his big two handed sword on his back, a thin classic soldier blade he got for a small price. He walked toward the huge man when a group of infantry man walked toward him. 

"You're up, merc" said the man as he walked past them. The soldier shouted "freeze" with their guns up and started shooting at the man who took his sword. He dashed fast toward and got quickly rid of them. He then proceeded to follow the group of four that hired him, protecting them from guards and dogs. Then a man wearing green with brown hair started working with the woman on a machine to get a door opened. 

"He's really handsome, don't you think ?" Said the woman. 

"Hey, he's supposed to be a kind of Ex-Soldier, whatever brought him with us, I'm glad we have him Jessie" Answered the man 

"Yeah, so am I ! So hard to get professionals on the job, it's already enough dealing with you Biggs!" The man chuckled 

-Oh, excuse me miss ! I didn't know "you" were a professional!" The girl opened the door. 

"Huzzah !" She exclaimed. The muscles man got toward the Ex-Soldier. 

"You better be worth the money merc, every last gil" The man sighed, "Cloud, you coming ?" Said the third man, brown hair and with a smile that would melt a thousand ice. But not the cold ice that Cloud got surrounding his heart. 

"You're doing that for us right ? To save the planet?" He said still with this huge smile, Cloud replied 

-Not interested.

-Wedge, get your ass over here !" Said the man with a gun for an arm. 

-Ah Barret ! Wait for me" said the man running toward his leader. The swordman walked a few steps and faced the giant reactor expulsing mako. He looked away and started running to rejoin the others and help them. 

They got through a multitude of checkpoints, hacking their way through rapidly to not raise too much attention on them. They finally got to the reactor, Wedge left on his left. 

"I'll secure the exit ! You guys go raise some hell for me !" He said with a huge smile and his thumb up. Jessie and Biggs responded with a laugh and a thumb up while Cloud sighed. The big man got through and pushed Cloud out of his way. "Let's move." 

He followed through and they walked in. Biggs opened a door and Cloud walked in, but some infantry men closed it right after he entered. He was alone with five man. 

"Surrender !" They shouted

"That's my line" he took his sword and lashed a serie of furious slashes toward them, while expertly dodging bullets, grenades and punches. They were no match. 

Biggs reopened the door and apologised, Cloud told the group to move, and so they did. Biggs stayed behind to make sure the doors stayed open.

Jessie was configuring the elevator. She managed to get it easily, and then they were awaiting for it to reach their floor. 

"Hey, you know Tifa right ? It's not really my business but are you guys close?" Cloud took a second before answering. He remembered the dirt of the old field at his homeland, Nibelheim. He was seven or maybe eight that day... He remembered Tifa, same age, claiming that he was ignoring her. 

"Tifa and I..." Barret got through the now open elevator. Jessie followed him and so did the merc. While getting down, the big man, furiously excited, gave a speech about Shinra. 

"Those bastards are bleeding the planet dry, while we eat, while we drink, while we shit ! It's here sucking up Mako ! The hell you think is gonna happen when it's all gone huh ? You're gonna pretend you can't hear the planet cry ? I know you will ! 

-You really hear that ?" Answered Cloud

-Damn straight I do !

-Get help." The big man got closer to Cloud, angrily. 

"The hell did you say ?" The elevator shook as it arrived to the desired floor.

"I'll worry less about the planet, and more about the next five seconds. Save the screaming for later" Barret sighed and left the elevator with Jessie. Cloud followed closely. 

"I'm watching your every step merc. You hear me ? One single wrong move..." He shot behind Cloud and took down a turret. 

"So much for being a swordman, there's just places a sword can't reach." Said Jessie while getting closer to Cloud. "Bear with him for me will you?" Barret laughed while showing his gun.

"Should have asked for more money." Said the merc as the group walked toward the core of the reactor. Taking down the turrets was easy for Barret while the amazing swings of Cloud's sword took down every soldier on the way. 

"What are you again ? Twenty or something ?" Asked Barret

"Never went in soldier" answered the blond man

"I meant your age !

-Oh hmm... Yeah, twenty-two I guess...

-You guess ? So what, merc doesn't know his own age ? Basic math or something? Screw that? 

-Screw you" Barret grunt but still got alongside the merc, and finally they got to the reactor core. Jessie told them to go and take care of it while she would wait for them. She handed the bomb to Barret who gave it to Cloud instead when they were in front of the core. 

"So, let's see if the man can bite the hand that fed." He took it quickly and posed it on the core. He suddenly had a headache and saw a black feather. He knew what it was symbolising.

"Careful Cloud... It is not just a reactor..." He was dazzled for a bit, before Barret asked him how he was. 

"I'm fine... What about the timer ?

-Your call merc." He sighed and put twenty minutes on the detonator. "Pretty cocky ain't ya ?" Said the big man when suddenly a metallic sound got their attention. "What in the hell ? 

-Heads up!" Said Cloud as the giant red metallic scorpion fell on them. 

"What's that ! 

-A guardian machine hear to protect the core.

-And so what do we do ? 

-Lightning magic !" Barret laughed all out. 

"Oh yeah ! Suck on this!" He fired a lightning strike thanks to the green materia he got in his gun's ornament. The thunderclap stroke the scorpion guardian violently. "Hell yeah !" He screamed while Cloud wasn't reassured yet. A flash of red light shine through the smoke. Cloud quickly pushed Barret out of a ray of raw energy. 

"An auto barrier unit ? Never seen that kind of system before...

-What do we do now ?" The scorpion rushed toward Cloud who jumped out of the way, he tried to cut one of his legs off but the barrier made it rebound. Barret shot at it to gather his attention when Cloud saw that one bullet got through. "That's it!" He thought as he saw the core of the barrier, and slashed it violently! And then suddenly the barrier was gone, the volley of bullet got through the metal armor of the scorpion.

"What did you do ? 

-Doesn't matter, kill it !" The tail of the Scorpion rose as a beam of light started to gather at it's top. Barret quickly jumped behind some debries that fell down from all the fight and the beam got fired at him. Thankfully the debries blocked it. Cloud quickly cut down the tail and got his sword down on it's head. Then he followed with a serie of three slashes in a cross pattern to destroy the armor. 

"Get the job done !

-Firing one of !" Barret shot a huge orb of red energy and explode the giant scorpion from its inside.  It got down but quickly rose up, and like a crazy machine started firing in all directions, all debris falling beside them. 

"Shit the bomb !" Screamed Barret while the automated voice of the detonator said 

"Twenty minutes until detonation" The Scorpion Guardian finally fell into the Mako, and exploded one final time.

"Think we got him ?" Asked Barret

"Let's move." Cloud started running followed closely by Barret, they got up but stuff was exploding everywhere because of the crazy rampage the Scorpion Guardian caused. "Shit" said Cloud as one part of the ground collapsed. He barely made it out and got close to Jessie, who was stuck under debries. 

"Hey Cloud, you alright here ?

-Yeah, got Jessie with me" he shove off her the debris. 

"My hero" she said.

-Let's meet up with Biggs !"Screamed Barret as the group got separated. They finally met back with everyone and rushed into the elevator. Barret started to get nervous and walked in circle in the elevator slowly rising up. He then saw Cloud with his eyes closed, patiently waiting. He sighed and watched Jessie as nervous as him. The door opened and they all ran as fast as possible when a part of the floor collapsed under Cloud. He jumped fast on falling debris to get back to them. Jessie who saw it all commented:

"Okay, that, that was pretty cool !" He smirked, and they finished their run outside of the blasting zone. The whole plate exploded, destroying cars. The whole town got damaged. Peoples were crying, people died. But the crew were unharmed. 

They got out of the small tunnel they got in and arrived at the scene of the destruction. 

"No... No way..." Said Jessie. 

"It couldn't have been us... Could it?" Said Biggs

"What's done is done

-The merc is right" Said the leader, "It ain't petty but it ain't over yet, we still have a lot to do, but I'm here for you, to help take the load off your shoulder ! Whatever your needs, your fears, your worries, and yes, your fees" he said while staring at Cloud, "Whatever it is, I gotchu." Everyone rejoiced thanks to the speech of the man, Cloud started walking toward the exit. 

"Let's split up, won't gather any attention that way.

-He always knows just what to say !" Sais Jessie

-Meet you guys at the train station ?" Said Wedge, while the whole team agreed.

"Hey" Jessie stopped Cloud, "This is for you, for saving my life" she gave him a healing materia. Cloud didn't know how to react. "I was lucky to have you help me" he sighed and replied. 

"Survival is a matter of luck, or skill, and you can't rely on both" he said, following by a thanks. He then moved on.

A few meters further, an explosion went on, and threw off Cloud, who was making his way toward the train station. Everyone was screaming as fire started to spread. The merc started panting slowly. He remembered a whole kind of different fire, his hometown. When suddenly he remembered the black swordman with silver hairs. And black wings. He recovered his mind, seeing no one was before him, as he turned and hurt a chest. It was him. 

"Sephiroth ?" His head started to hurt a lot as he followed the man, stumbling around. Finally he catched up to him.

"You're not real... You're... Dead..

-Am I ?" Said the man turning around 

-Yes... I killed you with my own... 

-Oh you need not remind me... This was the crowning moment of our time together ! Your town that burns so bright ! The cry of your mother pleading for me to spare you as her flesh yields to cold steel. Oh yes, but that was then, and this ! This, is now. Which is why I must ask you this. Don't worry, it's a simple thing. Run, Cloud. Run away! You have to leave ! You have to live." 

That was too much for the young man. "You Bastard !!!" He yelled slashing in the wind as the ghost of his former foe disappeared. 

"Good Cloud... Very good... Hold on to that hatred..." He said while Cloud gathered his thoughts. 

"I'm seeing things... Fume from the mako maybe ?" He thought as he got back to the street.  Then he stumbled across a woman. 

"Are you okay ?

-huh?" Said the young man to the woman. Her brown hair falling on her back contrasting nicely with her red jacket and white dress. 

"It looks like you just seen a ghost...

-I'm fine. 

-Hey wait ! Here, this is for you." The young women handed him a flower.

"Lovers used to give those to each other, so find the right person to give it to." She said while putting it on his uniform. Cloud remarked behind her an infantry man looking for him. 

"Hey, you should go, I'm involved in things, dangerous things.

-so?

-So keep your distance." He pushed the woman as an infanty man recognised him. 

"Freeze ! Put the sword down !" Cloud smirked. 

"You sure you want me to do that?" He leaped in the air and stroke down the man. He then ran as fast as he could away from the young lady who got asked questions by another officer. Cloud stroke down a few soldiers while getting cornered next to a hole. 

"You've got nowhere to run, end of the line punk!" They screamed, but the swordman had one last plan. He jumped behind him in the hole that led to a train track and ended up on the top of one of them while the infantry men could do nothing but watch him go far and further away from them. 

He managed to knock on the freight car door, which opened up. He jumped into it, scaring everyone. There was Barret and the others in it. 

"Damn it, I was starting to worry !" Said Barret. Everyone looked at him strangely as he cough. "I mean what the hell were you up to huh ? Go now, spread out !" The group walked in the cars, Cloud chatted with Jessie for a bit. 

"Hey about that bomb, it's just... I was sure about what I chose to put in it... Guess I was mistaken...

-Like I said, what's done is done. Maybe it triggered a reaction with the Mako. 

-You think so ?

-Why not ?" She sighed

-No, it's my fault, if I gotta learn from it might as well take the blame. Thanks Cloud, you're a good listener." 

The train arrived at destination. Everyone got back at their home while Cloud followed Barret back to Seventh Heaven. A young girl about the same age as cloud, black long hair, wearing a white tank and a black short, was waiting for them. 

"Hey Tifa ! Where's Marlene?" Asked Barret. She put her finger in front of her mouth. 

"Shh, she's sleeping" Barret sighed, and entered the bar behind her. Cloud sighed too, but greeted Tifa as they both walked toward their appartment. They were neighbour as Cloud had the middle appartment, in between Tifa's and his other friend's one.

"Are you okay ?" She asked

-Yeah, I'm fine don't worry. 

-So, how was it on the plate...

-It was... Chaotic, but we managed." She sighed. 

-Zack knows you got away... He's not happy with it.

-A job's a job." Tifa was worried, she felt like Zack was right. She was having second thoughts about this whole bombing situation. And she was worried about her childhood friend. But it was late so, they stopped at her appartment next to Cloud's, and said goodnight. She closed the door when she heard another one open. 

"Cloud, we gotta talk." Said a man wearing almost the same outfit as Cloud but with black hairs and a scar across his face. 

"Zack ?" Said Cloud

-You left to go help Barret right ?" Cloud sighed.

-What's the problem ? 

-Really ? Bombing reactors ? Killing peoples ? Is that how you want to live your life ? 

-It's not your business. 

-Well it is ! I'm the one who taught you how to fight and I didn't do it so that you could destroy innocent lives ! 

-I did it for the money, we need it. 

-Barret and his friend care for the planet at least ! You're gonna tell me you did all that just to get money ? 

-It's not like that." Cloud was mad so he opened the door of his room but stopped for a sec.

-Zack, I'm sorry if I upset you. Good night." He closed the door. The other man sighed

"Boy oh boy, what am I gonna do with him..." He got back to his room and slept a full and good night.

Chapter Text

"This is my honor, my dreams..." Those were the final words of a father to a son, who died and gave him a present, a sword. The Buster Sword. And this same sword was passed down by his owner to his friend, Angeal Hewley gave the Buster Sword to Zack Fair. And since thay day it has been his most cherished treasure. The symbol of his honour, and his master's one. So that's why he really nevers live it behind, ever. First thing in the morning when he wakes up, he puts behind this back. And today was no special day. He took it and left the house, quickly pronouncing his mantra like every day.
He passed in front of Cloud's appartment and hesitate whether to knock or leave him alone. He scratched his head and told himself "Oh well" before leaving for Seventh Heaven.
Many people great him while he walked past them. He helped a good number of those folks every single day since he got to sector seven.
He finally got in front of Seventh Heaven, and knocked before entering. Tifa great him.
"Hey, slept well" she smiled
"Like a baby ! Thanks again for everything Tifa !" He smiled back, and went to do some squats, she laughed and joined them
"You know, there really is something addictive about those !
-Right? I can do this all day !
-We should really go for a contest one day !
-For sure hahaha !" They went back to normal standing and laugh for a while. Then Zack asks: "So, need help for something?" Tifa thinks for a sec:
"Well... Yeah I think you could help" Marlen got down from the stairs.
"Hey Zack !
-Heya ! How are you little princess?" She laughed
-I'm good ! My dad went home so I can spend the whole day with him !
-Is that so !" She laughed. She really liked Zack and his good attitude! Tifa told Marlene her and Zack were about to go help folks, and she told them good luck as they were leaving.
"Barret should probably get around soon enough, don't worry about Marlene !" Said Tifa.
-Yeah, I bet he will ! So, what's the program sir ?
-Okay ! First, we go find Biggs and Wedge who holds the fort at the Neighbor Watch ! Maybe they will have some folks needing help for us to help !" They both got to them as climbing a ladder.
"Hey guys ! Got something?" Said Tifa
-Oh hey Tifa !" Greeted them Wedge
-And Zack too !" Added Biggs
-Hey guys ! So what's new, who's in need of help !
-Some monsters in the boulevard as always !
-Nothing you two can't handle, right ?" Said Biggs. Tifa and Zack nodded and got toward the Square Boulevard, home for a lot of monsters those days. They crossed their first insects like monsters, as Zack grabbed his sword and slashed through them, he grabbed one of them by the tail and throwed him toward Tifa who killed it fast in the air.
"Awesome !" Claimed Zack, then they destroyed a lot of monsters, even some kind of very muscular dog as they both punched him on the mouth and killed it.
"All done, thanks for your help
-Hey, I barely was of any help, you were amazing !" He told her as she laughed
"Yeah, I'm pretty good at taking care of myself! But you were not too shabby !
-Heh, could have done it blindfolded !" They both got back to the Neighbour watch and were thanked by Biggs and Wedge. They then got back to Seventh Heaven, after splitting the money of the job in half. Then an old lady asked them to help carrying heavy stuff, which they did free of cost. Tifa talked to Zack while doing it.
"You know, I wish there was a way to do things peacefully...
-what do you mean ?
-Well... I'm not saying I don't understand why Barret and the others bombed the reactor, but... I think I'm having second thoughts...
-Yeah, you should have I think... A bombing is not a thing you can easily look past...
-Not only that... I'm scared of losing everything once more...
-Oh..." Zack put in place the things he was carrying "I'm sorry Tifa... If only I was stronger, I could have stopped this madness... I could have killed Sephiroth before it was too late !" She sighed after puttin the box down.
-It's okay, you did your best and it's not on you... Besides, Sephiroth is long gone now..." She breathed heavily. "I think Cloud changed since the incident... He is acting strange since then !
-What do you mean ? Do you know something I don't ?
-It's not that... It's just that I feel like he's hiding things, from you and me... I overheard your talk yesterday you know...
-Is that so..." He walked around "I swear I feel like kind of a dad with him you know ?" She laughed.
-Maybe more an older brother! You're too young to be his father
-Yeah, maybe haha!" They laughed and got back to the bar. When they arrive they see Cloud talking with Barret.
"Here's your fees, merc. With a little more for special services." Cloud took the money and crossed Zack's eyes. He looked away quickly. Zack tells Tifa he may leave for today.
"Going to see Aerith ?" He laughed and walked past the door. "So, Cloud... What about some more works ?
-For the right price." She laughs and they both leave as well. Barret ran to catch Zack before he left at the train station.
"Wait up merc !
-Oh hey ! What's up ?
-You know, we could use someone like you ! You're stronger than a lot of peops and plus you seem like a good man ! So, wanna join us ? We'll pay you well of course !" Zack thought about it for a bit but quickly answered.
-I'm sorry but, I'll sit this one out. I wanna stick it to Shinra too, don't misunderstand, but... There are other ways than involving innocent peoples...
-Innocent ? They're up here, knowing damn well how we suffer, but they don't move a damn thinger !
-They don't deserve to have they life destroyed! We all wants what's best for the one we love, don't you get that ?" Barret stopped for a moment and calmed down.
-Yeah, I get it... Would have done anything for Marlene back in the days... But I don't see any other way, do you ?" He left. "One more thing. If you have a change of mind, you know where to find us." Zack went on with his day and took the train to Sector Five.
He went straight for the church when he arrived, knowing that at this time of the day she would be taking care of her flowers, and he was damn right. He pushed the door open and yelled.
"I'm Back !" A woman jumped a bit but laughed it off. She was the flower girl who gave Cloud his.
"Hey, you know you don't need to burst in like so !" Zack apologize. "You could at least say something more gentle..."
"Like, Helloooooo ?" They laugh all loud.
-You remember !
-How could I forget ?
-Hmm I dunno, you've been through a lot..." Zack cheered her up by tapping her shoulder and laughing.
"So, what are de doing today ?
-Hmm... I dunno..." Zack sighed. "Did you have something in mind ?" She asked.
-Not really no..." He saw that she was councerned so he added. "Oh I'm fine ! It's nothing!"
-Yeah, sure seems like so...
-Sorry it's...
-You don't have to tell me you know ? I understand some things need to remain silent.
-It's not like that... There's this friend of mine who gets reckless, he went on with a dangerous job that could have gotten him kill and involved a lot of innocent peoples. And I dunno what to tell him.
-I see... I've met a blond man with a sword yesterday you know... " Zack looked at her, councerned."He said he was involved in dangerous thing... I think it might have been him. He wore almost the same outfit as you do." Zack walked around. "You shouldn't worry, he seemed to handle things well." He stopped.
-I really should introduce you to him..." She blushed. He laughed and scratched his head. She then broke the silence.
"Hey ! I know what will get you back on your feet ! How about one date ?
-That's my line !
-Oh yeah ? You don't want to then ?
-Of course I want ! Wait for me !" He said following her. They walked toward her house, knowing Elmyra wouldn't have a problem with Zack being there. She greeted them with a nice meal and everyone ate their fil !
"So, Aerith told me you've been hanging around here again Zack ?" Said her mother.
"Oh yeah ! A lot happened during those five years... But I'm back for good now !
-Yup, and he makes sure to let me know" she laughed while Zack looked puzzled. Elmyra smiled. But then looked at Zack and kept a straight face. She asked Aerith to go wash the dishes.
"Need help Aerith ?" Asked the man while Elmyra told him to sit down. He did as he was asked and Aerith looked councerned. She waited for Aerith to start washing the dish to talk to him.
"So, Aerith told me you were a soldier is that right ?
-Yes ma'am...
-You should stop talking to Aerith.
-Wha...
-You soldiers made a trade, a normal life for power, and you can't have both." Zack got sad. "I don't mean you harm, but I want what's best for my girl. Do you understand?
-I... I guess so...
-What do you want with her anyway ?" Zack paused for a second.
-I don't know...
-Hey, I'm done mom !" Aerith took Zack by the hand and pulled him toward her. "We're gonna get outside to help folks around ! I'll be back before noon !"
-Wait a sec, Aerith !" She left with Zack and closed the door behind.
"Hum... You okay there ?" Zack asked.
-Just so you know... It's my life, so I make the choices, not her." Zack scratched his head but nodded. "Good !" She gave him a basket.
"What's with that ?
-Earlier today the orphanage asked me for flowers ! So I need your help to choose them and carry them !
-Yes ma'am !" They took some flowers while Aerith explained their meanings to Zack. They had a good laugh while Aerith questioned Zack's intentions with his choice of picks. The they left to the orphanage. Aerith entered with him and they helped building a flower emblem in the shape of a Chocobo. The orphanage keeper was worried and Aerith saw it, so she asked if something has happened.
"One kid didn't attend school today... I don't know if something happened to him...
-Where does he live ?" Asked Aerith
-To the east, not far near the... Ill man...
-Ill man ?" Asked Zack
-You'll see, let's go find him.
-Okay !" They left to the east, contouring the huge central place where everyone was watching the news about the blown up reactor. They arrived to child's home where they knocked on the door. The children opened the door.
"Aerith ? What's happening and who's this with you ?
-Hey Oax, you okay ? You didn't show up today so you got the older ones worried..." Said Aerith
-Oh, yeah... I got a problem with the man living next to mine...
-Oh, I see... What happened ?
-He collapsed so I got him in my house but he's been behaving weirdly... Like something was taking control of his body...
-Why didn't you ask for help ?
-Actually he did !" A man walked towards them, wearing a long white blouse. "Dr Martin, sorry to barge in but I overheard the conversation." Aerith recognised the doctor of the Sector Five.
-Oh that's perfect! What's happening doctor ?
-Hmm, hard to tell... Is that a soldier with you ?" He said pointing towards Zack.
"Ex-Soldier, the name's Zack, pleasure to meet ya !" He said while shaking his hand.
-Listen Zack, this mind come as a shock to you so maybe you shouldn't enter...
-Huh ? Why, what happened ?" The doctor looked at Aerith who nodded his way. He then guided them inside the house toward the bed where an ill man was laying down, wearing a black robe and having a number tattoo on his shoulder.
"What happened to him?" Asked Zack.
-We don't really know..." Answered Aerith, the doc took a serious ton:
-There's no telling if this theory is right but... I think they are Ex-Soldier suffering from... Cellular degradation..." Zack took a few step back. He understood the words but couldn't believe what he heard. Is "That" the future that awaits him? "You soldiers traded a normal life for power, you can't have both". Those words rang through his head. He didn't want to believe it. And then a voice in his head told him: "And what if it seems hopeless? You wanna give up?" He shook his head. He then asked:
"Is there anything we can do to help ?" The doc sighed.
-Not really no, we can give him drugs to make him numb, but his days are numbered... I wouldn't give him much time...
-It's horrible..." Said Aerith. Zack remembered how he felt about Soldier... Angeal pondered the question: "Is Soldier a den of monster ?" He got out then as Aerith followed.
"Zack wait!" She catched up to him, "You're gonna be okay, I know we'll find something!
-Yeah..." He was lost in thoughts... If he could take it back, not going in soldier, would he do it ?
"Help !!" Oax shouted as a huge volatile monster approached and began to attack the robbed man. The doctor tried to protect the man but too late. Zack took his sword and dashed toward him. He jumped and tried to slash it, though it managed to evade the strike and gathered magic. Zack took his materia and unleashed an ice spell to create a platform which he used to jump over the enemy and strike him down.
"Wow, that was cool mister !" Said the kid. Zack was conflicted, but saw his sword. Then he thought "If I didn't get in Soldier, would I've been able to protect them ?" And remembered the symbol of this sword, honor and dreams. A resolve refound, he put back his sword on his back.
"He's severely bleeding!" Shouted the doctor as Aerith was trying to help stop the bleeding of the robbed man. He touched Aerith's shoulder while heavily moaning because of the pain.
"Re... Reunion..." He used his last breath to say those words and died. Aerith took two steps back while the doctor pronounced the robbed man dead. Zack tries to occupy the kid's attention. Aerith took the kid by her hand and they walked toward the orphanage. The woman saw the blood on Aerith and rushed toward them, Aerith cleaned herself while Zack told everything to her. She then came back and finally was able to leave with Zack.
They walked together to the park where they both sat up a huge slide.
"So..." Said Aerith
-I'm fine, really ! I think I'm walking in circle that's all...
-Why?
-The bombings, Avalanche, Barret, Tifa and Cloud... What am I supposed to do ? If I help them I get along with bombing reactors but if I do nothing I'm no good either...
-I think you should follow your heart, you'll find a way. I mean, it's what I think !" Zack smiled and thanked her. It was getting late so he took Aerith back and went back to Sector seven. She smiled as he left, grateful of the day she passed with him.
When he got back, Cloud was alone trying to help a bunch of peoples charging the back of a truck. He rushed to help him. When they were done the both of them silently walked toward Seventh Heaven. They stopped in front of it.
"Hey Cloud... About yesterday, I feel like you went too far..." His friends frowned.
"Money is money. We need it Zack.
-It's not that ! I'm councerned about you, can't you see ? I don't want to lose you buddy !
-I know, I'm doing everything I can to help you, that's my only goal.
-What do you mean ?
-I try to be there for you, but I feel like I'm nothing but a burden to you. But if I manage to go through big contract like those, I feel like I help ! I want to be there for you Zack, like you were to me." Zack laugh.
-Is that so ? And what about Tifa then ?
-Tifa?
-She needs you buddy, so be there for her you see ? She's having second thoughts about all this too !
-But then what about you ?" Zack pat Cloud's Shoulder.
-Hey we got each other backs right ? It's my job to keep you safe you got it ?" They laugh and finally get along again. Tifa then ran to them from a few blocks away.
"Zack Cloud, come with me, quickly !
-What happened ?
-It's Johnny, he's got kidnapped by Shinra!" Johnny was a good guy who knew too much about Avalanche, they instantly rushed to help him. They managed to get near without making any noise. The red punk hair man told the infantry men about Avalanche and just as he was about to say everything Tifa jumped and punched him to knock him down. The guards took their guns but were quickly dealt with by the two swordsmen. Tifa wonders what they'll do about Johnny.
"He's a talker" said Cloud getting close to him with his sword. He stroke down but Zack blocked it with the handle of his sword. Tifa then takes Cloud away from Johnny.
"Don't do it ! You're scaring me..." Cloud sheet his sword.
-But... What do we do about him? " Zack leant forward:
-leave town, that's your only warning." Johnny ran away as fast as possible. Tifa looked at Cloud worried, he sighed. The group goes back to Seventh Heaven where Barret was having a reunion. They talked about their next target, the Reactor 5.
"Oh guys ! You finally came ? Listen, we'll pay you well if you accept to work with us again, how about it ?" Tifa took Cloud's arm and whispered "don't go".
"I'll go, but I want a raise." Said the blond man.
-In your dreams! This is the money I reserved for Marlene studies !" Jessie got close to Barret and whispered:
"We kinda need the extra hand boss, not the time to play the economist !
-But what about Marlene ?" He whispered back.
-We'll figure it out !
-Oh alright! Three grands, not one more !
-I'm in then." Tifa sigh. Zack saw that and he remembered everything he went through today, so he took his stand.
-Well consider yourself lucky ! I'm in too, don't worry no extra money charges !
-You coming ?"Said Barret
-Yeah, why not ! Someone gotta keep en eye on our friend !" He put his arm around Clouds shoulders.
-I'm coming too" said Tifa
-You sure?" Asked Barret
"I... I want to help, I really do so... Yes, I'm sure.
-Okay, don't worry we'll be there for you." Reassured Barret. The group finally settled on everything, Cloud left early to go and get some rest while Zack talked to Tifa in private before returning home.
"Hey, so about the bombing...
-Yes ?
-I... I'll maybe try to prevent them of making the reactor explode...
-What ?
-Don't worry, I will find a way to show Shinra our regards but... Bombing a reactor ? You saw what happened after the reactor one right ?
-Yeah... People suffered a lot...
-That was too much chaos... So, I'm gonna try to find a more "peaceful" way to pass the message.
-I think you're right to do so ! If you need help with something you can ask me !
-Thanks Tifa, I'll talk to you." They arrived near the apartment and Tifa got to sleep. Zack waited a while before sleeping, he was really trying to find a way to stop the bombing, but maybe Barret was right... What if there were no other ways ? He heard somebody walk in front of the apartments so he got up and close to the door, sword armed just in case. He heard Jessie's voice, she was talking to Cloud.
"So, you in ? We need someone with your talent, Biggs and Wedge are full of good intentions don't get me wrong, but you, you're a pro !
-What's in it for me ?
-Straight to the point huh ? I like that ! What about one date?
-Don't play dumb.
-And what about that ! You know what it is, right ?
-Summoning Materia. Those are hard to come around. I'll take it, thanks.
-Perfect! Rest of the payment will be dued after the mission, I'll leave you to the preparation! Don't keep me waiting though, merc !" She said teasing him.
-Psych !" She left and Cloud sigh. Zack heard everything and knew Cloud was going to fake his sleep, so he waited even though he was tired, but knew his friend might need him, doing squats as he always does ! So when later Cloud sneaked out of the appartment, Zack followed him stealthily.

Chapter Text

Sometime before all the bombing started, there was a beautiful lady who made her debut as a dancer to a famous place called "The Gold Saucer". She was an actress and performed in a show named "Loveless", which was as famous as it is still today. But now, she's a fighter who's trying to bring Shinra down, in an organization called "Avalanche".
So that girl messed up and blew up a whole plate instead of only the reactor, that was the tragic events of Sector 1. Why did they do that ? To fight Shinra, to stop them from destroying the planet by bleeding it dry. But this girl ?. She joined for a personal reason. Her and the merc she hired waited for a train, planning to use the false ID'S she made. She didn't know the Ex-Soldier was following them. However, the young man saw that he wasn't the only one planning to go with them, as Biggs and Wedge brought two bikes. Zack got to them and told them to whisper, so they did.
"What are you doing here ?" Said Biggs, to which Wedge answered:
"I see ! You want to help them too right ? I knew you were caring for our cause !
-Yeah... I saw Cloud sneaking out so I followed them... See, I'm not planning on letting him get injured or worse !
-Heh, figured you had a heart made out of gold !" Said Wedge with his usual huge smile.
-Hey, you can carry this third bike with you Zack ! Might get useful.
-What for ?
-We're going up the plate I think ! Maybe Jessie wanted to get to her parents house !
-Employee house district ? Huh, wouldn't have guessed they were Shinra's !
-It's more complicated than that... Let's get to her !" Zack grabbed the first bike a bit further on the train station and followed the group who got in front of Jessie and Cloud.
"What are you doing here ?" Said Jessie. "Did I say something in my sleep?
-We saw both of you sneaking out" added Biggs, "We figured you were going up top, right ?
-Bull's eye! And you guys wanted to come with us ?
-Last train left, so if you wanna go you'll need bikes !
-Zack, you coming with too ?" Said Cloud.
-Told ya I won't leave ya ! So yeah, guess I'll be coming to keep an eye out !" The other parts of the group laughed. Cloud got on a bike with Jessie on his back while Biggs and Wedge got on another. Zack took the one he carried and grabbed his sword.
"I'm going up ahead, in case there's troopers !" He said as he fired up the engine. He drove fast and the two other bikes followed through. It didn't took long before a bunch of motorcycle troops followed them, weapon in hand. They started shooting at Zack who pulled the handle to dodge them.
"It's showtime !" He said while slicing and driving through them all with the Buster Sword.
"Wow ! That's a man who knows how to handle his sword !" Said Jessie as Cloud grunt.
-If he can do it, then so can I !" He fired up the engine and Jessie gasped and grabbed Cloud's back as they got past the speed limit. Cloud grabbed his sword and sliced through an engine while driving. They continued driving for a while, parrying and defeating numerous infantry man and machines emitting laser beams. They finally passed a man with a red bike. Zack saw him but didn't pay as much attention as it deserved. A few minutes later the man drove past cloud and tried to kill him with a sword. Thankfully, he parried the hit.
"Whooo ! That was sick buddy hahaha !" He said while trying to hit him another time and driving past him. Zack slowed down to reach his side and attempted to push his bike to make him fall. "And we got two dancers today ! You better keep me entertained boys !
-Who's that freak ?" Asked Jessie to Cloud. Biggs tried shooting at the man who quickly turned his bike and slashed through the gun, destroying it.
-Nuh uh ! This is a race for soldiers only !" He quickly spinned his bike and drove fast toward the two bikes, leaving an electric trail behind it.
"Is that materia ?" Asked Zack
-Hehehe, bull's eyes my friend !" He threw some electric spells toward the bikes, which they managed to avoid just in time. They got out of the tunnel toward the train station. "Come on boys, show me what kind of Soldier you are haha !
-Ex-Soldiers !" Replied Zack while kicking the man's bike. "And who are "you" btw ?
-The speed demon ! You cross him, you die. The name is Roche by the way, not ex but soldier, first class !
-Shut up." Said Cloud
-Oh, someone's eager for a fight !" He moved his ankle to speed up even further like he had nitro firing up, and catch up to Cloud, Zack struck him with his blade and pushed him, they exchanged a few hits from their blades and Roche managed to take the upper hand and drive past the ex-soldier. Zack turned his bike and drew a circle on the sword with his sword to gather energy, and fired a mako slash towards Roche's bike who almost couldn't dodge it.
"You've got some fire in you pal ! I loove it !" He said while laughing. He drove on some debris and somehow managed to launch himself with the bike up, wind materia perhaps ? Thought Zack, but then using his lightning materia, he managed to spin his bike fast toward Zack with a menacing hit in store. The black hair man managed to drift with his bike and passed just under Roche who crashed a few miles before the man. The soldier fired his engine up and rejoined Cloud while Zack tried to get his bike back up after the drift.
"Lookout !" He shouted and Cloud blocked some mean hits just in time, but it threw him several times off balance. He knew he had to act fast.
"Take the wheel" he said to Jessie who started panicking as he jumped off the bike toward Zack, who propulsed him further with the help of the buster sword.
"Heads up !" Fired Zack while Cloud used the adrenaline and speed to catch up at Roche and, with a spin of his body, stroke heavily the front of Roche's bike, and destroyed the engines. The soldier's bike started decelerating as the merc jumped back on his bike with Jessie quickly putting herself back as a back warmer. He arrived at Roche's level.
"Not bad." He drove past him. Roche's laughed.
"Til we meet again my friend ! Hahahahaa !
-What was him all about ?" Said Biggs who finally catched up to the two swordsmen.
-Got no idea man !" Said Zack.
-You passed the test !
-Huh ?" Jessie hugged tight Cloud's back.
-The driving test
-Of couse I did.
-Well, you want a reward ?
-No thanks..." She kissed him on the cheek.
-What did you say ?
-Hey no kiss !
-Well, you got one anyway!" She hugged him back. The group arrived at the end of the track and continued by foot, so they climbed a few stairs and arrived to the residential district. The group walked a few blocks until they arrived to a lighted house. "Still leaves the lights on for the girl who comes back once every two blue moons... Mom's a kind of an old classic like that !
-She makes the best pizza ! Think she made her "Midgar's Special"" said Wedge patting his belly.
-I'm sure there'll be enough for everyone ! Cloud, you know what to do.
-Yeah.
-You're not coming bro ?" Said the good heart man.
-Not your bro.
-It's alright bro ! And what about you Zack ?
-I'll pass, thanks for the proposal !
-You sure ?" Asked Biggs, "It's really that good, you might not want to miss it !
-I'll keep an eye out on that guy" He said designing Cloud." Another time perhaps !" They left and entered the house, leaving Cloud and Zack outside and alone.
"So, what's this all about ? You on a date ?" Asked Zack
-Course not ! I'm on a job.
-Oh yeah ? What kind of.
-When the light goes out I'm in. Through the back door, I need to rob Jessie's place.
-What ? She asked you to do that ?
-Yeah, apparently she needs a key card or a badge to enter a Shinra facility. That's only part one of the job.
-So you take on any kind of jobs now huh ? Even robberies? " Cloud sighed while the light got on. "Ah !" Zack put himself near the door and nodded at Cloud, who got around the house and then in. He opened a few doors til he arrived at the dad's room. He was mako poisoned, unconscious. Cloud took the badge from one of his father pockets, on the Id it was referred as "Shinra Employee". He whispered "Thanks" before leaving the house and going back to Zack who took a deep breath.
"You gave me goosebumps man !" He said while going for some squats.
-You still doing them ?
-Why not ? I mean, what would I do otherwise ?
-Never understood why you had such a focus on this exercise
-Haha ! Never lose focus man !" Inside the house they were all enjoying the pizzas. Wedge took a few more slices and Jessie was talking with her mom about her cover: to her mom she was and will still be working at the Gold Saucer. Biggs said she was doing an amazing job, and she kicked him under the table to change the subject. Jessie finally said she had to leave and the group left, fast because they knew Wedge's resistance for pizza was weak. Jessie promised she would come back to her mom one day.
"Sorry, hope I wasn't too long !" She said looking at Cloud.
-Everything good ?" He gave her the ID badge.
-Thanks, now it really is perfect. That's where we split up. Biggs, Wedge, can you go with them ? I need you guys to raise attention on you if that's okay.
-Wait, where are you going ?" Said Biggs, she then proceeded to explain the plan, raiding a Shinra facility to gather the required chemicals for a less potent bomb. So they starting executing the plan as the group walked toward the checkpoint.
"So Cloud, I guess you saw her father right ?" Asked Biggs
-You guys knew ?
-Yeah..." Answered Wedge.
-Mako poisoned... But hah, you wouldn't care.
-No, I wanna hear it." Said Cloud.
-He had to go check up the reactor and he collapsed in the worst place to. He got hard Mako poisoned the night Jessie had her first role in the Gold Saucer. The next day she was joining Avalanche." Tell Biggs while Wedge continued.
-Jessie's got a theory ! She thinks her dad spirit is stuck on the lifespring between it and the reactor.
-If Shinra continues, his spirit might get stuck in the reactor and then poof.
-Ha" Cloud laugh as Zack looked confused.
-What's funny about it ?
-Just that I finally understand you guys...
-Huh ? Well, don't tell Jessie about it !" Said Biggs "When she gets mad, she gets punchy.
-No promises" said Cloud
-The nerve of that guy !" Said Biggs laughing. Zack smiled when he saw his friend opening up a bit.
-That's great man ! You slowly feel like yourself again !
-What ?" Asked Cloud to Zack.
-Well, it's like you're losing that hard edge !
-Huh... Guess so." They arrived at the site. The group saw one of the troopers collapsed. Zack got to check his pulse.
-He's dead..." Everybody got shocked. Cloud looked up and saw that there was a water wheel. He suddenly remembered one specific moment of his life. It was just before he left his birth place for Midgar to engage in soldier, following Sephiroth's steps like a lot of others did. He was, as usual, sitting on the water wheel in the center place, waiting for his friend Tifa. When she arrived, she sat near him and they started to talk. She made him promise that, whenever she would need him, he would come and save her. He did promise her that and remembered that Zack told him she was having second thoughts. Before he could think more about it all, they heard some voices.
"Come on troopers ! We need to find the culprit and fast !
-Jessie ?" Asked Wedge, but nobody could answer.
-We have to act fast before anyone finds her !" Said Zack while performing squats again. They all agreed and took position. Cloud too the red materia and placed it on his sword. Zack said he was going first, and everyone agreed to back him up. Cloud followed him though and they both got through the main gate. Some soldiers saw them.
"Freeze ! Identify yourself !" Zack took out his sword and rushed with Cloud, slicing through a man while guarding against the bullets. They waited for them to have to recharge.
"Come and get it !" They both said while engaging fight with the small platoon. Biggs and Wedge managed to infiltrate the building and caught some infantry men off guard. Then they managed to get their way top side when Wedge saw that some men were trying to get dogs out of their cage. He told Biggs he was going to do something about them while he continued going up.
Zack and Cloud got through numerous soldiers on their own, bit by bit, but suddenly some turrets rose up and started shooting at them. They managed to dodge the bullets or blocking them and took cover. Men were trying to get circle them out.
"This is bad..." Said Zack, thinking of a plan, when suddenly Biggs appeared and managed to destroy the turrets with grenades.
"Fire in the hole !
-Awesome Biggs ! Thanks !" Zack sliced through the men while Cloud rushed toward an entrance point to great eventual infantry men. But suddenly he stopped as two huge gates opened. A group of ten sort of huge and aggressive dogs rushed out. He started to take a defensive stance when suddenly a whistle stopped their rush.
-I got this !" Wedge was holding it while the dogs started rushing toward him. He shouted and Cloud and Zack tried to kill the dogs before they reached them, but one managed to get through and bite Wedge's pant on his butt. He yelled as Zack killed the last one.
-You okay ?" Said the young man to Wedge as he showed a thumb up. Then some other gates opened and machines got out called "Sweepers". They literally got their names because of the ways they swept the floor with their targets. They also had miniguns and started shooting toward Cloud, who jumped out of the ways and ran waiting for the two of them to start reloading. He then proceeded to use the red materia from his sword.
"Have fun !" He said while the fire spirit got through, with dark firey hairs. He's imposing physic wasn't only just for show as he's huge claws were sharpen as knifes. He shouted and fire spread everywhere around him. The troopers shot at it while the summoning absorbed the bullets. He rushed toward the two sweepers and destroyed them in a flame tornado.
"Wow ! That was something else !" Said Wedge. Cloud wondered where in hell Jessie could have gotten her hands on that. Biggs came down toward the group.
"Think we raised enough attention !" But just as they got ready to leave a huge troop of men surrounded them, weapons ready to fire. The group thought they were in huge troubles before a red repaired bike came through.
"Told you it wouldn't be over, my friends !" Said Roche, ready to go toes to toes with the swordmen.
-How did you fix your bike ?" Asked Zack as Cloud got his sword ready. Roche got off his bike and ready his weapon.
-I have a whole lot of different bikes ! But enough talking, how about we leave it between the two of us, Cloud ?" He said while Zack also got ready to fight.
-Zack, leave him to me.
-You sure man ? I mean, I can help if you need me !
-It's okay, shouldn't take me long." Roche laughed as Zack took a few steps back, trusting his friend. Cloud rushed toward his enemy who jumped toward him. Their sword clash was intense, as well as the insane speed of Roche who got past Cloud and almost cut his head off. They exchanged blows after blows before Cloud managed to get his enemy back. He tried to empale him with his sword but the merc parried steadily the blow before throwing Roche off balance, who almost fell and titubate. He then took his sword near his face while looking at it, taking a dramatic pause.
"Let's push it past the redline !" He fired energy beams at Cloud who dodged them before they got back to sword against sword. Cloud parried as much as he could but Roche was relentless, who in a three hit combo, managed to push Cloud which fell and rolled back on his knees.
-Cloud ! Focus man, you got this !" Shout Zack as his friend took a deep breath and put himself in a defensive stance. His opponent laughed and with the help of his lightning materia, boosted his speed even more and tried to empale the merc with an estoc again. Cloud parried steadily the hit before disarming his enemy, injuring his leg in a conter attack process. His opponent was down on one knee. Cloud spared him as he took a few steps back and got on his bike. The troopers started gathering around them but then the bike started up. The soldier drove while laughing around, breaking the troopers stance allowing Cloud and his friends to escape, and they didn't hesitate to take the chance. He shouted one last sentence before they got too far away.
"Til we meet again, my friends ! Hahahaaa !" Zack rushed and secured a place for them to wait at. Wedge got slightly hurt by the dogs. Jessie got around and found them.
"That was one hell of a diversion you raised boys ! I know I asked you too but couldn't you've been a bit more quiet ?" She saw Biggs was hurt and looked at Zack.
-It's nothing serious, don't worry...
-The pain is serious though !" Said the poor man.
"Let me take a look" Said Biggs while getting his pant down. "Ohh... Yeah, that's one ugly bite you've got !
-Lemme look !" Said Jessie while Wedge was arguing over them looking at his butt. She slapped her butt cheeks. "Your ass is fine !
-Now that was a gunshot !" Said Wedge while everybody bursted in laugh. Even Cloud lost his hard edge and laughed.
-Is that a smile I spy !" Said Jessie going toward Cloud. He looked away.
-Not wanna take down the mood, but we gotta move ! Shinra might be on our tails !" Said Zack.
-I have a plan, follow me !" Said Jessie as she ran away. The group followed her through to a high place with a good overview of the underplate.
"I'm sorry about your dad." Said Cloud
-What did you say ?
-Hey man !
-Huuu ! Cloud said he wanted to eat some of your pizzas !
-He said that ?
-Yeah ! Said also he wanted to come back with you !" Said Zack while gently punchin Cloud's shoulder. He forgot he wasn't supposed to tell Jessie that he knew what happened to her dad. So he went on with it.
-Hmm, yeah !
-Okay then ! We'll come back, maybe I'll help too !
-You owe us all a pizza then" said everyone at the same time. She laughed and promised to take them. She opened a box with two set of parachutes.
"Shit ! There's only two of them...
-We can go two by two it seems..." Said Wedge,
-There's five of us genius !" Answered Biggs, "What do we do now ?
-There's a road back down ! It's a long walk but shouldn't be any troopers on the way. Maybe monsters but nothing I can't take on !" Said Zack. He took this road once with his master on a mission, looking for Wutai intruders during the war.
-Is that so ? Guess I'll come with you then, road can get lonely !" Said Biggs while coming near Cloud. "Go with Wedge and take care of his ass will ya ?
-Hey Biggs !" Shouted the first councerned.
-Will do." Wedge looked strangely at Cloud as the rest of them laughed. " See you down then.
-Careful guys !
-Don't wait for us, might take a while !" The both of them left, Biggs following Zack while the rest of the group jumped off the plate.
"Hey Cloud, sorry of being a burden..." Said Wedge.
-Hey, you took one for the team. Be proud.
-Oh ? Thanks bro !
-Not your bro.
-We're flying high those days, right Wedge ?" Shouted Jessie.
-He's a keeper alright !" Answered the man.
-Yeah ! Together, we can take on the world !!!"
Meanwhile, Biggs and Zack got down the trail bit by bit. They both talked about their life when Biggs pondered the question.
"What happened to you when you got here ? Barret and Tifa told us one day you and Cloud were badly injured? What happened?
-It's... It's a long story !
-Well, still got a long way to go there ! I'm listening if you want to talk !
-Hmm... Sure, why not ! But it will take a while !
-Shoot it !" Then Zack started telling him about what happened a few weeks prior, when they both got out of the secret and mad place they got stuck in. Their runaway from Hojo's evil grasp. And what happened to Cloud.

Chapter Text

The truck was driving as fast as he could toward Midgar, where he had an appointment with some Shinra's heads to talk about farming stocks and deliveries. He took two men on its back. They also were heading there and needed a lift. Little did they know of the huge checkpoint, and of the many infantry soldiers who were looking for them. The Ex-Soldier tapped on the top of the truck to make it stop, and carried his unconscious friend out of it. He put him next to a rock, where he would be safe. He pat his head while laughing before standing up. His friend tried to reach for him as he walked out of his field.
The many guns clicked, as all the troopers got ready to shoot at the lonely man. They were more than a thousand, maybe even a tenth ! All armed as three choppers were flying around, also ready to hit the target. They had order to take him back, dead or alive. So, if he started resisting, they wouldn't hesitate to start shooting. So were their orders. The soldier put his hands on his hips and shook his head from left to right.
"Boy oh Boy... The price of freedom is steep !" He took his sword and put it in front of his face. It was a symbol of his dreams and his honor, but also his master's, Angeal.
"Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, prove your honor... As Soldier !" He started running toward the troop while shouting "Come and get it !" He slashed through a few troopers as they all engaged fire, he protected himself with his sword, bullets flying around him.
"Lock on, target secured... Fire" missiles were fired full speed on him. He reacted just fast enough to slash them in two and dodge one. He then gathered fire in his palm thanks to the materia on his sword, and launched a huge ball of fifa on the chopper who exploded and crashed on some nearby troopers. But this wasn't it as they continued to shoot, bullets after bullets as some hit Zack on the stomach.
"Arrrrgh !" Thankfully thanks to his bulletproof jacket, the impact of the bullets didn't pierce through but still hurt like hell. He knew another shot on the same spot would though, he had to do something and fast. He still fought with all he had the huge army of troopers moving around the battlefield to try to surround him and shoot at him from all directions. He was pressured. But that wasn't the end ! He spinned his sword around, throwing dirt everywhere.
"This is gonna sting !" He said while crashing the ground in a huge downward thrust, projecting dirt heavily on everyone around. They got to take a few step back, as the surprise hit them. Zack took the opportunity and killed them all fast. He continued working his way through, soldier after soldier, but they were still too many.
"I'm not giving up ! Brace yourselves!" He said while using a red materia to call a summoning. A phoenix, this huge fire bird, descended from the sky, destroying a chopper on his trail. He then used a special fire to burn everything around Zack while healing his bruises. It wasn't a fresh start, but the soldier took the opportunity to resume his struggle. Then he had to use his sword to shield him while punching and projecting them all on each other. He was that good at martial arts so it was easy for him ! He also remembered his many trainings and fired with a troopers gun while breaking his arm.
"Soldiers, you're up!" Said one of the red helmet troopers, as three third class soldier came unto the battlefield and made their way through. Zack recognised one of them.
"Don't make me do it !" He pleaded as he tried numerous time to slash through him. The troopers used their bullets mindfully of not hurting the special operators but still keep the pressure on the man, who got many bruises and blood drooling from an head injure. He had no choice, and shouted as he blocked the sword of his ex comrades and head butt him. He was getting ready to knock him down slowly but then a trooper took a shot.
"Shoot through him !" Was the order from the commander as the bullet pierced through the third class soldier and Zack's chest. His opponent fell in a pool of blood while Zack fell on his knee, still trying to protect himself behind the sword. The two left third class soldiers tried to use this opportunity to kill him, but the ex-first class swiped their foots with a swift motion and took their swords to finish them off, stabbing through them.
"He's injured, keep the pressure on ! Don't let him recover." Zack was panting hard, trying to block as many bullets as possible while rushing forward, but he stumbled because of his left side bullet hole. One trooper took a shot and aimed for his head, but he quickly moved it as the bullet left a small cut on his cheek. He got up again as fast as he could but took a few more hits. He managed as hard as he could to not fall down and killed many other soldiers. Their numbers finally started to wear down, as there was only a few thousands left. Bodies were on the ground everywhere as the night began to fall.
"He's only one man ! How is this possible?" Shouted the captain of the guard as the troopers were trying their best to kill him. What got Zack still fighting even after every wound he was suffering from, were the memories he had. He remembered Angeal, his master who died at his hand, thank him for taking him down while he was becoming a monster. He gave him the sword he was holding, the same with which he saved him once, claiming:
"Your a little more important than my sword. Just a bit." Zack yelled after he was still taking so many lifes through! He remembered also exploring the Banora town, home of Angeal and Genesis, two first class soldiers, with the help of the actual leader of the Turks, Tseng. He remembered the promise he made before Zack left for Nibelheim.
"I will take care of Aerith, don't worry." The chopper fired bullets after bullets, destroying the materia of the sword. He then remembered, while defending, his old friend, also a first class soldier. His name was Sephiroth, he was a hero who inspired him when he joined soldier years ago. He finally met him and since then they became friends. Zack tried to save Angeal and Genesis with his help. He remembered the good side of this man, and the day they met back at Junon.
"We'll meet again." Zack took an offensive stance and delivered a serie of eight slash the grey hair man taught him, killing several troopers. There also was this girl, red haired turk, who was a good friend of his ! They got together on a few missions as she took him for a friend. He remembered the day when she left, with a smile after they first met.
"Zack, I gotta go !" He got lucky while dodging a bullet who could have been fatale. He was panting as he jumped in the sky, spinning his sword. He remembered when he got on a mission toward a reactor surrounded by snow. He met a certain trooper who got his helmet off, and let free his blond spiky hairs. He met Cloud that day and they became backwater experts !
"Hold on !" He remembered his friend said as he fired meteors from the sky. It killed several soldiers but also left him vulnerable, as one shot pierced through his left leg. He grunted in pain, thinking it was the end of the road.
"Hellooooo" he smiled and got back up. He's going to get back to her, no matter what ! They will go through all sector, selling flowers. He would protect her, and make her laugh all days long. He killed a trooper with his sword while shouting, but his mind was somewhere else. He remembered her cheering him up after the death of Angeal. He fired a thunder spell on another one. He remembered her, staring at his eyes. She loved their colours, and Zack promised to take her to see a blue and beautiful sky. He got hit by a grenade and thrown to the ground, but still got back up. He rolled fast out of bullet's way and guarded with his sword.
"Will I see you again ?........"
There was two normal troopers with their captain left and a single chopper. He was barely holding his sword. Blood was falling from his many wound, too fast. He panted like crazy, his eyes were slowly closing. His materia, all of them, were destroyed. They were walking toward him, ready to finish him off.
"I'll be there !" Aerith told him that on the phone. He promised to get back to her. He promised to realise his tiny wishes ! All of them ! But he also remembered opening the small paper she gave him. He remembered reading it. "I've got all sorts of tiny wishes, but it would be a lot to write them off so, I regrouped them into one big wish. I want to spend more time with you." The soldier raged through and threw his sword at the chopper. It hit the tail as it fell and exploded. It surprised the troopers, while Zack took all he's strength back into a single final combo. He punched the first one fast ten times, knocking him out. He then jumped toward another one, kicking him in a spinning jump and also punched him after. He then launched himself as powerful as possible, dodging bullets firing from the red helmet troopers in a desperate attempt to kill him off. Zack punched him heavily, knocking him down also. He fell on the ground. After a few seconds, it started raining. Zack managed to slowly get back up, panting and crying. He walked a few metters and found his sword back, planted on the ground. He used it as a walking stick to get back to Cloud.
"Z... Zack?" He turned his head as Cloud was ramping toward him. Zack fell on his knee splashin Cloud's face with dirt. He helped Cloud getting up and they both tried to help the other stand.
-What... What happened?" Said Cloud as Zack laughed weakly.
-I did it... We made it..." Cloud was getting his strength back and they walked together toward Midgar's entrance. They got lucky as they fell near a train station. Someone rushed toward them.
"You okay ? Cloud ?" It was Tifa. She helped carry Zack to the doctor she knew, who took a few of hard working days to save him. It was five years since Cloud and her last saw each other, but her old friend was still weak because of the mako poisoning. A week passed through and Zack finally woke up, he was able to walk again and quickly took his sword back. They both became mercs, and he quickly got back toward sector five's church. There he was, waiting in front of it, knowing someone was waiting for him inside.
"It's been a while huh?" He was exercising to find the best sentence to tell her. "Long time no seen ! How you been ? Listen... Hey ?" He sighed as he got his hands on the doorknobs. He pulled and shouted.
"I'm back !
-You said that ? Really ?" Laughed Biggs out loud.
-What was I supposed to say !
-I don't know ! Five years is a lot after all !" He wiped a tear of laugh.
-Yeah well, she reacted fine ! After she cried and punched me that is...
-Hah, a real place of workout this Aerith !
-She is one of a kind yeah..." Biggs sighed.
-You weren't kidding ! You've "been" through a lot. I wouldn't be standing up if it was me !
-Don't say that ! You're strong too !
-Not nearly enough compared to you !
-I dunno... I got lucky I guess...
-So...
-So ?" Biggs stopped walking and looked at Zack.
-Even after all this, you're still reluctant to take a stand ?
-Huh ?
-Join us Zack ! Together, we can make a difference! Don't you wanna make a difference?
-A difference... I dunno... I think I have enough blood of my hands... Too much even.
-Look, I know, the bombing and all is a bit much... But we have no other choices! We all joined for a reason. Help us make a better world ! Help us change our fate and save us all...
-Save us all... I think that's what I felt few weeks ago... I wanted to make a stand... I wanted to take part, take charge... Take control... To know that I had a choice ! That this world was part of something I chose ! I wanted to take back my life !" He stopped as he saw something troubling. A black feather fell from the sky. He then remembered his old friend, who was the cause of Nibelheim incident. The man who was once a hero. Sephiroth. He laughed.
-You okay man ?
-Fate's got one twisted sense of humour... And I'm always the punchline !" He yelled. "But I'm sick of taking this shit ! This is my life, I make the rules !" He said raising his sword. Biggs started laughing. They finally got back on the underplate and were slowly heading toward Biggs place.
-That means you join us ?
-I guess so !
-Ha ! Perfect man, we'll need someone like you !" Biggs started squatting like Zack does. "You know, this does feel pretty good !
-Right ?" Zack joined him for a couple squats. "You'll get used to it haha!" They separated at last while Zack was heading back to his place.
-Take action huh ?" He said smiling and looking at his fist. He then ran toward his appartment, did a few more squats, put his sword standing on the wall, and got to sleep. Cloud wasn't home yet, was about to be though. He just made sure everyone made it home alright. Wedge showed him his cats as one of them grew fond of him. He got to Jessie's place, but before Wedge warned him.
"It's all a game for her you know ! Be careful!
-What ?
-Hehe ! The world is a stage and life is its play !" Cloud looked confused and walked toward Jessie's. As he was about to knock the door opened.
"Well if it isn't Cloud Strife !
-Got home safe ?
-Yeah ! Here, this is your payment!" She handed him a materia over and then proceeded to hug him. "And here's the cherry on the top.
-Let go off me, you really that desperate?
-Only if you promise you'll come back !
-Huh... No promises...
-You might? In that case... I'll invite everybody and we'll have a blast ! I'll make us some pizzas for everybody to enjoy. Oh it will be a night to remember Cloud!" She laughed as Cloud turned his head. She then closed the door behind her, and just as Cloud started walking away she opened it one last time. "Psych !" She said while sticking her tongue out before really closing the door. Cloud sigh as he head home. He closed the door behind him while getting ready to sleep when he heard someone knocking.
"Cloud, you there ?" It was Tifa's voice. He opened the door and invited her in. "I heard you leave before, everything's alright ? You were out a while !" Cloud remembered once again the water wheel on Nibelheim. He also remembered what Zack told him.
"I heard you're having second thoughts.
-You did ? I know we have to think big if we want to make a difference but... I feel trapped !
-I might just stick around for a bit. Happens there's this friend of mine who's in a tight spot... Said I'd be there for her so..." Tifa laughed a bit.
-Wouldn't say that's what I had in mind when I put it on you when back then.
-You wanna talk ? I'm listening!
-Haha ! What happened to you ?
-To me ?
-It's like your opening up ! Like you finally lost that hard edge !
-That bad ?
-No not at all !" she laughed out loud. "I'm really glad you're back Cloud, really glad !" She then left, claiming it was late and there was a big day coming up. Cloud laid down too, but after a few seconds he heard knockings, from the left wall this time. He got near it and listened.
"Not bad buddy !" Said Zack. He puffed and they both went to bed. Zack was smiling. "He's back !" He said to himself, knowing he did well to protect his friend. He was here, alive and well. They slept a long time, finally after this long day.

Chapter Text

"Dad, wake up!" The huge man opened his eyes. As always he slept with his minigun attached, just in case something went down and he quickly had to save his one dear. Marlene meant the world for him. "Tifa's already downstairs, you're gonna be late !" He exhaled heavily while every bones of his body cracked as he stretched. Today was gonna be a good day ! He went downstairs as everybody was waiting for the leader, and master of this plan to save the world.
"Hope y'all got a long night of sleep ! Today's gonna be a big and impactful day !" Everybody smiled and looked at each others. Is was a big group now. Avalanche, was taking yet another step toward its goal. They all followed the big man, Zack, Cloud, Tifa, Biggs, Wedge and Jessie. He pushed the door of Seventh Heaven and looked on final time behind.
"Daddy's coming back soon honey !" He left the bar and everyone followed.
-Good luck guys !" Biggs quickly left the group because he had a job only he could do, or his other identity. He would be waiting for them near the maintenance room of the train rail. The rest of the group would get on a train that would lead them towards sector five's upper plate, where they will find its reactor. Tifa and Zack got together while walking toward the train station.
"So, about..." They said it together and that made them laugh.
"I will go on with the bombing" said Zack as Tifa nodded.
-I agree, we've gone too far to back off now !
-I changed my mind too. I want to take action, to make sure my life was a meaningful one !
-Me too ! Plus, with you on the job, what could possibly go wrong ?
-Heh, I appreciate the trust !" They laugh and got back with the group.
"What were you guys talking about ?" Asked Cloud as both of them chuckled. Zack pat Cloud's shoulder like he always does and got near Barret.
"So big guy ! You've got everything planned right ?
-Got nine plans from plan A to plan I, should cover every possible scenarios !
-Yeah, let's just remember Shinra got a good habit of trying to get ahead of terrorists. Let's keep our heads up !
-Hmm, sure thing soldier boy" Cloud got to them.
-Ex-Soldier.
-Whatever you say merc." They got in their train as Jessie handed them false Id's.
-You'll need them. We accompany you but we're going all the way." Wedge added:
-Our parts to make sure you guys get smoothly down on a maintenance check ! I won't fail you !" He said thumb up. Tifa Barret and Zack copied his move.
-Let's move" said Cloud as Zack sat down
-Ease up ! That's the smooth part of the job "merc" Barret laughed but told everyone to stay focused while Jessie and Wedge ran toward another part of the train. Barret sat a bit further not far from a Shinra Executive.
"They said Avalanche bomber reactor one. A bunch of sewer rats !
-Hmm ?" The big guy got back up and walked toward the man, intimidating gim with his gun.
-Huh oh !" Zack jumped out of his sit and ran toward Barret.
-You got a problem ?
-Not if you have not...
-Who are you ! Are you one of those terrorists.
-I'm a councerned law abiding citizen.
-Law abiding ?
-Listen up..." Zack arrived just in time to hold Barrett back and make him sit.
-Hold it, he doesn't deserve it. You're better than this.
-Oh... Hmm." The Shinra man left the car. Zack sat at his place in front of Barrett. It didn't take a lot of time before he was back up. He saw further away Tifa showing some kind of terminal to Cloud. He found a similar one a few steps from him and ran toward it to see what it was about.
"What's that ?
-it's a Midgar maket. Shows us the big pizza above us !" Zack was shocked to see a Train controller talk to him. He looked at her with a feeling of deja vu.
-Hahaha ! It's me Jessie ! Want me to show you around soldier ?" She gently pushed him and spin the card, showing all of the sectors. "Always reminds me of the day we learned about the failed plate. It fell and so many people died...
-Yeah..." Jessie showed him the central point of the map.
-That's Shinra's HQ, big center of it all ! It's sitting here, making sure everything gets in orders !
-Yeah, that's where I lived for a time... Wonder how everyone's doing !
-Everyone ?
-You do know there are some normal peoples at Shinra right ?" He showed with his finger where the soldier stage should be on the 3D card. "That's where we were ! Had many good peoples here... Not everyone were exposed to Shinra lies..." Jessie nodded and got closer to Zack ear.
-Don't say that near Barret, he's kind of less rational than us... He's the one who lost the most because of Shinra..." She left the car as the identity scan got on. Everything was going normally but suddenly the lights began flickering.
"Attention ! Unauthorized passengers aboard !
-What in the ?" Barret stood up as Tifa and Cloud ran toward him.
-What do we do ?" Asked Tifa
-Plan C ! Come, quickly !" Said Barret as All gathered around him. Jessie ran away.
-I'll make sure you can get where you need to be ! Be careful!
-Gochu !" Answered Zack while running toward Barret.
-Lookout !" Tifa said as Cloud slashed through drones. Zack ran toward one of them and pushed it against another one. Barret was shooting at them too and got close to a train door. He kicked it open.
"Everyone out now !" Zack looked at Cloud and Tifa. They nodded. He ran toward Barret.
"See ya !" He said waving with his hand while jumping off. He landed smoothly as Barret tried to follow and landed on his ass. Cloud took Tifa with him. She was scared and some other drones came. Cloud handled it fast and then hugged Tifa. They jumped and rolled, their face were close. They got up as Tifa looked away, timidly. She looked around but couldn't find Zack and Barret, maybe they landed too far away from one another.
"Don't worry, they're good ! Let's clear the road for them." Said Cloud as Tifa followed, worried about them. Zack was running next to the train track when he heard bullet firings up ahead. He then saw three infantry men get out of a door on his left.
"They fell around here according to our intel ! Do not let them get away !
-Boy oh boy, not your lucky day." The troop hadn't seen the man and couldn't even blink before they were knocked out by the fast punches of the Ex-Soldier. He headed toward the shouting of Barret and saw him shooting at drones.
"Down you assholes !" He was having a bit of a struggle. Zack sighed and took his sword out. The green materia grew a fire that burned two drones whil Barret destroyed the others. "Took your sweet time, soldier boy !
-Hey, not bad ! Would have been glad if we met before big man !
-Oh hmm, haha yeah !" The man was puzzled. He forgot Zack's personality and Cloud's one was opposite. So much that he wondered how the two guys became friend to begin with. Zack was looking around trying to find something. There was two ways ahead and he didn't know which one they should take.
"Hey, see that dog over there?" He pointed at a "Finnish Spitz", small dogs pretty rare that were chosen to be the mascot of Shinra Electric Company, once when the president Shinra visited a small town, the Icicle Inn.
-Yeah ? What about it ?
-It was a thing used by Avalanche when it was still a big group ! Those loyal dogs, Stamp, are always pointing toward their masters dirty plans !
-So... We follow them ?
-Damn straight we do... Hmm...
-Something bothering ya ?
-Yeah... How could Shinra took such a cute little doggy and push it into their ill and mad propaganda ! It makes me sick !
-Haha ! Well, don't know about it but seems like it serves us well don't ya think ?" Barret nodded as the both of them started running toward the track Stamp pointed at.
-So, what are you ? Twenty or something ?
-Pretty close ! Twenty-four !
-See, that's a goddamn normal answer ! Merc told me he wasn't in soldier when I asked !
-Cloud did that ?
-Yeah ! Anyway, what class were you in soldier ?
-First, top class !" Barret whistled as Zack throwned. He wasn't that happy anymore of having been a soldier first class. He never was when he thought about it ! So much happened in so little time.
-See this gate ? We'll need to go through here it seems.
-Up the train tracks ? Look, there are monsters over here !
-Don't see a problem ! We take care of the bastard !
-Yeah, we should hurry ! If Tifa and Cloud are up here things could go south !" Barret shot at the gate, making it fall. Zack ran upstairs. He looked for his friend but saw no one as two insect like monsters got close to him, trying to slash him with them claws. He took them out without using his sword.
-They here ?
-Nope, guess they didn't know about Stamp ?
-Guess so... We should continue, they'll find their way.
-Gochu." The group continued their way, without Zack using his sword once ! He punched his way through monsters, making enemies fly for Barret to shoot them down. It worked pretty well ! At one point the big man got interested by the soldier's ways of fighting.
"Why you carry that big ass sword if you never use it ?
-Huh ?" Zack looked puzzled... As time got on he started to pick up his old master's habits. It made him think about the old times. " I just... I dunno, don't wanna use it if I don't have to...
-Why ?
-Use brings about Wear and Rust, and that would be a shame ! Something like that I guess haha !" He scratched his head as his new friend looked puzzled. A few meters further, the two groups reunited somehow but were separated by a metal fence they couldn't get through. Cloud and Tifa were looking good. Tifa tried with Zack to take it down while Cloud looked around for another way to reunite. He saw that the tracks were getting the same way. At one point they would reunite.
"Tifa, we gonna keep going. Zack Barret, continue straight ahead til the roads reunite. Be safe." He said while the two groups separated once more.
-You were right, they looked okay !" Said Tifa as Cloud sighed.
-Yeah, Zack really can handle about any threat." She laughed as he looked at her, puzzled.
-When you talk about him you really go out on the compliments!" He sighed, they continued their road, facing troopers ahead as they walked their way through. Cloud's stance got Tifa wondering if Zack was the one who taught him all that. She knew how he was used to fight, as she saw him wield his sword a few times and it shocked her how Cloud never punched or kicked. Instead, he was reminding her more of a certain other swordman she met... They had to climb a few more stairs, going above the tracks once more on the maintenance tunnels. Some insects attacked them, they were a lot but nothing they couldn't handle. Cloud sliced through them smoothly while Tifa took one of them to spin him around fast, knocking out every other close insects. She then threw it against a fence where others were climbing.
"Cloud ! There's a lot of them !
-I know." He took a step back as eight of them started to surround them. A drop of saliva fell near Tifa, she looked up and pushed Cloud fast as she jumped out of the landung zone of this new foe. Similar to the little insects that tried to kill them was this purple slither insect. It was taller, way taller and his claws were really sharp.
-Keep your gloves up !
-Roger." The both of them started killing off the small insects while Cloud tried to make his way to the queen insect. He started to tear its claws apart while guarding against them as Tifa ran toward him. She then jumped toward the merc as he pivoted his sword to act as a jumper for her. She delivered a huge uppercut on the face of the insect while the blond man jumped next to her. They finished it off with a down kick from Tifa as Cloud impaled his head with his soldier sword. The beast laid on the ground, a few spasm post mortem. Cloud retrieved the sword as all life disappeared from the body.
"You did good.
-You too ! Did Zack teach you how to do all that ?
-Some of it yeah, others were simply instinct I guess..." Cloud's head started to hurt, like it goes sometimes. He feels like there's more to it... Like his powers weren't his... All he could think about was the long hair soldier he admired younger. He held his head and grunt because of the shivering pain he was suffering from. But everything disappeared as soon as the woman grabbed his hand. She looked her in the eye as his slowly started to get better, lowering his hand from his forehead.
"Are you okay ?
-Yeah... Sorry, it's nothing." They started walking again as a black feather hurt the ground and disappeared into dust.
"Look, seems like there's some troopers taking care of those insects after all !" Barret designed with his finger a group of fireman, torching insect nests with their fire throwers. "Huh, guess we should leave them at it right ?
-Yeah, not everything is after us right?" Said the ex-soldier as the other man nodded. They walked toward Stamps nose's direction and arrived at a gate with a group of troopers nearby. They both took cover behind a pillar. "Look ! Here's our way in !" Zack shower Barret a staircase that seemed to lead to the reactor somehow, otherwise Stamps wouldn't be guiding them there they figured. Zack took his sword out as the three firefighter troops started to turn toward him. Barret got ready to cover him. "Hey boys ! Mind if we get through?" They started shooting at them. The man quickly ran through and used an ice materia to shield himself with ice to block the fire. He jumped high to get over a fire spreading beneath him as Barret managed to take a critical shot on one of them fuel reserve backpacks. It exploded on hit and threw the three of them on the ground. He yelled with pride of this beautiful explosion.
"So, give up ?" Said Zack with a smirk. One of them got up sneakily and started to run toward a huge gate. Barret saw him and started shooting toward him, but not fast enough as the man managed to press a button. There was a huge bash on a big robot that unveiled as the gates were opening. Barret started shooting at it but the bullets had minimum impact.
"Shit!" The bash got down as the huge railguns arms of the machine got ready to fire. It was rolling on the train tracks to move around the battlefield. The laser got fired as Barret yelled to look out to Zack who rolled from the attack. Quickly the young man started to analyse the threat. He never saw something like this around his time at Shinra, but every weapon has its flaws. He ran toward it, dodging the death rays at the last time, as precisely as possible. The machine used the train track to propulse itself fast, which took the soldier off guard but still managed to dodge expertly. Though he saw that it was headed toward Barret, who was still shooting at him. He hid behind a pillar but the ray of light destroyed it. The debris hurt him as he fell on his back. The machine started to load the ray of light again. But suddenly, the top of the robot got slashed by Zack's sword fast, as he continued to unleash a serie of chain slash, destroying the back of the robot. Barret yelled as he fired one huge beam of explosion that put the robot off tracks, and made it fell on its back. Zack jumped to deliver one huge downward slash on his torso, destroying it.
"Few... That was close man !" Said the big man, getting himself up. Zack took his sword and spinned it in the air, then put it in his back. "Huh... Sorry if it got rust or something on it" said Barret scratching the back of his head. Zack remembered Angeal, and when he saw him use his sword to save him in extremis from a deadly foe. He laughed.
"You're a little more important than my sword... Just a little !" He said to the man who laughed silently. They got through the now opened gate.
"Think the other got through?
-Yeah, of course they did ! It's Cloud and Tifa remember?
-Hmm. Oh, well talking about them !" He pointed a direction as Zack turned around ans saw both of his friends getting back.
-Well well, look who it is ! Took your sweet time !" Fired the playfully ex-soldier !
-Sorry, we had to go through some insects on our ways ! Showed them how it's done right Cloud?
-Yeah... Seemed Mako infused or something. Reactor close ?" He looked at Barret.
-Up Top, through the staircase.
-Come on then, keeping up the pace ?" The group followed the enthusiastic Soldier. He opened wide open the gates at the top of the stairs as a bright light shine through the dark tunnels.

Chapter Text

There was a whole room full of technicians, and infantry man to protect and supervise projects of great importance. There was this big man, wearing a green and black jacket, who punched furiously the table as his very own project just exploded on the screen. He furiously grunt and then left the room. He wasn't that ashamed of losing to a mere swordman, he was just frustrated of failing the person he admires. And that's when a few minutes later, the elevator he got on reached the highest floor of the huge building. He entered in this huge hall he was used to meet the President. He was awaiting for a report about the events of the Reactor One, and what happened with the hostiles that weren't caught on one of the midgar express train services.
"These sewer rats appears to call themselves"Avalanche" sir. They are the culprit behind sector one's bombing, and it seems like they are going for the five's reactor next. Rest assured, we are on our way to stop them.
-Is that so ? Good Heidegger, thank you for your honesty.
-There's also a high chance of them working with another one of those big rats sir.
-Wutai ?
-We don't know for sure now, but rest assured, our inquiries won't take much longer.
-Thank you. Deal with them, they are not to cost the money more money that they already did. We cannot allow ourselves to slow our progresses down because of them.
-Yes sir." The big man bowed.
-If we cannot deal with them fast, I will have to resort to more... Radical ways..." He said, looking out the window as the huge city was still going on, like it does everyday since it was built. The "Huge Pizza", as Barret would call it, was only getting ready for what the world had in store for it.

The light shone heavily on the group's face. They weren't so used to that much light, as living under the plate cut them off of many ordinary light. They then saw these huge light bulbs were the cause of this sudden flash.
"Artificial suns huh ?" Said the big man who put on his black sunglasses.
-That's what's keeping sector five's daylight ?" Asked Zack.
-Yeah, same light that shone on Seventh Heaven... Sometimes we forgot that some good things came out from Shinra..." Said the woman, looking at the huge light bulbs.
-Good ? Shinra ? They are the one who took the goddamn lights off, with their giant pizza ! I'm gonna tell you something, I'll never grant you any good token whatsoever !
-Things aren't always dark and white." Cloud said as they turned toward him. "More like shades of grey." Barret sighed.
-With Shinra, it's always pitch black, trust me merc." They all walked toward some gate with a terminal nearby. It was an elevator access, however, Zack tried to operate with the counsels unsuccessfully, it was lacking a power surge. It was a no go. But, the man with a gun for an arm got an idea.
"Hey, maybe we can redirect those suns toward the gate ?
-Good idea !" Said Tifa.
-What about the suns then ? Won't they shut down ?" Asked Zack, "We can't just put everyone to sleep just to get through this floor you know ?
-Hmm... Fair point" said Cloud.
-You know that once the reactor is gone, there won't be any light left hmm ?" Barret had a point, everyone sighed and looked away. The leader knew he had to say something. "I know, those poor peops down aren't given any choice... But if we don't act now, you all knows what's gonna happen right ?
-Planet's gonna go dry." Said Cloud. Barret nod as the group agreed with his plan. Cloud held Zack for a sec. "They'll still have some light, don't worry. Everything isn't lightless, and with Shinra never maintaining those artificial suns, folks down there don't have lights anyway...
-I know. Aerith told me all about that, shadow zones that became shady... It's okay, if we do a good job, folks will get a better life !" Cloud nodded as they exchanged a fist bump. They both laughed as Tifa looked at them puzzled.
"Is it just me or is Cloud behaving different with Zack ?
-Yeah... They sure have been through a lot.
-For sure. It's glad to see him opening up." The two friends reunited with Tifa and Barret as they came up with a plan. Each of them will get one sun from each part of the complex they were standing on. Tifa got North, Zack East, Barret South and Cloud West. Tifa being the most agile of them all, got through really fast, and dodged the encounters with the few insects on her way. At one point the floor had fell down, so she had to improvise by hanging on the ceiling and jumping on the other platform steadily. It seemed really easy for her. She was met on the other platform by little robots, thankfully offline. She climbed the ladder toward the sun power generator, to power it down. Meanwhile Zack was also moving with ease on the parkour lile maintenance zones, jumping from platforms to platforms. He climbed on a bridge and saw Barret down in front of a fallen solide wide pipe, making a sort of bridge between two platforms.
"Not going ?" Shouted the man as he scared the big man.
-How did you ? Nevermind, help me get across !
-What ? Hey you could walk on that you know ? Won't break !
-I... Just give me a hand soldier boy !
-Alright alright, hold on." He looked around for a way to help his friend. On the west side Cloud got through many insects, slicing through them with ease. Wasps were annoying however as they were always flying around and hiding in small spots. He was about halfway through when he saw up, Barret and Zack talking about helping him pass. He looked around and found a sort of machine. Tifa meanwhile on North side managed to grasp the control panel and shut the sun power down. It immediately made some of the power go on, and the turret she passed through suddenly turned on. The quickly ran out of the targeting lasers ways and slide down the ladder. When she was almost on ground, she used the sliding speed to jump off and propulse herself toward one of the turret, holding tight on it in a choke arm position to control it and aimes at the two other turrets., destroying them. She then got the one she held and destroyed it. It wasn't only her though as the other part of the group witnessed the sun's extinction, and Clous found himself surrounded by three flying drones. He quickly got rid of them though with his insane skills. One fourth robot managed to get behind him though but Barret shot it down.
"Gochu Merc !" He said laughing. The young man sighed while trying to use the control panel infront of him, seemingly controlling a sort of bridge for the big man to use. After all, Cloud too would need it afterward to get passed a hole. He managed to move it a bit but not far away.
"It lacks power... But I could help Barret with it. Zack, you've got a way toward your sun ?
-Yeah piece of cake !" The soldier ran off on his own toward the East sun which was only a bit further toward the said direction. He quickly ran through the insects and small drones on his way. He climbed the ladder and shut down his sun too with the handle. Cloud had then enough energy to put the bridge up for Barret who finally got through. He then used it to make a path for him to continue Westside. The huge man however got struck with another issue. There was a "way" toward his sun, but there were those fans firing heavy wind on this sort of platform. He looked down and swallowed up from stress. What this man could never admit is his fear of heights ! But he took his stand and walked toward the sun, trying to remain steady. Almost at the end he slipped and headed down! But, at the last moment, he managed to catch a cord and climb at it. He took a few secs to get his breath back.
"Why those kind of dangers when I could get drones or insects ? Why me ?" He sighed and got back up, climbed the ladder, and got his sun down. Thankfully for him, it also got the fans out. Getting the power of the sun out awakened new little robots the group had to take down once more. Finally, the west sun shut down too and the group reunited toward said elevator. Tifa got there first and called it for the group.
"Took you guys long enough!
-Yeah, you're fast girl !" Zack laughed as Tifa jokingly showed off. Barret was a bit pale because of all the trials he faced.
-Wouldn't have guessed...
-Hmm?" The leader looked at the, compared to him, small merc.
-A fearless leader scared of heights." The elevator opened as Cloud entered, mockingly dodging the mad Barret yelling at him. Zack and Tifa entered too as the door closed and the elevator started moving. It arrived at a platform and the group saw Stamp's paw pointing toward a door. Zack heard a noise inside and showed everyone to go silent. He carefully opened the door as a gun rose next to his head. He quickly disarmed the man and held him in an arm lock position against one of the walls of the room.
"Mercy mercy !
-Biggs ?" Zack recognised the man as he let him go. He took his arm into his other hand and started massaging the elbow.
-Wow man, almost break that in two !
-Sorry..." He said joining his hand and tilting his head right, like a puppy.
-Biggs ! You dit it you son of a..." Barret tried to hug the man who quickly dodged it and got near Cloud.
-So, was a smooth ride?
-Was okay all things considered." Answered Tifa as Cloud walked around the room. The man smiled and opened a small box containing a few grappling hooks. He then opened a vent and asked the group to follow him.
"Okay, listen carefully. This it your ticket in, right below is the reactor. Once you're in, same job as Reactor one, you bomb it, you get out. There's a platform you will find on your exit, you can use those grappling hooks to come back on the maintenance plate, then it's a walk in a parc to get out of the upper plate, and back to sector seven it is." Biggs gave everyone the tools. Barret looked worried about the space of the vent, it will be a tight squeeze for him. "Once we group up at Sector seven it's Seventh Heaven. I'm out, you guys got this !
-Thanks man, we owe you." Said Barret.
-Just make sure to come back okay ?" He looked at Zack as both nodded when they locked each other sight. " I'll see you then !" Biggs exited the room and used a grappling gun to ease his descent toward the undercity. Zack opened the vent Biggs showed them and looked inside. Seemed like it would be a smooth ride.
-Hmm, wonder if I'll be good..." Said Barret as Zack came around him.
-Show us the way boss ?
-Grrrr..." Barret slowly got in the vent, which was even a tighter fit as he thought. He still managed to get down and then tapped it so that the group knew it was their turn. Tifa got in, then Cloud and then Zack. Now it was the real job. However, there was no one guarding the reactor. It started to worry the mercs as they got deep toward the reactor core. Then they finally reached it.
"That's what we're looking for ?" Asked Tifa as Barret gave Zack the bomb. He looked at the big man, puzzled.
-Do us the honors, proves that you can bite that hand that feeds." Cloud took it from Zack's hands and walked toward the core. He planted it. " Hey !
-Don't screw with him, you know he's in." Answered Cloud as Zack chuckled and Barret sighed. "What about the timer ?
-Remote this time, no need for a timer. Apparently Jessie worked on this late last night, convenient huh ?
-Huh... Guess so." Cloud took a few steps back. Zack noticed a noise and turned around fast only to notice the ladder with which they got down rise up. He tried to catch it but was too late. The others regrouped with him, wondering what happened. Cloud understood what was going on though... It was a trap. Droids started to fly around them as Barret missed his shot. They then grouped up and projected an hologram. It was Heidegger, the head of Shinra's security.
"And as the sewer rat finally emerge and take the bait, the trap closes on their neck, hahahaha ! Welcome, Avalanche !
-You son of a !
-Come on now, did you really think we would let you destroy another sector ? Like you did with sector one ? You messed with Shinra, so all this is on you. Security, handle them however you see fit. Technicians, get the weapon ready!
-Weapon ?" Asked the woman.
-Oh yes !" The hologram changed and projected a huge armoured robot. "This is the last unit, designed to handle huge monsters threat. We call it the air buster ! It will bring an end to you soon enough..." The man laughed evil. Barret shot the drones, putting an end to the broadcast. He turned his head only to see a Live TV showing the four of them.
-Guys, incoming !" Worried the young woman as the merc got in front of her, ready to protect. Shock troopers arrived, skilled assassin enemy striking fast but easily exposed as Zack and Cloud dodged their attack and countered them easily. The soldier burst open a door with his buster sword and let the others get in. It was a whole different place in here. A sort of technical military base where the group saw some troopers working on the famous air buster. The group quickly dealt with the troopers before starting to look for a way out of the trap.
"Hmm... Attention citizen ! Don't let Shinra's lies get through you, those bastards are bleeding the planet's dry, and that means that because of them we won't have access to...
-Hmm Barret ? What are you doing ?" Asked Tifa.
-Hey, bastards put me on the Tv I'm gonna say some truth.
-Thousand gils they cut the sound.
-Yeah wouldn't bet against you." Answered Zack to Cloud. Barret sighed. The group got on the upper floor, where troopers were waiting for them. It was a huge room where they saw a door at the end of it. Zack knew they had to get through it to get out. Barret quickly shot the troopers as the group got behind machines to hide themself. A sweeper was unleashed, or more accurately, a cutter since instead of machine gun it wore saw blades. Zack lured him around, allowing Cloud and Tifa to get close without risking damages and finish it off. They finally got to the end of the huge room.
"Wait." Cloud stopped everybody. "Another thousand gils this air buster is waiting for us behind the door.
-You think ? What do we do then ?" Worried Tifa.
-Not so much of a choice." The soldier got up and starting doing squats. "We got through this door and bust the hell out of this !
-That's the spirit ! And smile at the camera while at it !" Cloud nodded, not thinking it was such a good idea but he wasn't seeing any alternatives. Barret opened the door. The group arrived on a huge platform, long but not so large, which spread into a right path on the middle of it. There was a lot of airspace around them. The group ran toward the middle of the room when suddenly drones got together again and projected not one but two projections this time. The first one was Heidegger again, but the other one was a most known figure.
"The fucking president ?
-Welcome, Avalanche." The man took a political stance, while the rest of the group got their weapons ready.
-Hmm, what is that ? Soldiers ?" He said looking directly toward Zack and Cloud. "How interesting... You dare to bite the hand that fed ?
-Tear it down more like ! I'll put an end to your evil plans president !" Shouted Zack.
-Oh yes, you better work fast then my dear... Who knows how many time you both got left..." Tifa looked puzzled as Cloud sighed. Cellular degradation. It was a thing known from every soldier members.
-Sir, the air buster is ready to take those wutai terrorists down.
-Wutai ?" The sunglasses man got mad. "The hell we look like wutai ?
-Don't waste your breath, can't hear you remember?" Said the blonde man.
-Hmpf. It's been a great meeting, sewer rats. Heidegger, ready the weapon." Tifa took one drone and threw it at the president head, furious.
-I'm sick of this... I'm sick of all of this !" She said as Cloud's head started to hurt again. Zack grabbed his hand to put him back in his shoes.
-Guys ! Time to showoff!" The huge weapon arrived, piercing through the sky and through Heidegger laughing projection as it disappeared. The group all got ready to face it.
-Bring it on." Cloud said as it flew toward the middle of the room, forcing Zack and Cloud to jump to one side of the room. The machine was between the four of them, as Barret started fast shooting at it. It turn around and propulsed a punch on the man, catching him off guard. Thankfully, Tifa managed to kick it off fast as she got closer to it and comboed it with her fists. Cloud jumped and bravely took his sword down the back of the weapon, managing to take down one of its four thrusters. It spinned on itself fast, propulsing fire. It threw Cloud away but Zack caught him. He then put both of his palms each toward one of the end of the room, gathering power. It was getting ready to fire one heavy hit. Zack quickly tried to slash it off but the arm simply separated itself from the main body and started firing energy rays toward him. The man quickly shield himself with his sword. Cloud used a thunder materia to overcharge the hand which exploded mid-air. Meanwhile on the other side Tifa managed to jump on the arm and punched open a circuit box. She then jumped of it back to the platform, while splendidly dodging ray of light firing off the hand. She landed low on her legs yo dodge one last ray of light and jumped back up.
"Barret, you're up !" The man yelled as he shot toward the hand opened circuits, which triggered a malfunction and made it explode. The air buster was getting really crazy now that it missed both hands and got his head down. A missile started to show out of his previously head as the group understood how critically fast they had to act. Barret started shooting at it while tifa fired a fire spell with her materia. Zack and Cloud both jumped toward it and slashed it over, ending up on Barret and Tifa's side. The machine slowly clanked before the missile explode from its inside. The explosion was huge as Zack noticed Cloud was on the explosion size. He jumped at him and as the ground collapsed beneath the merc, his friend managed to grab his hand. He was only hanging on thanks to Zack's hand, but it was a critical situation as the floor starting to collapse faster and faster. To make thing even harder, the fall of the weapon ended up triggering the bomb on the core, making it violently explode. Thanks to Jessie's remake of the bomb, it didn't trigger such a huge explosion, else the group would have burned alive.
"Hold on man...
-Zack, there's no time, you gotta get out of here !
-Cloud !" Barret and Tifa tried to help Zack pull Cloud but the merc understood that the three of them would fall with him because of the unstable ground. He jumped off Zack's grasp, quickly saying.
-I'll be okay, get out !" Everybody yelled as the ground almost collapsed under them. Zack quickly understood what was going on and jumped, carrying with him Tifa and Barret, out of the collapsing platform. They ran out of here as fast as they could, Barret holding Tifa. Meanwhile, Cloud used his grappling gun to try and catch himself on the fall, but it broke. He didn't fell for too long and he got protected by fragile debris slowing down his fall.
Zack and the others had to get out of the burning reactors, they ran for a few minutes before Zack recognised the platform Biggs told them about. They used their grappling guns to get down smoothly even with all the bombs going out. When back on the maintenance plate, Zack had to take care of awaiting troopers while Barret was carrying Tifa, still shocked over Cloud's loss. They then managed to get back on the train tracks and got toward sector seven. They then walked for a few hours, carefully avoiding traffic.
"Huuuh... You think he could have made it ?" Barret asked Zack, Tifa was walking with them at that one point and looked at her friend with heavy eyes.
-Yeah... Maybe, I mean, he got the grappling gun too so..." They continued the silent walk and eventually, reached seventh heaven at night time. They got meet by the rest of the crew, who all asked the same question.
-Where's Cloud ?
-He's... Hmm..." Barret didn't know what to say.
-We lost him... But he'll come back, I'm sure of it..." Said Tifa, still quite shook but a bit more optimistic since she talked with Zack for a bit.
-Hey, I maybe know of a place where someone might know if he's okay... I'll go check it out !" Said Zack, ready to go. Barret stopped him.
-If he is there, he's bot going anywhere. You need sleep man. We all do. Let's not do anything reckless now." Zack scratched his head but Tifa told him to have a night of sleep, so that they could search him together on the morning. Zack nodded and the two of them walked together toward their apartments.
"What's this place you were talking about?
-It's... Just a hunch, not sure about it though... I'll tell you if I find him, don't worry.
-Can I come with ?" Zack hesitated for a few seconds, and figured he shouldn't give false hopes to Tifa. So he answered.
-Maybe we should split up... The more area we cover, the more chances we have of finding him ! Maybe ask on sector seven?
-Oh, okay..." She looked sad.
-He's fine, I'm sure he is !
-How ?
-How ? Guess I just think of the guy. He's too much of a survivor to die now nah ? I'll bring him home, you'll see !
-Okay." She looked a bit relieved. Zack smiled at her the whole way, trying to reassure her, and himself about his friend's status. When they separated and he got to sleep, he could hear her silently sobbing. He clenched his fist. He didn't get much sleep on that night.

Chapter Text

Alone in the dark. The fall seemed longer than expected. Not in term of length, but time. It took so much time. It was almost like gravity was altered. Like feathers were slowing his fall.
"You okay buddy ?" The man's fall suddenly stopped as he ended up laying down on his back. He got back and sat.
"Slow steps... It's been a while." The man put his hand on his head and scratched it. Where was he ? What happened ?
"Oh yeah... Been a while since we left home." The man started to answer the voice.
-Five years give or take...
-You must be soooo successful with girls!" The man smirked. A lot of peoples were attracted to him, even if he didn't know why. He kinda enjoyed it sometimes, especially when it was "her".
-Hmpf... You're funny, Cloud." The man chocked and got up fast. He then felt a hand grab his shoulder, like a sharp cold ice spike running down his body. "Don't be mad... After all... You're my pup..." The man's head hurt a lot while he struggled to get this words out of his mouth.
"Se... Sephiro..."

"Hellllloooooo !
-Huh ?
-Helloooooo !!!
-Mom ?" The man opened his eyes and was faced with a beautiful face.
-Hurray !" The lady got up on her feet. It was Aerith, Zack's friend he kept talking about to him. He shook his head before getting up. He looked around to gather his thoughts. He saw the hole through the ceiling.
-Oh. Sorry." He got out of the flower bed he was laying in.
-It's nothing really ! You wanna know, I think they saved you. It's funny though!
-Huh?
-How you're the second man who falls through this church's roof, and calls me mom.
-Oh hmm... Sorry about that, I was... I fell here right ?
-Yup !" The lady kneeled down to tend to the flowers, trying to save what she could as the merc scratched his head. It was a miracle he didn't suffer from any wound. They both heard a noise toward the entrance door as Aerith gasped and jumped back on her feet.
-What was that ?
-Hey, you look like you're some kind of merc right ? I have a favor to ask of you." The door of the Church opened wide as troopers ran inside. There was a man with red hairs wearing black that followed. Cloud knew this type of peoples. Turks, Shinra special organisation handling all kind of dirty job for their evil master. "I need you to be my bodyguard.
-I'll let myself in !" The man showed no respect for the place as he got dirt off his shoe on the church's ground. Cloud got pissed and got himself ready for a fight.
-Fine, but it'll cost ya." Aerith smiled as the blond man got closer to the group of man.
-And who are you ? Wait, this sword... You a soldier ?
-Nope.
-Hmpf, figured !" He waved toward the merc for the troopers to start shooting at him. Cloud ran in circle to evade the shot and got behind a prayer desk, which he kicked on the troopers who got caught off guard. He ran toward them using it as a decoy to quickly slash through them. The red haired man jumped out of one hit's way elegantly and started to take out an electrical staff. "Why do I always have to handle the hand work ?" He sighed as he started attacking the merc with his stick. The man easily parried the strikes with his sword, which pissed off the turk. He jumped out of a slash way and took an estoc stance. Cloud then understood what was coming up. He jumped and spin on his way toward the Turk who fastly thrust toward the merc. Cloud managed to slash the man's shoulder. It pissed him off even more as he then took some electric balls, which were some kind of drones. Thanks to his stick, he managed to throw them around toward the soldier who barely dodged and cut the projectiles. He threw his sword toward the man who had to jump out of the way. Cloud then managed to catch him, and punched heavily his stomach. The red hair man fell on his knees as the merc quickly grabbed his sword back. He raised his sword as he was determined to end his life.
-Wait man... You don't under...
-Cloud don't !" Aerith shouted as she used her huge magical stick to pull Cloud toward her. She spared the Turk who wasn't getting back up anytime soon. She then grabbed her newly acquired bodyguard by the arm and headed on the back of the church, heading for the rooftop. Troopers managed to get in and ran toward the beaten man.
"Reno, sir !
-Don't." He managed eventually to get up again, grunting at his wounds. "If Rude ever learns about this... You're getting on my "To punch" list, that clear cadet ?
-Hmm... Hundred percent sir !" The troopers got next to Reno and tried to help him walk around. They got near the flowers when the man rose his hand.
-Don't step on the flowers." The troopers nod and got around the flower bed as instructed. Meanwhile Cloud and Aerith ran around the back of the room where they took stairs, heading for the roof. Reno and the troopers managed to get into the room and quickly spot them.
"Freeze !" Said a trooper as the group continued to move. He started shooting at them which off balanced Aerith who failed a jump over a pipe that made her glide down. Cloud couldn't catch her and saw that she ended up just in front of the men.
-Shoot again and I'll make it personal." Reno said to the trooper, mad. The man didn't understand and as the florist started to move again he pointed her with his gun, which made her stop.
-Move and I'll shoot !
-Oh no you won't !" Said the Turk, angry. The florist was to be brought to Shinra HQ "Unharmed" and knew that if there was as much as a scratch on her, he would be in trouble. Especially since his leader had a close bound with her. Suddenly, a chandelier fell on the trooper head, allowing Aerith to make a run for it and climb up the stairs again, this time reunited with Cloud who was hanging to the ceiling. It was him who managed to climb and cut the chain of the chandelier. They then proceed to run and passed on the top of the church.
"Sir ! What do we do now ?" Said one of the troopers.
-We did what we could. Partner's got it." And thus they left without warning, passing just under the bodyguard and her protegee. They got out of the church's roof to another. Cloud saw Reno leave.
"So... What did they want with you ?
-Hmm... Aren't Turks looking for Soldier candidates? Maybe they thought I was made for it !" Cloud sigh.
-So, you never told me your name...
-Oh, right ! I'm Aerith, you must be Cloud, right ?
-Yeah..." He now knew she was the one his friend was always talking about. He smiled, glad he finally met her. He jumped from roof to roof, thinking how he already had met her, but couldn't remember where. Suddenly, he got interrupted.
-Hey wait !" He turned around as the lady was struggling to get through the rooftops.
-Hmpf... Thought you were meant to be soldier ?
-How petty..." She managed to get to him. She laugh as their eyes crossed.
-So, let me lead the way okay? So you don't just run on your own !" She got in front of the merc, who sighed once more. They jumped down to another roof and saw a ladder they had to climb in order to access another rooftop.
-Careful now, ladder's rusted.
-I'm not some princess who need to be coddled just so you know... Whoa !" She almost fell as Cloud quickly moved his hand to catch her, but didn't. She then looked at him playfully.
-Gocha !
-You're killing me..." They got to the roof when the ladder started to fall apart. The merc quickly pulled himself up at the last minute. She clapped as she thought it was impressive. He smiled softly. Aerith saw an opened tube where she slide down toward another roof, Cloud got through with her too. He then looked down from the roof he was on and jumped down, landing easily. It was a bit too far down for the florist, but still jumped down. Cloud caught her and put her down gently. She laughed.
"My hero!
-You're too much...
-Hmm... That a compliment?" He sighed. She put her finger on her cheek while running in front of him.
-Well, thanks anyway !" The group then started making their way toward sector five city.
Meanwhile, Zack, who was looking for Cloud, had a hunch Aerith might know a thing about his current location. He headed toward sector five as soon as he woke up, telling Tifa to stay put at Seventh Heaven waiting for them. She sighed, worried about her friend, but agreed to stay and spent some time with Marlene. Quickly enough, Zack arrived toward sector five's undercity. He quickly noticed a lot of peoples talking as he made his way through toward the huge televisions broadcasting a Shinra excavation of the destroyed reactor five. There was this lady wearing red with blond hairs. Zack quickly recognised her. Scarlett.
"Rest assured, Shinra will never lose to Wutai. We got things underway." She said pushing the cameraman on the ground before a shinra trooper grabbed his camera. He sighed, knowing that sooner or later people will know he's working with Avalanche. He looked at another scene, just in front of the orphanage. The orphanage caretaker was walking in circle showing signs of stress. He decided to go and see what this was about.
"Hey, are you okay ?
-Huh ?
-Sorry... You look stressed out.
-Oh hmm... Zack ! It's just...
-What can I do.
-There's this man toward Aerith's house... He's talking with Elmyra and... I've seen him around and he's usually not good news...
-A man ? What he looks like ?
-He's wearing black, a black suit..." Zack knew something was off, and all he could think about was "Turks". He remembered meeting a few of them while he was in Soldier, especially a young red head lady, Cissney, and a black long hair ponytail man, leader of the organisation, Tseng. He ran toward Aerith's house and saw this man talking with Elmyra.
"You know you'll get in danger one day.
-Just leave me alone Rude... Aerith isn't even here !
-Hmpf... One day we will need to get you, both of you, to Shinra, by any means, you do understand?
-I..." It was too much for the hot blooded Ex-Soldier who ran toward his friend's mom.
-Get away from her !" Both looked at him.
-Hmm ? And you are ?" Zack didn't answer and moved toward Elmyra. He grabbed her by the shoulder and moved her away from the man. He nodded at her. He walked back toward the man when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
-Zack, please... Don't hurt him. " The man looked puzzled, but agreed. Rude sighed and opened a gate on his left. He looked at Zack and guided him in. It led to a storage place, which was kinda empty and big.
-You look like Soldier..." Rude said, adjusting his gloves as the man sighed. He put his sword down near the entrance. He was going to make it gentle. Rude laughed, thinking his opponent was underestimating him. He jumped toward Zack, trying to land a punch. However, the man agility was enough to dodge and throw him against a bunch of card box. The bald man managed to land on his hand and jumped back on his feet. He punched the ground, propulsing an energy wave toward the soldier who blocked it. He then grabbed one of Zack legs, catching him off guard, and spinned fast to throw him far. Zack's back hurt a wall, blocking his air entry for a bit. He still got up, panting and smiling. It had been a while since anyone put up a sort of challenge for him. He wasn't just going to take it all in. Both men jumped toward each other and grabbed their hand. Zack headbutt the turk who titubate for a bit. He then uppercut him and started punching him a few times. Rude managed to guard against most hit and got down on his legs. He spinned to try to kick Zack's legs and make him fall, but the agile man jumped over it. The Turk got back up, however he didn't pay attention to the Ex-Soldier who grabbed him and jumped in the air.
"Brace yourself!" Fired the man as he threw his opponent to the ground, and then fell on him, both hands in a punch stance. The impact rose a huge blanket of dirt around them. It appears the Turk managed to dodge that last hit at the last second, but broke his glasses. He took others from his pocket and replaced them, which made Zack laugh out loud. It triggered the Turk who started to pound the ground, throwing energy waves around the battlefield. Zack got hit by one and fell on one knee.
"Hey, nice trick ! But if you can do it..." The man jumped high and punched the ground near Rude taking him off guard.
-Then so can I !" The impact made a shockwave which threw the man a few meters away and landed on his back. He struggled to get back up, as Zack was panting.
"What's she to you ? Girlfriend ?" Asked the bald man out of nowhere.
-That's none of your concern!
-Oh, it is. More than you know." The man got his gloves up again ready to go back at it. Zack sighed.
-Come on man..." Suddenly, Rude's phone started ringing. He showed a hand sign for zack to wait, which puzzled him. He answered the phone.
"Yes ? Yes... I understand." He hung off, and looked at Zack.
-Mission change ?
-So it seems, for now... But you do know I'll be back.
-Good, I'll be waiting!" The man got through the gate and walked past the awaiting Elmyra, titubating. He nod at her and walked toward sector five as Zack walked back to the woman. He sighed.
"What's with this dude ?
-You okay ?
-Huh ?" Zack looked at her, she was worried. "Piece of cake ! Could have done it blindfolded!" He said, laughing.
-Oh you !" She laughed too. She wasn't mad like she always was at him, which made him happy too. "So, you looking for Aerith?
-Actually, yeah ! It's a long story but I need to ask her something...
-She's not home yet.
-Oh... No biggies ! I'll wait !" He said, looking around the place.
-Come with me." She said smiling at him. Zack followed her toward Aerith's house a bit further. She opened the door for him and invited him to sit while she made tea for them, putting three cups on the table knowing Aerith would be back soon.
"Thank you for helping me.
-Oh hmm... It was nothing really!
-Maybe for you but..." She sighed. "I'm sorry, I've not been kind to you... My husband he was..." She wait for a few seconds while Zack looked at her puzzled. She continued. "I mean, I'm scared that one day you would hurt Aerith. Not willingly but sometimes... Life make choices for you, like five years ago I guess. "Zack sighed and clunch a fist. She saw that and apologised once more.
-It's okay, really. I mean, I did was missing for five years...
-You said you had something to ask her ?
-Oh, yeah ! There's this friend of mine, something happened to him and I was wondering if anyone saw him in sector five ! He's blond, mako eyes and wear a classic soldier weapon...
-Another Soldier ?" She sighed. "No, haven't seen him around...
-I see..." She served the tea which was ready. Suddenly the door opened as Aerith entered in a rush.
-Mom ! I brought a guest !" She paused for a few seconds. "Zack ! You're here too ?! So cool !" She said jumping in place as he laughed. Elmyra couldn't help but notice the smile on her daughter's face, and smiled too. Then, a man entered the room behind her.
-Zack ! You okay ?" The Ex-Soldier was relieved to see his friend was okay! He got up fast !
-Cloud buddy ! You scared us !
-Yeah... Ended up in a church, Aerith there helped me through
-You fell in the church? What's the odds right!
-Wait for it... He called me mom too !
-Really ? Wow, Cloud, you're wild !
-Wait, too ?" Aerith chuckled.
-Zack also fell in the church, he confused me for his mom too. He then said I was an angel and offered to repay me with a...
-With a date right ?" Cloud sighed. "He told me all about that a few thousand times...
-He did ?
-Hey ! Don't just go and tell everyone !" Zack said jokingly grabbing Cloud's head under his arm. The man got off the hold. Elmyra was laughing.
-So that's the man you were looking for Zack ?
-Yeah ! Thanks a lot, both of you !" He said joining his hand and bowing toward Elmyra and Aerith who both laughed.
-The others are okay too ?" Cloud asked Zack, who nodded. "Good, we need to get back.
-Already ? But we just arrived!" Said Aerith.
-You could help out in sector five before heading home. You live in sector seven if I'm correct right? " Zack and Cloud nod. Aerith clapped.
-Then it's settled, let's go help some folks !
-Oh yeah !" Zack said while Cloud sighed. Elmyra waved them off. They had a fun afternoon dealing with help requests, for free even though Cloud was sulking for a bit. Some shop-keeper thanked them with an ice-cream for each of them to thank them. Elmyra who was out gathering groceries, saw them make fun of Cloud for having a brain freeze. She smiled as she saw Aerith opening up to others her age for the first time in a lifetime. She seemed genuinely happy ! The three of them continued having an awesome afternoon, and then decided it was time for Zack and Cloud to go home. The Ex-Soldier wanted to greet Elmyra goodbye before leaving, so they got Aerith back home. When they left, the mother could see sadness in her daughter eyes. She sighed.
"Go with them, just be back tonight.
-For real ?" Elmyra laughed as she looked at her. Aerith yelled, happy and hugged her mom. She then got out and caught up with the two men. The three of them got past sector five toward sector seven, heading for a little park Zack knew would lead them straight back home. They stopped at the park for a bit when Aerith got some lone time with Zack.
"Wow...
-The eyes again ?" The black haired man chuckled as the lady gazed on his eyes. "Colour of the sky but not scary at all right ?
-You remembered !
-Of course I did !" The air got heavy. Aerith had something on her mind.
-So... Five years ago... You sure you told me everything?
-Oh I think so, yeah ! Why ?
-It's just..." She sighed. "Sometimes, I just dream of my life. Everything's just the same but... You're not here. I'm trying so hard to find you but... You never came back...
-Yeah ?
-I dreamt about this day too you know ? Meeting Cloud and spending the day with him, without you... He made me think of you so much it was hard not to cry...
-Hey ! You said it, those were dreams !
-I know..." The air got a little less heavy as Zack grabbed her hand.
-I told you, I'm not leaving you again. I meant it." She laughed as she pushed him gently.
-Oh you !" They both laughed as Cloud watched them from afar. He was genuinely happy for them. But suddenly his head hurt again as he saw this white materia fall in the water. He shed a tear that he quickly wiped out.
There was this huge gate a bit further that suddenly got wide open, as the three got together again, waiting to see what would come out. It was a chocobo lead wagon, with a beautiful black haired lady wearing a tight blue dress in it.
"Tifa ?" The wagon continued its course, heading toward a huge walled city. Zack got near Cloud as Aerith asked who was Tifa. The air got heavy again, the florist knew where this was headed, and didn't like it.

Chapter Text

Everybody who was born in midgar knew about this tragedy. There was once the plan of building a huge city, living up another. It was Shinra's dreams, and the citizens were really excited about it, not thinking about living under it. It was separated into a central building and seven sectors surrounding it was forming this sort of big pizza in the air. But one day, sector six fell down and destroyed everything on its path. The people always asked Shinra to rebuild it, but they chose not too. The risk were too big, and sector six fell into the unknown... Or so it was thought by Shinra, but quickly something wicked birthed from the ashes of the fallen plate. A huge city that never sleeps, surrounded by gigantic walls. There are no rules in this hidden city. It's called...
"...Wall market!" Aerith finished telling the story to the group, who was walking toward the said city.
-That so huh ? Why would Tifa go there then ?" Asked the black hair man.
-Well, I dunno, maybe the appeal of a guilt free night ?
-Not like her." Answered Cloud. Aerith sighed, but then cheered up seeing they had the reached the entrance, where the wagon which carried Tifa stopped.
-Look ! That's it right?
-Yep, Cloud, let's go !" The group reunited in front of the thing and talked to the man brushing a chocobo.
-Hey, you wouldn't happen to know where the girl you were carrying got to right ?
-What's it to you ?" Answered the man to the young lady. "I've got work to do, can't you see I'm busy ?
-Can't say I do no." Zack and Aerith turned to face Cloud when the man walked up toward him.
-The hell did you say ?" He yelled as the door of the nearby ranch opened.
-The hell's going on here ?" It was a tall and muscular man, western like beard and clothes.
-Hello, my name's Aerith ! We're looking for a girl you carried here. Think you could help us ?
-A girl..." The man started to think. "Name's Sam, Chocobo Sam, what kind of girl ?" He asked looking at the men.
-Hmm... She's...
-Sporty ! Always taking a challenge fist on !" Said Zack, smiling. Aerith laughed for a bit.
-You mean Tifa?
-Yes ! So you do know where she went ?
-Hmm... Sorry to break it to you folks, Tifa ain't anybody's to conquer now... She's Don Corneo's soon to be.
-Don Corneo ?" Said Zack.
-Soon to be ?" Said Aerith as Cloud sighed. He walked up toward the man.
-Answer the question, pretty please.
-Listen boy, ain't gonna lie, love that kind of enthusiasm but you should keep out of the don's way. Take it as a life advice. " Cloud grabbed his shoulder as he was starting to walk away. Zack got in to ease the tention. The man sighed.
-Look, Corneo's got this huge manor uptown, you can't miss it. Now scedadle !" He said, closing the door to the group. They all sighed while Zack scratched the back of his head.
-Well... That went well..." He said. Cloud started to walk in front of them.
-Manor uptown, let's go guys." The soldier and Aerith exchanged a nod and followed the merc. They walked for about a few minutes and arrived in front of the said enormous manor. There was this man's face all over the place.
"Yuk..." Said Aerith as Zack laugh. Cloud opened the door and the group entered. They quickly got in front of three men. One of them was tall wearing a red cap with silver short hairs.
"Yes ? Can I help you ?
-We're looking for a girl !" Said Aerith taking the lead. "Long black hairs ? Tifa ?
-Tifa... Yeah, so ?" Cloud took a step toward the man.
-So where is she ?
-I wouldn't do that if I were you. You're in the don's world now, if you cause a scene, you know what will happen?
-What ?" Said Aerith worried.
-He'll take it on her if you cross him. Believe me, you better go back the way you came, for you as for her. She's in the don's world now.
-Screw this." Cloud walked away, as Aerith looked strangely at him. They both passed through Zack who was looking at the man for a while. He wasn't saying a word, just staring at him.
-Yes ?" He asked as the soldier left too. They reunited outside, as Aerith was starting to tell Cloud that they should destroy the place to find her. Cloud shook his head knowing that wouldn't help. Aerith sighed when she noticed a flyer on a wall. She ran toward it and grabbed it.
"Look ! Corneo's having the audition tonight! They're still gathering concurrent for... Whatever he's got planned ! Maybe I can get in and infiltrate!
-No way, that's too many risks !" They answered, still looking around for a plan. She started to think again when she finally saw this other flyer.
-Oh ! Guys, I've got an idea !" She said while hanging out the flyer to them. Zack took it.
-Honey Bee Inn, special edition... Tonight they will... What !?
-What ?" Cloud took the flyer from his hands. "No way...
-You guys want to get in and help Tifa right ? Then...
-Not cross dressing !" They both shouted at her, as she began to laugh.
-Come on, who said we couldn't help her and get a bit of fun ?" She took both men by the hands who sighed as she guided them toward the said Honey Bee Inn. They got through the huge neon light door and entered the room. There were woman and men all dressed up as bee workers. It really amused Aerith to see men walking around the huge soldier. Someone even pat his arm as he took a step back.
"Hey ! Keep your hands to yourself !
-You've got it daddy." The man left as did all the women who also were touching the men. It amused Aerith at first, but she quickly started to get frustrated seeing that no one actually got to her. A few minutes later, a man and a woman entered.
-Are you here for the show ?" Asked the man, wearing a black suit. Everybody yelled seeing him arrived as the two friends faced him awkwardly. The man grabbed Cloud's hand and kissed it while bowing.
-Hello, I'm Andreas. And this fine lady is..." He didn't finish the sentence as the woman took her small fan and pushed it under Cloud's shin, forcing him to look up.
-Hmm... Yes, I understand what you could see in him..." She let the poor man off her grasp and looked at Zack. "or them..."
-This is Madam M... Together with Chocobo Sam, we form the big three.
-So?" Cloud said, annoyed.
-So, how can we help ?" The two men looked at each other, puzzled while Aerith jumped in front of Andreas.
-I'm Aerith, and those men are Zack and Cloud ! We want to get into Corneo's audition tonight and we figured...
-I see... So you "are" here for the audition of tonight after all... Hmm..." Andreas walked around the two men silently while patting them at different places. "Yes, I can see this going smooth..." He said while walking away toward Madam M. "Can you prepare them please?" She sighed guiding both men with her fan toward a room in the back. Aerith looked at them puzzled. She tried to follow but the woman told her to stay away. Then, a few other men and women got around the two friends.
"So, you wanna dress as girls tonight right ?" The two men said nothing, they got too far in to back away now. She laughed. "There are a lot of other... Promising candidates you know ? Tonight show will be your way of showing you're more... Deserving... Especially if you want to impress a certain don..." She showed two of the workers to start. They began dancing fast and beautiful. "If you want Andreas to work his magic, you'll need to impress him even more ! Like those peoples are !" She launched herself backward as the two performers grabbed her and pulled her up in a diva position. "We'll make it so graceful that no one will be able to resist you... Hmm ?" She said looking especially at Cloud who sighed. They trained for a while as Aerith got surrounded by worker bees who got her into another room. Then, they started making her wear a lot of different dresses until they found the perfect one. She was guided toward the main room, where the show would soon start. She saw a bit further in the two men, surrounded by girls and boys giggling while she was alone on her sit.
"Lucky you..." She thought, sulking a bit. The show began as the many light effects enhanced the stage. But suddenly after a few minutes, someone got to get the two men. They stepped on the stage, not willingly as anyone could tell, when Andreas came and approached them. He started flirting caressing each shoulder pads of them, and then started dancing. He put his hand in front of his face in a mysterious way before grabbing their arm and throwing them at the center of the stage. The two man sighed but knew what had to be done. Zack saw Aerith firing up for them. The light got on them as Andreas got between them.
"Follow my leads." He started to move his hand into a star like position when the two men took the same stance. The music started as the three men started dancing on it. They started rocking the top of their body while Andreas walked on the stage. They got lower on their back, moving their right knees and got up, then started making waves with their arms. Andreas leaned on their right and left arm as they got him back up he jumped. He then fired a kiss toward them. Zack started to have fun as he grabbed Cloud's arm. He put both of his hand on the merc's armpits as he thrown him up. Cloud spinned and land on a "hero" pose, legs stretched and one hand on the ground. Zack jumped up him and landed on his knees a bit further. Cloud who got up started dancing moving the top of his body. Zack rolled on his back and kip up to stand again. They both got crazy with their dances move, pulling each other through the stage. Zack laid down the top of his body while Cloud approached Zack's back and spinned on it. He then took his hand as they both spinned fast. Zack ended the dance on the last music note, holding Cloud's back while he slowly fell in his arms. Everybody was clapping so hard as Zack helped his friend get up. They both bowed to receive the acclamation. Andreas couldn't believe his eyes.
"Perfection..." He walked toward the men. "Beauty, a notion to which gender don't apply..." With a wave of his hand, a few people gathered around Cloud as they began to put things on him. They did the same with Zack, but dressed him up as a prince, which got him look funny. Cloud wasn't so lucky, as he got into this huge blue dress. He got makeup all over his face and nails as Zack got a few makeup on his too. They threw Cloud back into Zack's arms, ending up in the same last pose they took. Everyone kept clapping.
And you, my friends... You are perfect." He said while clapping one last time, lights got out. Aerith was thrilling as she was waiting for them outside. She quickly saw them get out, Zack trying to cheer up Cloud who hadn't said a thing since he got in this dress.
"Hmm... Is he alright?
-I dunno, think we broke our Cloud...
-Oh no !" Aerith and Zack giggled as Cloud started to walk towards Corneo's. Zack stared at Aerith. He barely had a chance to see her since they got in, and she was gorgeous! She wore this huge red dress with her hair braided differently.
-Hmm ?
-Oh hmm, sorry!
-Oh I know ! The dress... It's so unpractical, definitely a pain to move in, trust your girl out !
-I'll give you that." Cloud finally talked, as the two others laughed to his complain.
-Wait ! How are we gonna get you through ?
-Hmm... Guess the prince outfit won't cut in right ?" Cloud sighed.
-I've got it. I'll be in and out.
-I'll go too !" Said Aerith, as she ran somehow toward the merc. "Zack, you take watch okay ?
-Yeah, don't be long !" Said the ex-soldier as they arrived at the huge manor. Aerith nod toward Zack as they entered the manor. Cloud saw his friend laugh one last time at his sight, which made him angry. Aerith took his arm.
-T's okay, really ! You're fabulous!" The man quickly walked away, annoyed. They got in front of the man wearing a hat. He quickly recognised Cloud.
"You can't be serious ?" Aerith ran toward her friend's to help.
-This is my friend, hmm... Cloudia !" Cloud nod as he took a woman stance. The man shook his head in disapproval, but two other man let them through. One of them grabbed the cap guard by the shoulder.
-Wow, you saw that blond chick Les ? Gotta be honest man, wouldn't you want her in your bed !
-Back off." The grey haired man pushed Corneo's man.
-Oh, what is it Leslie ? You don't take a joke anymore?" He laughed as the small guy looked pissed. He stared one last time at Cloud and Aerith, wondering if they were gonna be okay. The florist saw that he cared for them, and wondered why he looked so sad. The two of them got on anyway, and headed toward the secretary. They guided them toward a room in the back, and a few seconds after a sort of gaz started spreading. Cloud tried to act fast and open the door they got in, but it was closed. He turned and saw Aerith fell asleep.
"Damn... It..." He fell asleep too next to her. The gaz then cleared out as two men got in with masks. They picked them up as the one who got Cloud grunted.
"Why is she so heavy..."
Meanwhile, Zack started slowly to get impatient. He got rid of his prince outfit, and started squatting. But suddenly, he listened to some troopers passing by as he hid behind a pillar. They were talking about Corneo being shady, as Shinra got an idea about how to get rid of him. They mentioned a soldier operative coming in. They hurried toward the manor, but Zack knew them getting in could get everything south. He blocked their way.
"Who's there !
-It's Avalanche! He's one of those who bombed reactor five yesterday!" Zack ran toward them and quickly knocked them out.
"Sorry boys, can't let you in !" He saw two other troopers arm their gun toward him, and a soldier with them. He was wearing the first class soldier outfit, Zack knew it wouldn't be easy.
"Zack ? Is that you man ?" The ex-soldier eyes widened as he recognised the man.
Meanwhile, Cloud awakened thanks to Tifa. He opened his eyes and quickly got up and turned his back to her. He didn't want to be recognised. Meanwhile, Aerith too woke up and walked toward Tifa.
"Hey Tifa ! Are you okay ?
-Oh hmm... Yes ?" Aerith saw she looked confused and then remembered they never met.
-Oh my bad ! We actually never met ! I'm Aerith, one of Cloud and Zack's friends !
-Cloud ? You know him ? Oh, you were that girl with them in the park ! Is he okay ?
-Why not let him answer that ?
-Him?" She turned around toward the other woman.
-No... No way !
-Yeah I know, moving on." The merc said quickly evading the subject. Tifa laugh out loud at him.
-So why you got in huh ? What's in it for you ?" Asked the merc.
-The man has some intel about Barret. Some men were looking for a man with a gun for an arm.
-A gun for an arm ?
-Yeah, it's a friend of ours, he's friendly." Reassured Tifa.
-Kind of." Said Cloud laughing. A man entered the room.
-Oh, we've got funny ones !
-Shut up." Everybody turned toward Cloud. The man grabbed them and guided them toward Corneo's auction room. The small man got out from behind a pillar of the room, pretending to be shy. He then walked in a shady way toward the three persons standing there, waiting to be elected "Wife of Corneo". He passed quickly behind Aerith, smelling her back which put shiver down her spine. He quickly got near Cloud, touching his arms, amazed by the size of them. He punched lightly his stomach, hard as rock. He laughed playfully before getting in front of Tifa. He nod and made a little noise, passed behind her and got his hand near her. Cloud, quickly grabbed his hand and stared at the man's eyes.
"Back off." Tifa looked relieved, as Corneo laughed and got away. He looked back at the three of them before pointing at the blondie.
"You ! You've been chosen by Corneo." Tifa and Aerith looked slightly relieved while Cloud walked toward the shady man. He looked from his tall size on the small man.
"Lead on." He said as the man laughed again. They got out of Tifa and Aerith's sight, who themselves got carried in a small backroom. There were four-five men, all looking at both ladies. Tifa quickly understood what was going on. She kept her cool and waited for a man to walk toward her. She grabbed her arm and put it in his back, then kicked him toward the other men. One of them tried to grab her as she punched him hard, tooth flying from the impact. Someone walked toward her by behind but was struck by a chair. He looked up only to see Aerith smiling down at him, with a chair on her hands. They looked around the room and noticed a bag with their ordinary clothes, along with Cloud's ones that they carried on their way in, just in case. Zack held on on Cloud's sword though, knowing that they wouldn't let them in with it. They quickly changed themselves.
Meanwhile, Corneo tried many times to soften up Cloud's ice, without success. It seemed however that it was exactly what he was expecting of him, as he jumped on the bed on which Cloud was sat on the edge.
"Ooooh, you're a tough one r ? I'll enjoy breaking you apart hahaha" Cloud sighed. The man jumped toward his chosen one, which got up and kicked him violently in the face. He flew near the pillow, falling on the soft bed. "You'll regret it ! Guards !" The door opens as his eyes widened. To his surprise, it wasn't guards but Tifa and Aerith that got in. They gave Cloud the bag, allowing him to change back to his former uniform with Aerith and Tifa quickly looking away. Corneo however wasn't losing a bit of what was going on, only to be shocked by the reveal. Aerith got close to the man.
"So ! You're going to have to answer some questions for us okay?
-Questions ? We playing a game ?
-Kind of..." Aerith put her boot heavily down on the floor. "If you don't answer us, or we don't like it... We'll break them !" Corneo understood the game and nodded. Cloud walked toward him, arm crossed.
"So, you're working with Shinra right ? What they up to ?
-I can't tell you, they're gonna...

-I'll rip them off." Cloud put his boot on the bed, as the man shivered from the imaginary pain.
-They were looking for a man with a gun for an arm ! In sector seven !
-Yeah ? What else ?" Said Tifa moving in. "You better tell us, or... I'll smash them." Said the Lady, putting her boot next to Cloud's. The man yelled and then laughed.
-Okay, you got me... Turns out they want to destroy Avalanche, by crushing them. Literally.
-Literally?
-The plate goes boom and all is crashed !" The man uncontrollably laughed as Tifa looked in shock. Cloud saw that and sighed before starting to walk away, Aerith grabbing Tifa with a smile on her face. As they were leaving Corneo shouted.
"Wait ! I answered yours, will you answer one of mine ?
-Shoot." Cloud sighed and turned to face the man.
-When do evil master tell their plans?" Cloud thought for a few seconds before answering:
-When they think they already won.
-Correct ! Here's your prize! A nice trip... To the sewers." He put his hand on a handle that opened a trap below them. They fell for some meters before landing.

Chapter Text

It was a common thing for peoples to leave their hometown for Midgar, with hopes to become soldiers or great salesman ! Kunsel was not different than the others when he left Kalm for the big city. He quickly entered soldier, but stayed a third class for quite a while. He then met this guy, a second class soldier, that inspired him ! He quickly then managed to join his class and they trained together. He was a bit overwhelmed with his friend's rise to first, while he was kept behind, unable to prove his worth to the soldier director, Lazard. He also remembered the last time he saw his friend, who left on a mission with the great Sephiroth. When the death of Zack Fair was announced, he with many, were broken. Soldier was in disarray, and there were no first class remaining. So, easily enough, Kunsel became first, and led a great deal of soldier.
"Zack ? Is that really you " he said in front of Corneo's manor. He couldn't forget his face, nor his scar on his left cheek. And, his old friend couldn't forget his friend's voice, nor his face. He had brown short and spiky hairs with a mole on his left jaw. They both were amazed that they met again, but also on their guards. One was working for Shinra while the other with a terrorist organisation. A trooper walked toward Kunsel and asked:
"Sir, your orders ?" Zack held tight on his sword. Kunsel sighed, and turned toward the trooper.
-It's okay, he's not a threat." The trooper put his gun away. He walked toward the Ex-Soldier who was still holding on his sword, worried.
-We're not here for you Zack. It's okay. Trust me." Zack hesitated but got his sword back on his back. Kunsel smiled and sighed while hugging his old friend tight. "I... I thought you were dead..." Zack was councerned for his friend, but hugged him back.
-Yeah... Sorry..." There were a few seconds that passed by when they released from their embrace. "So, how you... Been ?
-Well, I've been holding on however..." He paused but continued. "Soldier is... Not what it used to be...
-Yeah, could've fooled me !
-What happened to you ?" The question got out of the blue, but he needed to know. Zack sighed and put his hands on his hips.
-Well... I managed to get away, Shinra really didn't want me too though... Got shot multiple bullets and have many scars to tell the stories..." He saw his friend was councerned. He scratched his head. "Anyway, I'm good now ! What about you ?" He said pointing at him. "You said soldier is in disarray ? What's happened ?
-Well... We're not much first now since... Five years ago... There's me, who leads the biggest platoon of soldiers, and then there's Roche... He's kind of a lot to process." Zack laugh for a bit, Kunsel wondered if he knew him. "Man, I really missed you..."
-Yeah me too..."
-Oh, yeah that's right." Kunsel got up and lend his hand to his friend to help him stand. "I gotta move, we're after the don.
-Corneo ? Why ?
-New orders. Shinra got no needs for the man anymore, or so they told us.
-Is that so..." Zack scratched his head. He didn't know whether he should tell Kunsel about Cloud and the others.
-What are you doing here anyway ? You're not working for him right ?
-Of course not !" He turned to face the man. "Listen, there are friends of mine in there, they have to talk to the don...
-Girls ?" Asked the man, councerned.
-Huuuu... Yeah, two...
-Zack, follow me." Kunsel walked toward the doors while Zack grabbed his arm. "You don't understand. They're in danger." Zack released him and looked in his eyes.
-Let me tag along. Just the two of us." Kunsel hesitated but sent his troopers back to the chopper. He nod toward Zack as both men entered the house. Some Corneo lackeys tried to surround them, but the two men easily got rid of them. Kunsel was not only an amazing swordsman, but also a great ice user. Thanks to his materia, he created platform to get fast enough near his enemies, also allowing Zack to use them for surprising his foes. Zack saw Leslie there and pointed his sword toward him. The man held his hands up and walked away. He let him go.
They arrived at Corneo's room and saw the man alone, waiting on his bed.
"The girls? Where are they ?" Corneo jumped from the bed, scared.
-Who are you ?
-First Class Soldiers, you're under arrest !" Corneo quickly grabbed the handle of the trap and Zack saw it. He jumped out of the way with Kunsel. Corneo was shocked as Kunsel violently grabbed him and put him near the edge of the pit.
"I'll only ask once more. Where are they ?" The don shivered and tried to grab his gun. Kunsel threw him in the hall. He fell, unconscious. Zack was looking down the pit, with only one thought in his head. What if they fell ? He heard some noise down it. Something breaking.
The fall wasn't that long, and the three of them landed safely. Cloud helped Tifa up as Aerith stood up and got near a wall, hearing some noise.
"Hey, you hear that ?" Cloud grabbed a nearby sharp pipe and grabbed Aerith. The wall collapsed as a huge blue horned beast got through. Tifa jumped out of his lunge. The beast laid on his belly and tried to get back up. Aerith used her magic skills to throw some orbs of light toward it, seemingly not having that much of an impact. Tifa ran around, as the beast was mainly targeting her. Though, she managed to create a small opportunity to jump and give him a violent uppercut. The beast got mad, as energy started to gather on his horns. He then threw pressured water toward Cloud and Aerith, as the merc took the florist with him and jumped out of the way. Aerith got mad and threw a thunder bolt on the horn, which staggered the beast. Cloud quickly jumped and stabbed one of the horn with the pipe, and pulled hard enough to rip it apart. The beast raged with pain as it ran away. The three of them gathered back together, looking at the broken wall.
"You okay there ?" Cloud recognised his friend voice. He looked up.
-Zack ?
-Yeah it's me ! I knew you fell down here ! Wait up, I'll find a way to come down !
-Wait up !" Tifa shouted. "Corneo told us something! Shinra is planning to destroy sector seven's plate to crush down Barret and the others. Please, we'll be okay, but you gotta get there and fast !" Zack couldn't believe his ears.
-They're going to do what???
-Zack, you gotta go and fast ! If what Corneo said is true, you're the only one who can stop it !" Said Aerith. The man shook his head and looked at Kunsel. He was as shocked as he was.
-Fine, I'm going to get there and fast ! Careful Cloud, I'll throw your sword down !" The sword clattered on the ground as Cloud took it then.
-Thanks. We'll be fine, let's meet at Seventh Heaven!" They left. Zack stood up.
-Judging by the face you make, that's news to you too huh ?
-Yeah... Sometimes I wonder... What are they thinking ?
-Peoples right ?" Kunsel nod at Zack. He followed him out where troopers were waiting for them.
"Sir. The man you're with has a warrant. He's a member of Avalanche." Zack waited silently, his sword ready just in case it got south. The trooper handed a wanted poster with Zack's head on, the picture taken at sector five when he bombed the reactor. Kunsel sighed and ordered the trooper.
"Go back to the chopper, stay with the others. I'm coming.
-Sir!" The trooper salute Kunsel and left. The soldier turned back toward Zack and hesitate for a bit.
"Come on, we gotta get you to sector seven.
-You sure?
-If... And that's a big "IF"... Corneo told the truth then yeah, I'm sure." Zack sighed of relief. Kunsel started walking behind the mansion.
-Hey ! We're not going through sector five ?
-That'd be the quickest way yeah, however my troopers are posted around there... We circle through the train graveyard back to sector seven. Should be an easy walk." Zack nod and followed his old friend. He was really glad they met again.
Meanwhile, in the sewers, Cloud and the others navigated slowly but surely through the many monsters they faced. Aerith proved herself pretty good with her magic as Cloud and Tifa did their best to draw attention on them instead of her. They got stuck at one point and had to build a kind of bridge on the sewer water to cross it. Aerith got first, she almost fell because of the balance loss she had. She managed to cross it and was soon followed by Tifa, making a short walk out of this made up bridge. Cloud also started to cross it when the platform started to get carried away with the current. He quickly jumped toward the two girls who caught him, preventing Cloud to fall into the sewer water.
"That was a close one !" Said Tifa while Aerith laughed.
-Would not have smelt nice
-Sure wouldn't" said Cloud with a smile. The two girls laughed as they continued to walk through the sewers. They finally found a sewer exit, and they arrived in a train graveyard. Aerith quickly recognised it.
"It's this place !
-What place ?
-They say spirits roam free around here... Children tend to play in here from times to times... But...
-But ?
-They never reappeared..." Tifa got shiver running down her spine. Cloud, as always, remained calm.
-I see no spirits." He started to walk past the girls when they both grabbed his arms in fear. He sighed and pushed through. They entered a train that they needed to push out of their way. The track were out of power, but suddenly the power got back on its own. Tifa and Aerith screamed because they thought it was ghosts. In reality, it was Zack and Kunsel who managed to get their way toward the power room. Suddenly though, wind came out of nowhere and surrounded the two men who quickly drew their swords. A kind of small ghost showed himself to them, and Zack slashed right through it. Kunsel managed to hit it with ice as they both ran away.
"The hell was that ?" Asked Zack while Kunsel shook his head from right to left. They never faced this kind of enemy before. They walked away, a strange uneasy feeling fleeting behind. The exact same one Tifa and Aerith were feeling. Cloud moved the train and they then left the train. Aerith suddenly saw a child running in the distance. She tried to catch up with him while Cloud and Tifa followed her.
"Found you." The ghost revealed itself as Cloud quickly stroke it. Somehow his sword managed to take it down. Another one appeared but this time, Cloud slashes got right through him. Tifa used a fire materia to kill it, surprised it worked. Aerith quickly figured it out: some are physically present while others are magical creatures only weakened by magic. With that on their mind, they continued to push their way through the graveyard toward the exit. They had to move another train, so Cloud repeated the maneuver. However this time, a transmission got through.
"Approaching sector seven... Awaiting instructions...
-Sir ! The residents are putting up a fight ! The man with a gun for an arm seems to lead them !
-Strike them down. They'll die today, no matter their resistance.
-Roger. You heard the man, move on!" The rest of the recording were screams and gun fires. Tifa trembled as Aerith hugged her to try to calm her.
-We're gonna get there in time, you'll see." Said Cloud at Tifa. She nod. "Hey, you know Barret and the others ! No way they're gonna let them destroy the pillar without kicking their asses." She laughed. Reassured, the group hurried out. Suddenly, Aerith screamed. She felt a cold grip on her arm as a tornado surrounded her.
"Aerith !" Shouted Cloud, missing her hand as she disappeared. Tifa looked around, not knowing what happened while Cloud stood there in shock.
"Is it still far ?" Said Zack running beside his friend.
-No, we should soon be there.
-Cool, we gotta hurry." They too heard the announcement. Zack was worried for everyone, so they've been running since that through the graveyard. Suddenly, Zack noticed a dark storm.
-Kunsel ! Saw that ?
-Yeah... Let's get going.
-Wait" Zack knew something was up. He felt like they needed to investigate it. "Follow me." He ran towards it.
Aerith remembered her childhood. She was a special child, or so she heard. The other kids never wanted to play with her, but Aerith was that kind of kid that never gave up. So one day, she played hide and seek with them, knowing they wouldn't leave her alone. But she kept waiting for hours. She decided to go home as her mother helped her clean herself up. She never played with this kids again. She kept crying alone, alone, alone... Aerith got faced with all that, and started crying too, alone again. A hand suddenly grabbed her as she got pulled toward the woman.
"We found you !" Said Tifa as Aerith wiped her tears.
"Yes, you did." Cloud was up against the big horse man. It was a grotesque monster, as a kind of reaper ghost on a charriot. Aerith got sure about one thing: it was him who haunted the graveyard. He had a huge sickle that he was swinging around to harvest their souls. Aerith saved Cloud with a magic beam that struck the horse's head. Tifa then tried to kick the man off the horse, with no success. Thunder bolts started to fire from the horseman's spiritual body. An ice slide appeared out of nowhere as a man was sliding on it. He jumped right at the end of it, took his huge sword, and cut right through the spirit's head.
"Zack !
-Missed me ?" He landed near Aerith. Cloud noticed Kunsel getting near him.
-Ex-soldier too ?
-Nope, just a merc.
-Oh ? Nice sword then." Their swords were the same after all. Kunsel and Cloud started to unleash some powerful ice spells, surrounding the horse man. Aerith prayed with her hands and she managed to grow the ice into huge pillars that impaled the horse. The monster screamed as a huge ray of light fired from his eyes. Kunsel got near Aerith and shielded her with his ice magic. Cloud helped him while Zack spinned his sword and Tifa jumped in front of him. He used the acceleration to propulse her toward the horseman as she punched his jaw, beheading it. It finally disappeared as Kunsel caught Tifa in the airs. Cloud ran toward Zack.
"Zack, we gotta hurry, sector seven is...
-Yeah, I know. Let's go." Cloud nod as Aerith asked Kunsel.
-You a friend of Zack?
-Sort of yeah... You must be Aerith right?
-Uh, yeah...
-He kept talking about you you know ?
-He what ?
-Kunsel !" Zack shouted as the man hurried toward his old friend. There were troopers there. Kunsel sighed. He knew they were waiting for them, they somehow managed to trace them. Kunsel looked at Zack.
"I can't help you through this... I'm gonne distract them, the rest is on your hands.
-Thanks ! We're gonna stop this, I know it.
-You better." Kunsel fist bump Zack and left. He talked with the troopers and lead them with him toward a train. Zack nod toward the group as they ran through the checkpoint toward sector seven's slums. Aerith stopped for a few seconds. She was happy, she finally got found when she needed someone. She looked at the group and laughed. She quickly followed them, knowing she was going to be separated from them soon.

Chapter Text

He was only two years old when he started living in the big city, holding the hand of his mother as they walked through the streets.
Desperate for a new life, hopefully better than what they faced before, they entered the sector seven slums and opened a small restaurant. They selled all kind of food, from the depth of Cosmo Canyon, to the jungle of Gongaga. Every citizen from the slums knew them, and they all helped the young man when his mother passed away. He continued to take care of the shop, until suddenly he saw many men running toward the pillar. He looked at the sky when he saw many helicopters, clueless about what was happening.
"Oh my gosh..." Said Tifa, in shock of seeing the people she loved, fighting and dying on the many stairs and platform leading toward the top of the pillar. She saw it too when a platform cracked and her friend fell from the plate. The huge splash of blood left room to no doubt about the survival of the fallen, but what made her cry was when she recognised Wedge. Cloud checked for a pulse, and shook his head. Aerith grabbed Tifa's face and pulled her toward her as she looked at the two men.
"Go, both of you, they need you." Zack looked at Cloud and they immediately started to run. They both began to climb the stairs as fast as they could. They reached the first platform.
"No way..." Zack was shocked to see all those citizens he helped through his journey in the sector seven slums, lying there, dead. Cloud saw troopers before the next set of stairs, and knew he had to act fast. He ran toward them, sword ready to kill them, when he saw his friend rush toward them, punching them unconscious in a few seconds only.
"Zack?
-Let's go..." He swore to himself to not let their sacrifice be in vain. He knew it after all, the price of freedom is steep. They continued their ascension toward the top, knowing damn well they'd have to be faster if they wanted to save as many people as possible. Meanwhile, Tifa managed to pull herself together, and gently pushed Aerith to get out of her embrace.
"Are you okay ?
-Yes..." She waited for a second. "No...
-Come on, we gotta help the citizens" Said the florist.
-Aerith..." Tifa took her hand and gazed at her eyes. "Can you do that on your own ?
-Sure. You want to go up there, right ?
-Yeah... But I gotta ask you something first okay ?
-Anything.
-There's a bar around that way, and inside of it is a little girl called Marlene. Can you get her far, to a safe place ?
-I will. Be careful okay ?" Tifa nod and ran to begin her ascension. Aerith sighed and shook her head to gather her focus on her task. She walked near the panicked citizens who had left their home in a hurry. All were running toward the exit of sector seven, toward sector five, because they all knew that it may be the end for their home. She managed somehow to find the said bar Tifa mentionned. She opened the doors and heard soft cries coming from behind the corner. She smiled lightly as she got toward the cries, meeting with a lonely and afraid girl.
"Hello !" The little girl's eyes widened as she crossed Aerith's eyes. She kept crying.
-Who... Who are you ?
-I'm Aerith, one of Tifa's friend !
-Tifa ?" The little girl sobbed. Aerith smiled gently to her and grabbed her hand.
-Yup ! I need you to be very brave okay ?" The girl wiped her tears. Aerith suddenly saw lights shining through the windows across the bar. She took the little girl's hand, and carefully started to manifest magic in case she needed to fight. The doors opened as many troopers entered. Their gun pointed toward Aerith. A Turk entered the room, with long black hairs.
"You led us in a merry chase, Aerith.
-Hmm..." Aerith thought for a second, but understood what she needed to do. She held tight to the hand of Marlene and smiled facing the man. "Let's make a deal, okay ?"
"Come and get it !" Shouted Zack, as he ran up the stairs with Cloud, slicing through the many troopers. "Damn it, how many of them are there ?
-Dunno. Keep moving." Said Cloud as Zack sighed. They entered yet another platform, many troopers started shooting toward them. Zack blocked the bullet with the buster sword, and acted as a diversion, allowing Cloud to circle back and kill their foes. While he put his sword away, Zack noticed a man with a gun, sat on the floor, bleeding severely.
"No way... ?" Zack said as he rushed toward the wounded man. "Biggs, wake up !" The man grunt as he struggled to open his eyes.
-Zack ? And... Cloud ? Huh, finally cared to show up huh...
-Don't talk, save your strength!" Said Cloud. Biggs stayed silent for a bit.
-That bad huh..?
-It's..." Zack looked down, but Biggs used the small amount of strength he still had to put his hand on Zack's head.
-Listen... I hope that... What I told you... I meant it...
-I know... It's gonna be okay, I'll get you down.
-They need you up... Jessie and Barret..." Biggs cough blood and the pressure on Zack's head released as his hand fell on the ground. Zack eyes widened. "Those... Puppy eyes... Take care of the others..." Zack's eyes began to tear up as he looked at his friend's eyes lose their sparks. He got up and wiped his tears. He then took his sword and put it in front of his face. He breathed heavily, before letting it down.
-Cloud. Let's go.
-Yeah..." Cloud kneeled and put his hand on Biggs shoulder. "You did good." He got up and followed Zack as they were determined to not let their friend's death be in vain.
Tifa struggled to catch up to them as many troopers followed behind her. As she was trying to get back up to their friends, so did they. She knew she had to do something to stop their ascension. She also saw the three choppers spinning around the pillar, troopers coming off it on some platforms. Some scattered shot flew right next to her, she ran to avoid any more bullets and hid behind some steel pipes. She pushed them toward the staircase as they fell and bumped in the troopers, who couldn't find a way past it. She ran toward the next set of stairs as soldier were running toward her. She kicked one of them toward the other group who fell down. One of the other troopers started shooting toward her, she jumped and grabbed the metal pipe in the center of the staircase and spinned on the trooper to knock him down. She continued her ascension as a chopper's light shine on her.
"Damn... Those stupid citizen ! What they think they're doing ?" Said Reno, who was at the command of the chopper. Rude who was right next to him, answered:
-They're fighting for their home." While putting his sunglasses back on his nose.
-Should have left it to burn... Oh well, job's a job..." He turned the chopper around and suddenly stopped the engine. He laughed as the light of the engine shine on Cloud. He recognised the merc who took him down in a fight back at the church. Vengeance. He started to shoot toward the merc who ran and hid behind a pillar. Zack stopped. He looked on the platform they were for a way to take it down. He saw a fallen piece of steel. He took it and spinned on himself.
"Heads up !" He launched the debris toward the chopper. Rude saw it and quickly grabbed the controls and threw the chopper around. The projectile almost hit them, and threw them out of their trajectory. Cloud took the opportunity to continue running when he heard footsteps behind him.
"Cloud ! Zack ! You okay ?" Tifa had managed to catch up on them. Zack heard explosions on the platform just in top of them. He looked at Cloud and Tifa who were running toward him. They climbed the staircase and arrived at this devastating scene. The explosion took half of the platform down, debris everywhere with people stuck under, both troopers and civilians. Cloud recognised someone among them.
"Zack !" His friend turned toward him and ran to help him get the debris off her. Cloud then carried Jessie out of the way to a safe place. She coughed as Tifa and Zack gathered around her.
"Damn... So you're the ones who gets to hear... My final words ?
-Shut up." Cloud said, worried. She smiled.
-Don't be harsh...
-Stop talking. Gather your strength okay ?
-Thanks but... I don't think I'll...
-You owe me a pizza remember?
-Oh... Yeah... It would have been so nice... To have everyone around..." She noticed Tifa was crying. "Oh, I'm sorry... Tifa's crying... Did I say something wrong..." Cloud shook his head. He suddenly felt the fist of his friend against his as he gazed one last time in her eyes. "Hey, gimme some space... It's not polite to... Stare..." Her fist fell on the ground, releasing at the same time her final breath. Cloud held off his tears as Zack grabbed Tifa's shoulders to show support. The blond man got up.
"Zack. It's like you said. We can't let this be for nothing." Zack nod at him as he managed to get Tifa back on her feet. Cloud wiped her tears gently. "Come on. We've gotta help Barret." She nod slowly. They ran toward the final set of staircase before finding Barret, shooting at the choppers as he was shouting with anger.
"Barret !" Said Tifa as the big man turned around. Zack grabbed Cloud and jumped behind cover as Reno's chopper flew around, shooting at them. Rude was at the controls, allowing his friend to jump out of the engine and land on the platform.
"So... I'm guessing you won't let me do my work, right ?
-Go to hell you fucking asshole !" Fired Barret as he shot toward the man who ran around the platform.
-Cover fire, partner!" The chopper started shooting toward Barret and Tifa. Cloud ran as fast as he could toward Reno.
-Oh no you don't !" The red hair turk launched three small orbs on the ground which formed a pyramid prysm that stopped Cloud's movement.
-Stay on a leash you stupid dog." He then proceed to work on a computer. Zack ran toward him in between cross fires and stroke with his sword at the man who switfly slide under it. The Ex-Soldier looked at the computer with shock.
-You can try to break it, in vain ! There's no version of it where you win suckers !" He ran toward the platform end as Barret shot toward him. One bullet hit his arm but it didn't matter as he jumped off it and was recovered by Rude's Chopper, and even if Barret tried his best to shoot it down, they still managed to escape. Another chopper flied near them, as another turk was in it with Aerith.
"Tseng ? Release her !" Shouted Zack as the chopper flew away. Aerith quickly shout:
"She's okay !" Tifa understood but they needed to act fast. As the choppers were leaving, Tifa tried to remove the orbs that emprisoned Cloud as Barret approached them and shot at it. Cloud was released from the pyramid as Barret shouted toward Zack:
"What does it say ?
-It's..." Cloud ran toward his friend and looked at the screen. He then started to run around the platform and pointed at a sort of zipline.
-There.
-What ?
-It's too late.
-What do you mean too late !?" Shouted the big man as Cloud pointed toward the computer. Zack walked away, trembling. Tifa understood and began crying. Cloud shouted at Barret.
-We can't save it, we can only retreat for now. That's the only way we can avenge them.
-You little...
-Cloud's right." Said Zack as the big man stopped. "We need to go, now !"Barret looked at the screen. The countdown was going fast toward the platform destruction. He looked up only to see the upper city slowly starting to fall. He realised the urgence and grabbed Tifa. Zack ran toward Cloud and climbed on Barret's shoulder as he grabbed Cloud who jumped on Barret's back. The huge man jumped and used the zipline as the countdown reached zero.
The uppercity first shook before the grand falling. Debries started to fall everywhere as fire began to spread and screams of agony released from the victim's mouths. The restaurant of a man who's mother dedicated his life to crushed by a debries as the eyes of the man who served his final meal got red from the fire. Seventh Heaven, this bar that got so many heart filled with happiness and hopes, exploded. Everything burned as the group managed somehow to get through all the destruction and mayhem on sector five, landing painfully on the ground. Debries were projected through toward The group, as Zack quickly pushed Tifa out of the way and got stuck under one of them. Cloud helped Tifa freeing Zack as he coughed. They helped get him back on his foot as Barret screamed and cried on the destroyed sight before one final huge debries blocked the sight of destruction and despair.
The man started panicking. "Marlene !" He shouted as he was shooting on the debries, which didn't move an inch. "Biggs ! Jessie !" He started to punch it. "Wedge !!!" He took a step back and once again began to shoot on the debris. "Marlene !!!!" He cried desperately as he fell on his knees. Tifa started sobbing as she was helping Zack move.
"Aerith..." He said, facing the huge wall. Cloud started to walk toward sector five as Barret saw him and ran toward him.
-Where you going ?
-Listen... Don't get too much hopes, but Marlene may be safe.
-What did you say ?" He ran and stopped before Cloud. Zack knew where he was going. "Come on, promise me ! Give me something to hold on too !" He stopped for a sec. "Who am I kidding... I'd probably try to tear your head off if you were wrong... Come on, lead the way merc." Zack was feeling better and started to walk near Tifa, in silence. Cloud lead them toward sector five and through it, when they finally arrived at Elmyra's house. Cloud opened the door as the huge man pushed through.
"MARLENE !" He shouted as Elmyra jumped from her chair. Cloud entered and put his hand on Barret's shoulder. "Errh... Sorry, it's just... Marlene my little girl ! She's...
-She's sleeping upstairs." Barret's eyes lightened with hope as he started to run upstairs. "I said she's sleeping." Barret stopped and sighed as he silently walked toward the room. Elmyra noticed Zack's injure.
"Get him up, I'll treat his wound.
-Thank you." Said Tifa as Zack laugh it up.
-It's nothing, it's just a...
-I said up !" Zack scratched his head and climbed the stairs. Tifa told the woman she'd take care of Zack's injure so she doesn't need to move. It was just a huge bruise, no bone fracture thankfully. He put back his shirt and his sword. They walked past Barret and Marlene, who saw them. He wiped his tears and followed them downstairs. Cloud was already there.
"Elmyra, I...
-Don't say it." She answered as Zack wanted to apologize for Aerith. She sighed and continued: "There's nothing you could have done anyway... She made her choice. I know how stubborn she can be. It was some time ago, when we were at war with Wutai. My husband got a permission to go home, but actually never arrived. I kept trying to find him at the train station though, until one day... I found this little girl, with her mother. In her final moment, she asked me to take care of her daughter. Then... I took her in as she asked. Some time later, she came downstairs... She was a handful really, but that day... She hugged me and told me: "Mom, someone you really loved just returned to the planet." Of course I thought she was just playing as usual, however... The day after, I received a message from the army, saying my husband died... I didn't tell her of course but... I always knew she was special... Then those man wearing dark suits appeared...
-Tseng." Said Zack. She sighed.
-Yes. He came in and told us Aerith was special and was seeing things... I didn't tell him of course, and Aerith threw him away. They just kept coming though. Tseng told me she was one of the Ancients, the last one alive... That's why I know, even if they take her, they'll keep good care of her...
-You don't know Shinra." Said Cloud. "They'll treat her well til they get what they went, then..
-Stop it !" Said Elmyra.
-But !
-Cloud !" Zack said. He stopped as Elmyra sighed.
-Listen, it's been a big day... Why don't you all just stay the night here and... Leave this for tomorrow?
-Okay." Said Cloud. The rest thanked Elmyra for the hospitality as they headed to sleep.

Chapter Text

Being a Turk is a real workout. This is no news. But nobody truly understand to what extent that fact is true. Being a Turk means being a tool, quite literally.Being a Turk means you get a job and you get it done, simple right ? Well, if one day someone asks you to pull the trigger on a gun pointing toward a child head, will you do it ? If you are asked to destroy a plate by crushing it with the upper city, will you do it ? Turks don't get to ponder the question. That's why she left.

Cloud woke up in the middle of the night. Maybe it was just a coincidence or maybe she woke him up somehow, or just a feeling he needed to join her. He got downstairs and saw his childhood friend outside, waiting in the cold. He got through the door and joined her in the middle of the flowers. He saw her crying. She then noticed him and wiped it off.
"Sorry... It's just...
-It's okay." Cloud walked toward her. She sighed.
-Everything went so fast... Biggs, Wedge, Jessie, Aerith, the bar, all those poor peoples..." She started sobbing again. "It's not fair !" She cried out loud. Cloud felt the injustice of the world. He then hugged her and held her tight against him. There was nothing, NOTHING he wouldn't do to ease her pain. Shinra's gonna pay. He will burn it all to the ground. "Cloud, you're hurting me..." Cloud released his embrace in shock, only to reveal the close face of Tifa.
-Sorry... I...
-It's okay ! Thank you Cloud... Really..." She touched his shoulder gently. "I think I'll try to get some sleep...
-Yeah, good night Tifa." Cloud followed her. He managed to get some sleep, getting his control back. But he wasn't the only one who was going to sneak out tonight. Soon, when he fell asleep, Zack got up and silently left. He then went downstairs and opened the door. He began walking toward sector five, determined. But suddenly, he stopped as he saw the face of Elmyra, who got up and waited for him outside. He sighed.
"I gotta do this.
-Please..." Elmyra sighed. "I understand but please get some rest, you're wounded...
-It's..." He saw her face and realised she had been up all night, crying outside. He scratched his head. "You know I can't leave her there...
-I know... Which is why I must ask you this." Zack turned and waited for her to continue. "Get some rest. You will need it to get me back my daughter." Zack smiled at her.
-Sure." He said as he walked back toward the house, making sure she followed him to try and get some sleep too. It was a troubling night, I mean, not for Marlene who was clueless. Barret almost didn't sleep. How could he ? The specters of Biggs Wedge and Jessie kept him awake. Then came the morning. The group reunited downstairs, with Elmyra offering them a breakfast and some coffee. Barret was enjoying being with his girl, as Zack, Cloud and Tifa went outside to train their body. When they were done, they reunited with the others. Elmyra looked at them with a bit of admiration.
"You do that all mornings ?
-Almost" laughed Tifa while Zack touched his biceps.
-Of course we do ! Skip a day and you lose your way!" He laughed as Elmyra sighed. She wasn't fond of puns. Zack scratched his head. Barret looked at Marlene and sighed too. He looked at Elmyra then.
-Hey... Your daughter saved mine so...
-Don't worry man !" Said Zack as everyone looked at him. "I'm gonna get her back, just you wait !
-What ? You got a plan merc ?
-Course I do ! I know Turks like the back of my pocket !
-Not on your own." Cloud said, looking at Zack. He clenched his fist. "I'ma help her, no way I let her rot in there... I know Hojo, we both do.
-Yeah..." Zack scratches his head while Tifa added.
-So it's settled ! We gotta help her. Elmyra, is it okay ?
-I..." She thought for a bit. "Bring me back my daughter, please." Zack smiled at her.
-I'll do it blindfolded haha ! Cloud, guys, let's go right?
-Yeah !" The three others answered while Marlene looked at her dad with big eyes. He sighed.
-Listen honey... I gotta help them, they count on daddy you know ?
-Okay !" She said, smiling bright. "You'll come back, won't you ?
-Of course I will ! And I want you to be very brave okay ?" Marlene nod as Barret laughed. He thanked Elmyra as he followed the group outside, ready to raise some hell to find back Aerith.
However, the next question was, how ? The group knew she was taken away by Shinra, where. Zack had an idea !
"She must be at Shinra's HQ !
-The center of the giant pizza ?" Asked Barret.
-Yeah... But how do we get up here ?" Everyone started to think about the how.
-Let's split up." Said Cloud as everyone turned toward him. "Cover more ground, maybe we'll find something.
-Hmm..." Barret thought hard. Tifa knew what he had in mind.
-Cloud... Barret and I, we'll go see around sector seven..." Cloud stared into her tearful eyes. He nod. Barret put his hand on Tifa's shoulder as they walked away.
-What about you Cloud ?
-I don't really know anyone..." Zack scratches his head.
-Well... How about getting in the face of a certain don ?" Cloud turned to face him. He laughed.
-You always come up with the unthinkable.
-Do I ?" Zack said, looking up toward the plate. He remembered her words. It was five years ago, when he met her. "The sky frightens me. I feel like it's sucking me in... Weird, huh?" Zack took an inspiration.
-I'll show it to you... The real sky, one that is not scary at all..." Cloud looked at his friend, he smiled. Seeing him so confident really gets his own confidence sky high. He always was... And still is, the one he looks after. And suddenly, the time seemed to stop for him.
Zack turned around only to see his friend walking away from something, in fear. He heard him talk.
"You're... You're not real...
-What ?" He walked toward his friend. But he saw he was really worried about something. Cloud just saw a ghost, something that never belonged in this world. His silver hair flying up his shoulder as he walked toward Cloud, silently, patiently. His lips moved in a delicate way, his word, sharper than a blade.
"At last, you'll finally see the truth... And I'll be waiting... Cloud." Zack grabbed Cloud's shoulder and gently shook him.
"Cloud, you okay ?
-I..." Suddenly, Zack felt some wind and looked up his shoulder, taking out his sword. He saw a black feather once again, fall on the ground.
"Sephiroth... Was that..."
"There's nothing left..." Tifa said, her eyes widening in front of the destroyed bar. Barret clenched his fist. He thought maybe the others could have survived? But the truth was unspeakable... Tifa dried her cheeks as Barret huged her with his one hand. They tried helping peoples gathering around as much as they could, but it was a massacre. Barret took Tifa away, she couldn't take it anymore. They stumbled across a little girl, she was Marlene's friend. Barret recognised some of Avalanche's folks gathering around as Tifa lowered her knees to see if the little girl was alright.
"Give the food back !" The little girl hugged Tifa as she got back up, hugging her back.
-What ?
-She stole bread ! We need it don't you see godamn it ?
-Stop it." Barret said as the men looked at him, one guy punched him.
-Asshole, what you gonna do ? Shoot us ? We lost everything!" Tifa held the girl while Barret pushed gently the man. They left after giving the man some money for the little piece of bread.
"Are you okay ?" Asked Tifa as the little girl was shaking in her arms. She looked at her friend.
-Barret..." The man didn't know what to say, neither how to act. But a man behind them approached.
-Such bravehearts..." Barret turned and pointed toward the man wearing black.
-You're a Turks ?
-Barret ! He's the one who took Aerith away !
-I have to talk to you, all of you, this is very important... And top secret. Where is Zack ?
-Who's he to you ?" Asked Barret as the man sighed.
-My name is Tseng, of the Turks. He and I are... Let's say, more than fellow coworkers..."
The streets of wall market never were safe, and the falling of the sector seven's plate didn't help it becoming any safer. People were coming from everywhere, looking for a shelter or a way to stick it to Shinra... However, there wasn't anything left to find here. Zack and Cloud met Andreas back at the honey bee inn. The man saw them enter and instantly received them. They had much to discuss.
"That about covers it all..." Said Zack, after telling the man about what happened in sector seven. The man took a dramatic pose, thinking about everything that happened and looked at Cloud.
-Is he okay ?
-Yeah... I mean, all things considered..." Cloud wasn't talking. He could only think about what he saw. Was that an illusion ? Andreas sighed.
-I'm sorry, I don't know how to help you topside... Corneo would have known but... He's out of town.
-Why ?
-Shinra's after him. After he told you about sector seven, he became a wanted man...
-Isn't there anyone left there ? Someone who could help us ?
-hmm... I wonder... Maybe the little Leslie is still around?
-Leslie ? Oh, that guy ! What's with him anyway ?
-He never was truly one of Corneo... Or I mean, so were the rumors." He looked at Cloud one more time. "What are you guys planning?
-That's..." Zack hesitated before Cloud answered:
-None of your business.
-Huh, Cloud!
-It's okay, you're right, merc." Cloud frowned. They left as Andreas waved them goodbye. They headed for Corneo's manor, in search of hope.
They pushed the immense gate, and entered the hallway.
"Anybody there ?
-Seems like they all left...
-Yeah...
-Maybe we'll find something around here.
-Yeah, let's swipe all that !" Zack said as they split up and searched for something. Cloud entered a room when he saw something was off. He took his sword and pointed toward a man.
-You've got one second, talk.
-Wait, you're...
-Cloud !" Said Zack who heard him talk as he reunited with them. He also took his sword out, pointing at the guy. He sighed.
-I'm no foe." He said, putting his hand up as his gun fell on the ground. Cloud took his sword back and so did his friend.
-Are you... Leslie ?
-Who's asking ?" Zack smiled.
-Hey, we're looking for a way up, might help us ?
-Depends... What's in it for me ?" Zack scratched his head as Cloud said.
-Depends, what you'd need us for. We're merc.
-You're straight to the point. Okay, I need you to go after the don with me. So, how about that ?
-The don is still here ?
-Yeah." Leslie took a ladder and climbed the staircase, followed by the two friends. He then opened the trap and put the ladder down. "He's hiding in his rat nest. Thing is, there are monsters and I'm no match. You, on the other hand ?
-What's our guarantee?" Asked Cloud
-My life. If there ain't a way topside out of this, you cut my head off.
-We'll hold you to that you know." The blond merc answered as Zack gasped. He wasn't really that good to work with authority. Leslie led them down, in the sewers. From there, the group handled the monsters as they pressed on and on. Leslie guided them through. At one point, Zack saw him drop something on the ground. He grabbed it and handed it to the guy.
"Hey, you lost that !
-What !" Leslie quickly grabbed it and looked inside. He couldn't find anything. He looked behind him and saw a sort of little monster holding to something shiny. He shouted. "He's got the key ! Get him !" Zack ran toward the beast with Cloud, but it was a quick and agile one. It made them run all around the room, dodging the slashes from their sword. They were getting pissed off. Zack stopped and asked Cloud to keep going, where he grabbed a stone and skillfulky threw it on the little beast who fell. Cloud jumped and catches it. They managed to grab what was stuck in his hands as the monster started to cry. Cloud got up and saw what was in his hand.
"It's... Some kind of necklace ?
-Give it back !" Leslie shouted as he stopped near Cloud with Zack. "I said, give it back." Cloud threw it toward the man who caught it.
-Some kind of key you got us running for.
-It's...
-Save that for later !" Zack said, taking his sword as a scream echoed through the darkness. Cloud took his sword out and stood next to his mentor. "Seems like his cries brought something..." Said Zack.
-Yeah. I think I already met it.
-Huh ?" Suddenly the wall crumbled as a huge monster came in. It was the monster they fought in the sewers, one horn was cut off because of it. The little beast looked just like a miniature version of it, so Zack and Cloud understood that it was his kin.
-Sorry... But shouldn't you teach him it's not nice to steal ?" Said Zack playfully as the beast roared and scared Leslie, who took a few steps back. "Yeah, right...
-It's the Don's pet ! Be careful, he's savage and seems hungry!
-That's what I thought." Said Cloud. "You look just like your owner... Now kneel, puppy." The beast jumped in the air as Cloud and Zack jumped far of its landing point. The ex-soldier quickly threw a gravel on its head, which provoked it. Cloud made good use of this as he circled around and stood on its back. "Let's dance asshole !" He said, waving his sword fast on the creature's back, making it move all the way around. In the end, he stabbed its back with his sword and jumped far in the air, and landed back on his feet, slashing the creature's back. It fell down there, finally bested. Leslie quickly ran back toward them, amazed by their skills. He took a knife out and took its horn.
"A gift for the don." Zack ran and pushed Leslie out of the way as the creature missed a ground pound.
-Never show your back at the enemy ! Overconfidence will kill you !" He said as he dodged an attack by jumping over it. He took an impulse on the beast head as Cloud fired a fire spell toward his friend.
-ZACK !
-Alright ! Here comes the big one!" He said as the sword absorbed the spell and he fired meteors out of it. The creature took it all on it's head and shouted from the agony. It landed on his back this time, fire emanating from its burned skin. "Oh yeah !" Leslie sighed. Cloud smiled as he pat his friends shoulder. He walked toward Leslie, who was staring at the pendant. Zack sighed before asking.
"So... Who's she to you ?
-I..." Leslie thought for a bit before answering. "She was my fiancee... Or something like this. We met at the don's, but you know how it is. Once you enter the don's world, there's no way out. So one day she gave this back to me, saying it was nice dreaming but it never would be real enough for us. She gave me this heart pendant back, tore mine in half too... Never met her back, don't know what the don did with her... So, something's gotta pay..." The two others stayed silent as Zack scratched his head, looking for words. Leslie laughed. "Don't you get too sentimental, the don's a dead man. Provided you guide me to him.
-What about the key ?
-Safe here !" Leslie pointed in his pocked, as Cloud looked relieved. Zack and him followed Leslie in the sewers for a bit longer.
-Hey... I know it's not what you'd like to hear but... Vengeance won't bring anything back...
-I know. But I can't stand there seeing others suffer what I did.
-Leave and never look back, that's what worked for me.
-It's not that simple... But thanks." They stopped in front of a door. "From now on, you wait for me. I'll take care of the don, grab what needs to be grabbed, and meet you outside. Don't worry, I won't let you down.
-You sure you're gonna be okay ?" Asked Zack as Leslie recharged his gun.
-After he's dead, yeah, at least a bit." He opened the door and left. Zack walked around in the room while Cloud saw he was getting worried. He sighed and started squatting. Zack laugh and joined him for a bit. Zack stopped quickly though.
"I'm... Worried about him you know...
-Yeah, no kidding.
-Don't you think we should try and do something.
-Don't really know..." Cloud walked around the room. "Never was one for empathy...
-Could've fooled me." Cloud turned toward him. "You're crazy empathetic man ! That's the real reason why you joined Barret's group nah ?
-What do you mean ?
-For Tifa right ? Plus, you already was fond of this guys ain't that right?" Cloud throwned. He knew his old friend was right. Suddenly he felt all the worried for Leslie he tried to put apart. He walked toward the door and looked through the keyhole. Leslie was talking to the don, when suddenly he grabbed its gun and pointed toward the don, who punched him in the stomach and turned the tide.
"ZACK !" Shouted Cloud as his friend opened the door. Corneo had its gun pointed on the young man's head.
-Now don't you move a muscle assholes!
-Let him go, now !" The don laughed.
-There's no escape for you." Said Cloud.
-For you more like it ! I want you to throw your weapons to the ground, now or I'll kill the little lovebird!" He said laughing like a maniac. Zack put the sword down as Cloud did so too.
-Happy now ? Let him go.
-hmm... No, I don't think so..." He started to press the trigger.
-No ! Wait !" Shouted Zack. Smoke suddenly surrounded them. The guys heard shootings as they saw the don get pinned down, he's gun destroyed by the precise bullets. A man wearing black helped Leslie escape.
-Tifa !" Shouted Cloud, as he recognised his friend in top of Corneo's back. The man managed somehow to break free by leaving his jacket and ran away.
-You stay there asshole !" Shouted Barret launching many bullets as the don managed to run almost unharmed. Except for a bullet in his butt. "That slipperish rat..." Cloud and Zack reunited with them.
-What are you guys doing here ?" Asked the Merc.
-Cloud, nevermind that! Where is Leslie ?" Cloud looked everywhere as Tifa and Barret tried to help. Zack noticed something up ahead.
-Guys... Did he come with you ?
-Yeah, said he knew you. Tifa and I led him here.
-He's a Turks.
-A turk huh... You guys look for Leslie, I'll be back.
-Need any help ?
-It's okay Cloud, stay with them! I'll be back in no time." He ran toward a staircase while Tifa shouted.
-I found him !" The others gathered around the man who was a bit dizzy.
-Who's this guy ?" Asked Barret as Leslie said.
-Cloud... Corneo, did he...
-He escaped...
-Impossible !" He shouted trying to get back up. "This was my only chance!
-Your chance to what ?" Asked Barret. Leslie and Cloud then told them about the whole situation, and Barret got angry at Corneo because of that. Tifa found the necklace on the ground and gave it to the man.
-Hey... Instead of chasing Corneo, why not try to find her back ?
-To find her back ?
-Your fiancee..." Leslie stood there thinkind.
-But would she want a man like me ? With all this... Blood on my hand.
-Hey..." Tifa took his hand. "Find and see..." He then thought about what Zack and Cloud told him as he smiled.
-You think... Maybe it's not too late ?
-Don't know..." Everybody looked at Cloud who sighed. "Trust your heart, it will guide you to her I guess." Leslie laughed ans thanked everyone. He looked around and found a bag with what he promised the group. A way topside.
Zack finally found the man who was looking for him.
"Tseng ! Is that really you..." He said, pointing his sword toward him.
-I did what you asked me too.
-What I asked you ?" The man turned toward Zack and threw a sort of gun toward him. He caught it with his free hand.
-I took care of Aerith but... I couldn't go against my orders. So... Here I am, giving it all back to you.
-What do you mean ?
-She's one of a kind, like you said. Take care of her." Said Tseng, walking away. Zack followed him one last time.
-Tseng ! Thanks.
-I'm glad you're okay... If you find Cissney, say hi for me.
-Wha..." Before he could finish Tseng got back into the streets. He looked at the gun and recognised it. He regrouped with everyone and was glad to see Leslie was fine. They then understood what had to be done before they left Leslie, ready to start a new journey outside Midgar's gates. They promised to meet back with him some day, as they got on their way to save Aerith.

Chapter Text

She remembered everything. From the old graffiti she used to make on every single one of these walls to the closed door they used to think was the only thing keeping them from a true freedom. So she wondered when she got back in it, her who never knew what freedom was like, how her mother must have felt inside here. A bird able to fly, trapped in such a cage. She sighed, and cried again, hoping for a way to taste said freedom one day.

"Huh ? I already got one you know ?
-Better safe than sorry.
-Cloud is right, you're too big just for one...
-What do you mean too big ? I swear to you shinra dogs...
-I think so too.
-You too Tifa ? Damn it..." Barret reluctantly took the second gun, and sighed looking up at the gigantic wall. "Are you sure this is the fastest way up ?
-Yup.
-Don't worry man ! Look at me, I'll show you how it's done!
-You little !
-See you topside guys !" Launched Tifa, as she fired a grapple from her gun. It managed to find an ankor point and she then pressed a trigger to pull herself up. Zack laughed as he did so too. Cloud helped make sure Barret was secured before they followed through the ascension of the big wall. Now everyone knew why it's name was "Wall Market". They landed finally on top of the wall, and used their hooks one more time to get on the uppercity. They landed in what used to be Sector Seven residential district. Barret looked around through the chaos.
"Damn this...
-We gotta move through.
-Can't we help them Cloud ? Just for a bit." Asked Tifa. Zack scratched his head and ran toward a group of men trying to pull someone from under some rubbles. Cloud sighed as Barret looked at him with an insisting look. They all helped Zack as the man thanked them. They helped a few other peoples when they eventually got through the sector. Cloud's eyes widened as he saw a woman looking just like Jessie passing next to him.
"Have you seen my daughter? Anyone ?" Cloud's eyes got back to their original shape as he stopped his anger making him tremble. Tifa grabbed his arm, as always, worried about him. He calmed down.
"I'm fine. Let's move on." Tifa nod as Barret and Zack opened a path through the debris. They ended up on top of sector seven, walking through the destroyed paths. It was a good thing they had their guns to help with the excavation. Zack noticed some troopers ahead.
"Hey ! What do we do about those ?
-Hmm... We clear a path." Barret pointed his gun toward the HQ. "Chaos spreading on our trail, til the rage explodes right there.
-We go unnoticed." Said Cloud, Barret sighed and Zack nod.
-If we wanna get Aerith back easily, then we got no choice. Come on guys." Zack showed a path up, which they all took. Cloud saw Barret following and told him to wait here, because of his weight. The man grunt and patiently waited for them to take down the troopers silently. A radio turned on and the crew heard people speaking. Tida got scared.
"Respond. Officer Wilhelm, awaiting for reply. " Tifa, shushing:
"What do we do guys ?
-I don't know !" Said Zack while Cloud took the radio.
-Leave it to me." He took a sort of authority ton. "Soldier reporting sir !
-Finally you answer ? What 's your status ?
-Nothing to report !
-Hmm... We're going through checkpoint eight then, see you there.
-Sir yes sir !" The radio emitted one final beep before turning off. Barret joined them back, as Zack quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him closer. A set of drones passed just up their head.
-Be careful...
-Hmm... Sorry ?" Said Barret. The group followed through and climbed up a ladder. They reached the top.
"This way guys right?
-Lead on Zack.
-Cloud, wait." The two mercs turned around and saw Barret and Tifa, staring at the fallen plate.
-Guess we're gonna need a new bar.
-Sure thing. The best there'll ever be ! We count on you both too okay, you'll help rebuild ?
-Course we will !
-For the right price" Zack turned in shock toward Cloud while the others laughed. The merc laughed too while Zack scratched his head.
-The nerves I swear haha !" They continued and climbed their way through the rubber.
Meanwhile, at Shinra's HQ, the president was talking to Tseng.
"So, it appears you failed in the task I ordered you.
-Sir. The fugitives were nowhere to be found. There are high percentage of chances that they died with sector seven.
-I didn't ask you if they were alive." Tseng gasped. "I asked you to find them, dead or alive. I want to make an example out of those... Sewer rats.
-Sir." Tseng kneeled.
-You never disappointed once, Tseng... Don't start now." The turk looked puzzled. He wanted to do the right thing, but... What was it ?
"Hmm... This isn't like what I thought it'd be...
-What do you mean?
-It's bigger... Taller... And more guarded." Said the man, pointing his gun toward a group of troopers. Zack and Cloud were a bit further, trying to scout the area. They got back and reunited with the group. Barret asked:
-So, any news ?
-They're on the lookout... Apparently something's going on with Wutai..." Said Zack.
-They want to blame everything on it, Avalanche and all that.
-Screw them !" He stood up and started to go toward the troop of soldier.
-Wow wow wow easy there !" Said Zack who blocked him. He saw the rage in the man's eyes. "Slow down, don't let anger get the best of you, it's not worth it believe me.
-Huh... " He kneeled. "They got it coming, soldier boy." Cloud sighed.
-There's an entrance for vehicles. Should be able to get through somehow.
-Easy enough!" They listened to Zack's plan and jumped on the roof of one car. They hid perfectly at everyone's surprise. They passed through the checkpoint, Barret smiled and breathe, but lost his balance. Tifa tried to grab him but he pulled her with him. The troopers turned around and pointed their weapons toward them. Cloud sighed as both swordmen jumped off the truck and pointed their sword on the troopers.
"Give up ?" Cloud said as the troopers started shooting at them in vain because of the speed takedown of the two friends.
-Sorry...
-So much for the stealthy approach" Cloud said as Barret sighed. Zack pointed toward a sort of storage room when they ran toward it and hid inside. They saw many troopers running toward them.
-Come on, move ! They can't be too far gone !" Said a trooper as Zack turned around and saw a staircase.
-Through here guys !" Barret turned around as his eyes widened and he started coughing.
-You mean through the stairs ? How many floors are there anyway?
-Forty-nine give or take." They turned toward Zack. " I mean, that much for sure ! It's the Soldier floor.
-Okay I'll go for a one man stand, you do you." Said Barret as Cloud grabbed his jacket. He turned around and scratched his head. "No way around huh ?
-Do it for Aerith Barret, please." Asked Tifa. He sighed as they started climbing it. The first twenty floors were a walk in the parc for all of them except Barret. Then, Cloud starting having trouble climbing too.
-So... How... Much... Left...
-Come on, we're half way through..." Said Cloud.
-Pace yourselves guys ! Look at Tifa go !
-Haha, used to be a guide so... Easy enough !
-Well, only one way !" They continued their climb when suddenly Tifa looked back and didn't see Barret anywhere.
-Cloud, where's Barret ?
-I'm... Far... Down...
-Come on... Move your ass up...
-I'm... Trying..." Zack laughed. They climbed stairs when suddenly Tifa too started to pant. Zack was still going on strong.
-You're made for this...
-I know right! Could do that blindfolded!
-Not really that impressive... With all the squats you do...
-Welp, maybe you should do more of them Cloud !
-Screw that...
-No... Screw... You..." Barret seemed like he was dying down there, as Zack finally reached the top of it all. It was the sixty floor. Zack waited for everyone and they took a break while he scouted the area. Barret almost shouted as he saw the gigantic statue of Shinra's president.
"Guy think highly of himself!
-Yeah, no kidding..." Said Cloud. Zack looked around. He saw some kind of desk and approached it. There was an hologram waiting for him.
"Please, if you are visitors, upgrade your card by placing it on the desk.
-Heya... Hum... Do you copy ?
-One moment please..." The hologram disappeared for a few seconds until an hologram of a manager appeared.
-Hello ? Does this thing work...
-Hey ! Yes, sorry to disturb you !
-Hmm ? Are you a soldier ? You lost yourself? Let me get Kunsel for you...
-Wait !" Zack didn't want to raise any more intention on them, and also couldn't involve Kunsel in all that. So he continued. "I got permission to take friends for a quick tour... But I lost said keycard...
-I'll need to contact security, hold on.
-I'm... Sure you don't need to disturb them for that... I mean, it's only a quick tour of the top floors right ?
-Hmm... Okay, take one there please." A drawer opened from the desk. Zack took one and passed it on the desk to upgrade it.
-This will grand you access to the sixty-one floor. You know the drill I trust ?
-Yes sir ! Thank you !
-Please, hurry up... We have enough our hands with the tragedy of sector seven." The hologram disappeared. Zack ran back to the crew who were now okay.
"It... It's some sort of a relief to see them so councerned about the plate..." Said Tifa.
-Hmpf." Barret walked toward the exhibition room. "It's not what they do after that matters. Thing is, the damage are already done.
-I know but..." Tifa looked down. Barret sighed. Zack opened the room as the group went in. A giant screen started showcasing the different units of Shinra. Barret walked away in disgust. Zack knew everyone of them, of course. Cloud had to face Heidegger a few time, Shinra's security leader. They showed Hojo and Zack instantly understood where they were going. It said sixty-eighth floor. Zack opened the room as the card upgraded. It now granted them access to the sixty-second floor. On this floor, they had one simulator to walk through. When they entered an AI started talking. It all fell very real, as the group somehow ended up believing they were flying through.
"Long ago, there was an ancient people living on the planet. They were called "The ancients"." The group saw people living, harnessing Mako through magic.
-Through natural ways, they obtained the ways to manipulate mako, and used it for their every needs. But, one day, a huge meteor appeared in the sky." The group saw it as it got closer.
-Some believe that before everything got wiped out, they found what they called "The promised land". A world where mako was everywhere and took all possible forms, and where they would be happy forever. However, one can only pounder the question... Did they find it ?" They ended up back on earth, the land starting to build itself around massive metallic pipes slowly forming the great city of Midgar.
-Years after, we built our own way of harnessing mako energy for many years. Materia, and mako reactors became the reality of this world. And through hard work and peace, we'll reunite with them. Are they waiting for us ? On some sort of promised land ? Shinra, will make sure Midgar, becomes our ship toward this promised land." The projection stopped. Barret looked sick.
"I think I threw up a little..." Said Tifa as Zack laughed.
-That it ?" Asked Cloud as the projection started again. Peoples were screaming all around them as a huge meteor appeared in the sky. Many hooded man stood there, looking down on the crew. Cloud turned his head and saw Zack disappeared. He then saw silver hair flying next to Barret. He quickly turned only to see his friend impaled. He looked at Tifa, and she was laying on the ground, dead. Suddenly everything stopped as he felt the presence on his back.
"Sephiroth..."
Palmer was a strange man... He was quite simple really, always trying to take advantage of life's little pleasures. As the director of Shinra's space exploration, people would have thought of him as maybe someone more influent. However here he was on this corridor, a simple man, finding himself with a tea without butter in it like he likes it. However, the cup quickly crashed on the ground as he looked shocked at the man who passed against him.
"Let me tell you something! Whatever we just experienced, it ain't for Children!
-Was that... Part of the simulation?" Asked Tifa as Cloud pant. Zack laughed it up.
-Must be busted... Somehow !" The door behind them opened as a man waited for them.
-Please, may you forgive us. The simulator ends up quite in an unexpected way those days... Like your friend said, it's unfortunately broken.
-Who are you ?" Asked Barret angry.
-I'm mayor's Domino's second hand. Please, follow me.
-Where ?" Asked Cloud.
-The mayor has requested your presence." Zack sighed. He knew the mayor's reputation. Maybe he could help them somehow. They followed him as Barret walked just behind the old man. They ended up in an office. They all looked around but saw no one. Suddenly, a voice rose from behind the gian desk.
"So, you must be wutai ?
-Wutai ? I'll show you wutai !" Shouted Barret toward the desk as the little man with his mustache rose.
-Not wutai ? Avalanche perhaps? It doesn't matter anyway..." He pivoted his screen, showing the crew after they entered the building. Zack scratched his head as Barret sighed.
-What do you want." Said Cloud, looking intensely and ferociously into the man's eyes. He laughed.
-I mean you no harm... You see, I'm a man of Avalanche myself." Everyone was shocked as the little man throwned. "I mean look at me... I'm the goddamn mayor of this city and where do they stick me ? Behind a freaking desk, working on little problems..." Barret sighed again.
-So, what you up to... Wanna kill the president ? Stick a bomb in the lab ?
-We're looking for someone..." Said Tifa.
-Is that so... Well, as long as you raise some hell it doesn't matter. I'll do my best to cover you up, but there's too little I can do. Up on the sixty-third floor, there's a man who's ready to help anyone, providing they have the correct password.
-Which is ?" Asked Barrey
-Simply the mayor is the best ?
-What now ?" Asked Zack.
-The password. Simply tell them "the mayor"... If they answer "is the best", then you've got your man.
-Huh... Well, why not give it a shot nah ?" Said Zack to the others. They all agreed to trust in the mayor for now. It beats Barret's plan to just break everything in the building. So, here they were, asking everyone about the mayor. Zack got through many peoples looking at the Tv. It was talking about Avalanche and Wutai. He quickly got away and bumped into a man.
"Watch where you're going !
-Sorry... Hmm... The mayor ?
-Huh ? Oh hmm... Is the best, of course !" Zack laughed as the others regrouped with him. "Come on, follow me, quickly." They did as he asked and he quicky swiped his card before the stairs, allowing the group to go to the sixty-forth floor. He stopped Zack at the last second. "Please... Be careful... We all are putting our life's in your hand." Zack scratched his head.
-Why is everyone pushing things on me." The others heard him and all felt the pain in his voice. They continued and entered the said floor. They found some peoples wainting for them upstairs, and they quickly opened the sixty-fifth floor for them. It was some kind of walk in the parc. They entered the next floor and saw a man opening the next door. They ran to him and he let him through. Barret laughed.
"The mayor sure know a lot of peoples !
-He's the mayor, course he does." Said Cloud. They were now on the sixty-sixth floor, when Barrey saw the president enter a room. He got his gun ready before Zack stopped him.
"Hold on ! Don't do anything until we find Aerith okay ?
-Shit... You're right..." He put the gun down. Cloud saw a vent up them and traced it toward the men bathrooms.
-Follow me." The got in and Cloud climbed on a toilet and opened the vent. He jumped and got in. Tifa followed and entered. Zack and Barret were too big to get in, so they were on guard duty.
-Hey... I'm sensing some issues man... What happened between you and Shinra ? There's gotta be more to it that you told us, right?" Barrey sighed.
-Yeah... I'll tell you another time... Shinra just sticks it to everyone, that's all." Zack sighed. Cloud and Tifa managed to get their way in top of the conference room. Here they had a good view on everyone, as Hojo entered the room.
"Professor Hojo... How's the ancient.
-She's a little brat ! She won't answer or help with the tests... I'll maybe need to act a little rougher...
-Don't kill or lose her like you did with the last subject, do I make myself clear?
-Yes sir." Cloud and Tifa throwned. A man got up, and started talking.
-Sir ! If I may... Sector's seven reconstruction's plans are getting drawn at the moment and I need to talk to you about the directives. You see, it appears on our intels that...
-Reeves, stop it." The man looked shocked at the president. Heidegger laughed and continued.
-It doesn't matter...
-It doesn't what ?
-Enough you two." Reeves sat back. "Shinra's got other things to take care of...
-Oh I almost forgot ! I need to talk to you all about something!" Shouted Palmer as everyone turned toward him. "I saw something... Or someone more like it... Sephiroth." Everyone laughed. "I swear I did ! It made me drop my tea !
-Yeah yeah, Palmer... This tea sured proved to be a bit spicier that you could take, that's all..." Scarlett said, leader of Shinra's materia department.
-Palmer, don't speak of things you don't know. Sephiroth is dead, we found his corpse in a reactor on some low-grade town." Tifa looked at Cloud and took his hand, which was shaking. Hojo stood up and started to walk away.
-Well, if we're done talking insepsies, I have a task to attend to." He left the room as Cloud and Tifa quickly escaped from the vent. Zack and Barret helped them down as they told them Hojo was on the go. They ran outside and followed him through the door that led to the sixty-seventh room. Barret and Zack both pointed their weapons on his back. Barret talked first.
"Move as much as a muscle in the wrong direction, and you're dead.
-If you're looking for the president, go away shoo. He's not here, go bother someone else.
-We're looking for someone !" Said Zack. Hojo turned and gasped.
-Oh ! You're friends with the subject !
-move on !" Said Barret after pushing him with his gun. The scientist throwned.
-Please ! I'm not used to such savage ways like you do." Barret shouted as he pushed him heavily. He opened for them the door to the sixty eight floor, but not only to that. A huge creature stroke toward Barret as Zack quickly helped him out of the way. Hojo ran upstairs and hid behind a full bulletproof glass. He laughed maniacally as the huge one armed creature looked up Barret. It had only one big eye on its shoulder as gas was escaping from its back.
-I wonder... How will she react to the corpses of her friends ?
-You bastard!" Shouted Barret as Zack got enough. He took his sword up to the glass and shouted.
-If there's as much as a scratch on her, I swear I ll kill you !" He then pointed his sword on the creature and parried one of its strikes without flinching. Tifa ran toward the creature and jumped. She spinned around, kicking the monster multiple times before she punched it with an uppercut, with the strength of a dolphin. Barret shot one huge red ball of energy on the beast while Zack slashed it heavily on the head three times, finishing his aerial dance in a downward thrust that slashed the creature in two. Hojo was shocked by his raw strength. Zack then stroke the door heavily with his sword and broke it, as everyone ran upstairs. Hojo quickly hid behind another room as they finally got through. Zack then saw her through a test tub, a big one.
"Aerith !
-Zack ? Guys !
-We're here for you, hold on !" Zack heard Hojo laugh as he pressed a button. Cloud shouted.
"What did you do ?
-Well, if emotional torture won't work... I guess there's only one other..." The floor from the middle of the test tube opened as an elevator got up. Inside of it was a sort of lion beast, but with claws. He looked more like a dog though. He started to howl at Aerith. Zack saw that and entered a deep rage. He took the door of the next floor and tear it off. He then aimed to throw it on the machine to break the glass. Hojo screamed.
"Such a brute force... How ??? Only seph.." he then remembered everything and thought back on five years ago. "Oh... How could I forget... Haha... This just got interesting..." He left while Zack ran inside the tub and grabbed Aerith with one hand while pointing his sword toward the beast, who stood there.
"I'm sorry... Don't worry, I mean you no harm." Everyone looked shocked.
-You... You can talk ?" Asked Zack as Aerith gently pushed Zack to look at him in the eyes.
-He's friendly, believe me okay ?
-I..." Zack looked at the beast and sighed. He put his sword on the ground and hugged Aerith. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you ? What did they..." Aerith put her finger on his mouth while smiling.
-I'm okay, really. I'm glad you came and find me !" She hugged him back while Zack wiped a tear. The beast walked out of the tube and got near Barret, his fire tail hitting him without burning.
-What are you anyway ?
-I'm simply what you see before you. Nothing more.
-thirteen ?" Said Cloud as he saw his tattoo.
-Mark of enslavement. Hojo's gift.
-Red. Red thirteen !" Zack said, making a combination of his color and his tattoo.
Red yawned and scratched his head with his claws. Zack helped Aerith out as she gathered with everyone.
-I... Thank you, all of you... Tifa, about Marlene I...
-We saw her, Elmyra's taking good care of her.
-Thanks Aerith. A lot." Said Barret. She smiled.
-No worries ! She's a fine girl." She turned and look at Zack in the eyes. It was an intense moment between them. But it all stopped rapidly as Red warned them all.
-Your friend... Is he okay ?" Zack looked at Cloud who was walking toward an elevator, his hand on his head. He saw a black feather falling near Cloud as he ran toward him. Suddenly, he also had a headache as he saw pictures of a monster. He shook it off as he looked at Cloud as he whispered:
"Mo...Mother... Re... Union..." He then fell on the ground, unconscious

Chapter Text

Of everything Shinra went through... Its biggest tragedy was the lack of resolve of its previous presidents. But nothing ever beat their stupidity. The man entered his office, a glass of whisky in his hand as he sat on a chair. He started to drink it as he was looking through his notes. He didn't listen, and that was what caused this... This... The glass fell on the ground, breaking into lany shards as the whiskey mixed with the red liquid.
When he finally woke up, he saw everyone looking at him worried. He rose and shook his head.
"Finally up ?" Said Zack. His friend took his hand to help him back up.
-Where are we ?" The crew turned toward Aerith, who was contemplating the wall. Cloud saw that there was something off with her. "Are you okay ?
-Yes, sorry." She turned around with her usual smile, hiding how she truly felt. Barret asked.
-What did they want anyway ? Something special about you ?" She sighed.
-I'm the last ancient alive, that's pretty much it, really. That's not the real name though! We are Cetra.
-A Cetra ?" Asked Tifa.
-We who are born of the planet, unto her promised land we will one day return. By her loving grace and providence we take our place in paradise.
-What's that ?
-An old fairytale I used to read to Marlene... Never crossed my mind that it might be real one day... " Aerith took a deep breath as she looked at the door. Tifa took her hand and looked into her eyes.
-Even if you are a Cetra, you're not alone. Not anymore.
-That's damn right !" Shouted Barret. "We came to save you after all... Now that that's done..." The big man got up and started walking toward the door. Zack and Cloud stopped him by standing in front of him.
-Where you think you're going ?" Asked Cloud.
-Since we're here... I'm gonna go say my greetings to the big man." He points his gun toward the door.
-Hey, we can't put everyone at risk like so !" Said Zack. "If we attack the facility now, what happens to the casualties ?
-I.." he thinks for a while but begin shouting again. "Nope, ain't no way I'm sitting through this opportunity! Why don't you all leave, while I go for a high stand." Zack shake his head.
-You're even more of a hard head than me !" Zack looks at Aerith. He hesitate for a little time but sigh. "You guys go, I'm gonna make sure this stubborn big guy gets out." Cloud touches Zack's shoulder.
-Zack, I'll go. They need you. " Before Zack answers he continue. "I can handle myself. Plus, gotta pay my respect too, got a word or two for him." Barret laughs. He then look at the crew.
-Then it's settled !" Barret and Cloud leaves.
-Hey... I'm gonna go after them..." The crew turns to face Tifa. "I... I wanna make sure they get out alive.
-No can't do !" Tifa looked at Zack. "We can't split up like this.
-That's right!" Aerith added. "If you go, we go with you! Plus, someone already sneaked away
" She chuckles before pointing at red.
-Let's go" he added without letting anyone talk first. Zack laughed as he followed him. Meanwhile, Cloud and Barret noticed some glowing purple marks on the ground.
"What in the hell is that shit ?
-Dunno..." Cloud's ears rang as he remembered Sephiroth's words. Jenova. "It leads topside." Barret nods as they begin following the marks.
-Jenova." Red said as he sniffed one of the glowing mark.
-Wait, you mean Jenova like...
-The calamity." Said Zack and Aerith.
-Five years ago....it..." Tifa said, remembering Nibelheim's reactor. Red followed the scent and grunted.
-Let's hurry." He started to move fast toward the upper floor as the others followed through. They met back with Cloud and Barret in front of the president's office. Barret rushed inside with shock. There he was, the man who destroyed everything, who ordered the destruction of the sector seven, who was at the top of the most powerful corporation. He was here, the huge sword stabbed violently in his chest, stuck in his back. Blood spilling everywhere as Cloud, Zack and Tifa's most certain fear was coming through before their eyes.
-Sephiroth..." Red and Barret turned toward Cloud.
-What now ?" Asked Barret.
-He... This is his sword..." Said Tifa as Cloud mumbled
-But it can't be... I killed him, with my own hands...
-You killed who ?" Barret was losing patience. "Whatever, the guy killed this asshole.
-What, so that makes him a good guy ?" Cloud said, angry. Zack added.
-Don't misunderstood... Sephiroth he's... Twisted. Nothing he ever did was good." Tifa was hyperventilating. Aerith took her hand and reassured her.
-You said he was dead..." Zack nodded and looked at Cloud.
-So... Who is he ?" Cloud's head shook. They suddenly noticed a chopper arriving on the scene.
-Shit ! We're gonna end up like them if we don't go now !" Shouted Barret as the crew began running away. All except Cloud. There, in the middle of the landing zone, was the foe standing.
-Sephiroth !" Cloud ran in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile, no one noticed he was missing until they arrived in the lower floor. Suddenly, Soldier operatives surrounded the group. They ended up getting trapped. Tifa suddenly noticed Cloud was missing.
"Someone saw Cloud?
-What ?" Barret turned around and sighed. " He must have gotten stuck with the chopper to buy us some time ! Goddamn !
-Stay sharp!" Warned red as the riffle pointed on them got him worried. Zack looked around and suddenly saw a familiar face.
-Kunsel ?" The man stood up from the group, walking toward them.
The chopper landed quietly, as troopers started to walk around and surround Cloud. But the man didn't even notice them.
"Oh Cloud... You know he wasn't yours... This planet is mine, every life belongs to me... Even yours, my dear puppet." Cloud shouted as he slashed in the wind. There was nothing in front of him, except the many troopers. He took one deep breath.
"Stand down !" He smirked and quickly got rid of the troopers with his sword, dodging the bullets. However, he almost got hit by a huge ray of light headed toward his face.
He stopped as the few remaining troopers got their weapon pointed at him again. A man stepped out of the chopper and walked toward the merc. He clapped.
"That was a nice move, soldier.
-Not a soldier." Cloud said, pointing his sword toward the young man. He smiled.
-My mistake..." He looked away, through the window and saw his dead father. "Well, are you the one I own my promotion to ?
-Promotion ?" Cloud laughed.
-You killed my dad, that makes my president of Shinra now. Don't worry, I wasn't to attached to my father...
-Mr President ! Rufus, sir ! We've got a clear shot.
-Hold !" A black dog ran out of the chopper toward Cloud and stopped next to his foe. "This one's mine." Cloud sighed. The man shot toward him as he quickly rolled away. Fast enough, his opponent was using his gun to propulse himself in many directions. Even Cloud had trouble keeping up. He swinged his blade toward the man who quickly parried his thrust. He jumped ans spinned on Cloud's back, then shot him on the back. Luckily for the merc, his bulletproof vest protected him.
"This is soldier grade material. How did you get your hands on that." Even if it didn't pierce through, it hurt Cloud pretty good. He stood back up and dodged quickly the dog assault. He took his sword and jumped toward it, slicing at him. The dog got thrown away, hurt. Rufus whistled to the dog.
-Hmpf... All bark, no bites." Rufus chuckled as he took coins and threw them in the air. He then shot at them, which reflected the shot toward Cloud who parried it with his sword.
-He's a good dog, he won't bite the hand that feeds. Unlike you." Cloud grunted as he leaped in the air. He then stroke downward heavily as Rufus tried to parry. It cut the gun in half and threw him off on the ground. He coughed as the force of the impact took his breath out.
-You done ?" Cloud took his sword and point it at the man who smiled.
-No, not me." He pressed a trigger and the chopper started shooting at Cloud, skillfully targeting him exclusively. The merc ran away and tried to parry bullets with his sword..in the end he got cornered as the shot made him fell down. He held on to a pipe, trying not to fall. Rufus left with the chopper as he was on the verge of falling. He got real lucky when a hand reached out to him and grabbed him. It was Tifa.
"You gotta be stronger than this... If you wanna play the hero !" She helped him get his foot back on the landing zone. He sighed, it was too close. "Why didn't you follow us ?" Cloud thought for a while and answered:
-Had to try and get them to look the other way... Found out about this Rufus guy..." Tifa gasped.
-Rufus ? Rufus Shinra ?
-Yeah... What about you what are you doing here ?
-It's... Something happened, a few minutes ago..."
Zack recognised his old friend, but also recognised that he wasn't on their side. Kunsel had his sword drown like the other soldiers. So, the Ex-Soldier drew his sword too, ready to make a stand to protect the others. Kunsel sighed.
"Things have gotten crazy Zack... Why did you do that ?" The crew knew quickly understood what was going on. Red talked first.
-It wasn't us." Kunsel shook his head.
-You don't understand! As soon as you entered his office, you lost every chance of getting rid of the blame. Now you're all under arrest." Barret took a step ahead and armed his weapon.
-Come on, we've got this guys...
-Hold on !" Aerith said, grabbing Barret's arm. He looked at her puzzled. Zack looked at Kunsel intensely and sighed.
-Boy oh boy... At least keep it between the two of us yeah ?" Kunsel thought about it and looked at his teammates. He sighed, knowing damn well he was stronger than them. He and Zack would probably destroy the room as they fight, ending up in casualties.
-Zack... You're really standing with those terrorists.
-After what Shinra did to Sector seven ? Come on, how could anyone who cares be on their side !
-I am... Those soldiers are... For the records it's Wutai who destroyed it !
-Come on man, you're smarter than this !" Zack gasped. He saw why Kunsel was so reluctant to facing the truth. He saw the eyes of the soldier, the same one he had when he entered it. They were manipulated, and Kunsel was ready to do everything to keep their eyes innocents. He sighed. "It's you and me buddy. Let's bring it on." Tifa whispered at Aerith.
-Hey... I'm worried about Cloud...
-Yeah... What happened to him ?
-I think I heard gun shot... I'm gonna go see if he needs help.
-Okay... Be careful." Tifa nod and quickly rushed away. Kunsel noticed the soldier ready to shoot and stopped them.
-There are no ways out.
-Zack" Barret god ready. "We're gonna push through. I've got Aerith and Red covered, you'll need to clear us a path, so we can clear a way out." He whispered.
-Okay... Take care of them !" Zack analysed Kunsel quickly. He knew his old friend fighting style to a certain extent. How he progressed in those five years however ? He was about to find out. He uses ice spells, so the fact that Zack got a fire materia equipped on his sword was a good thing. Kunsel seemed to do the same thing. Suddenly, the Ex-Soldier shouted.
-Run, now !" He jumped on Kunsel, sword drawn as he struck it on his friend's. Barret and the others quickly ran away.
-After them !" Shouted Kunsel as the soldier started to persuade them. Zack quickly used his fire materia to create a wall of flame.
-Oh no you don't !" He smirked. Kunsel used Ice to create a fog where the soldiers got through. He then swinged his sword and got ready to attack Zack. He knew his old friend was stronger than him, so he acknowledged he needed to get quick. So, as Zack eyes closed for a sec, he quickly launched himself til it seemed like he disappeared. He used ice to slide onto and get fast toward Zack's back where he swinged his sword. Our hero quickly dodged the attack as he tried to strike Kunsel, who almost as instantly disappeared again. "He's as fast as Sephiroth" thought Zack. He tried to use his raw strength and his tactical instinct to try and foresee his opponent moves. He stroke before Kunsel in his direction, as his opponent used ice to protect himself. He then grew it into a pilar to try and push him away. Zack parried it with his sword and guided it to the ground as it exploded. He used his fire and tried to counter his friend's attacks with his sword. Their sword clashed as zack unleashed a fire orb on his friend, who jumped away to dodge it. He landed and stopped as he smiled. Zack was panting.
-Seems like someone's keeping up !" Zack said laughing. Kunsel turned his sword in his head and ice started to gather around it. He threw icicles toward his opponent who jumped in the air. Kunsel spinned on itself as ice started gathering onto his sword. Zack smirked as he shook his sword to gather fire onto it still in the air.
"Take that !" They both shouted as Kunsel's sword scratched the ground and ended up throwing all the energy into a huge ice spear that flew toward Zack, however, the ex-soldier hadn't said his last word. He threw all the fire energy built up in the buster sword down toward Kunsel, fire meteors clashing against the huge ice spear. Vapor flew in from everywhere as Kunsel leaped in the air, and Zack spinned to give his sword acceleration. Both their swords clashed heavily as the vapor suddenly got thrown away because of the clash. When all the vapor disappeared, the only thing remaining was the sword of Kunsel on the ground as Zack was pointing the buster sword toward his neck. Kunsel sighed.
-I'm still far from you... Zack...
-Come on, it was decent at least !" He said with a smirk. Kunsel laughed for a bit as Zack got his sword back in his back, spinning it as his victory pose. "Sooooo, might explaining yourself there buddy ?
-Myself ? Hey, you're the one who ended up in the president office, where his dead corpse lies just in front of our little clash !" Kunsel shouted, pointing his finger toward the president. Zack sighed. Cloud and Tifa arrived at the scene and the Merc instantly drew his sword toward Kunsel who just took his sword back. The black haired swordman shook his head.
-Man... I told you, it's not our fault.
-Then whose is it ? Yours ?" He said looking at Cloud, still his sword drawn. Zack moved his hand toward Cloud, and his friend understood. The blond man got his sword on his back and looked at Kunsel, who sighed and did the same.
-I know it's hard to believe it but...
-It was Sephiroth." Kunsel looked puzzled at Cloud. "It's his sword, as long as I remember." Kunsel looked at it and felt a shiver run down his spine. Cloud was right, it was Sephiroth's sword.
-How... How is it possible?
-I don't know man... But if anyone can pull out a move like that, it's him !" Cloud and Kunsel both nod as Tifa ran toward the stairs. She looked over at Zack and nod as she headed up downstairs. Kunsel got out of the way and looked over at the two others.
-You gotta go... Now !" Said Kunsel as Zack Smirked. Cloud followed him puzzled.
-I knew it was just a show... You grew Kunsel really !" Said the cheerful man with a smirk. His friend smiled, and sat near a wall. He sighed, still a bit hurt from the fight.
Tifa ran down the stairs and saw some troopers. She jumped over the stair and kicked a trooper in his jaw, before quickly restraining another one with an arm around his back. Zack and Cloud arrived and tried to look for a way down. Cloud noticed the elevator is busted. The ex-soldier worried about the others as he pondered the question:
"You don't think they were on this... Elevator do you?"
As Aerith and the others reached the down floor, Barret wondered.
"Which floor we at ?
-I dunno..." Said Aerith. Red started to walk toward the stairs.
-Use the stairs, we can manage to blend in to some extent.
-Screw that ! Ain't going through any stairs again !" Suddenly troopers ran downstairs and started shooting toward them. Aerith screamed as Barret ran toward the elevator, pushing the woman into it. Red leaped into it too as both him and Aerith started to use magic to block the bullets.
"Come on come on come on !" Rushed Barret as he pressed many buttons. The elevator door closed as it started going down. Barret and Aerith breathed heavily as Red started to smell around. He suddenly looked up as some Shinra weapon started shooting at them.
-What in the hell !" Shouted the man and the woman as Red used a barrier spell to block the bullets once again.
-You two do something!
-Okay... We'll figure something out !" Said the man as he started shooting at the weapon, but the blindage made it so that it just bounced off. He shouted as he looked around for something to use. Aerith put her guard stick next to his canon.
-Shoot ! I'll power it up !
-Okay !" He said with a big smile. Aerith placed a magical rune just before the huge arm canon as a huge lighting orb started to build. "Red the barrier !" The beast nod as he closed the Barrier, bullets started to destroy the windowed elevator as Barret shot the huge ball of light. It struck the shinra weapon which then fell off until they saw an explosion far away. Unlucky for them, the explosion accelerated the descent of the elevator. "Fuck this ! I don't wanna go out like this !" Shouted Barret as Red looked at the woman .
-Aerith ! If we gather our magic maybe we can slow it down, like breaks !
-I dunno... But it's definitely worth a try !" She said as the beat casted magic on one side of the elevator. She did the same on the other side and it somehow managed to slow down the elevator. It crashed on the lobby. Fortunately, no one was hurt as Barret got out of it, breathing fast.
-You... How..." He was still shocked as Red passed against him and again slapped his leg with his tail as the big man screamed. Aerith was still on her knees and slowly managed to get up again. She reunited with the two others as they walked down a few stairs toward the entrance. Barret looked behind at the elevator one last time. "Never taking an elevator again... Stairs, I love you !" Red smirked.
Aerith gasped when she saw a whole platoon waiting for them, armed to their tooth. Barret shouted:
"How did you...
-They followed the explosion... Plus, someone did kill the president." Said Red. A Soldier member, second class, walked toward them.
-Okay, what do we have here ?
-Avalanche !
-Local Florist !
-Lab dog !" The three of them said as the soldier gasped. He shook his head and reached his hand in the air. Barret sighed.
-Aerith, find Zack and the others.
-What ? What about you Barret ?
-You saved my little girl... I owe you. Go now !" Aerith was lost there, not knowing what to do when suddenly Tifa rushed behind them.
-Guys ! Careful, take a step back." Everyone gasped but followed her lead as a motor engine got heard from away. Cloud used a moto to drive through every trooper and put a mayhem toward everyone. Meanwhile, Tifa lead everyone toward Zack, who was starting a sort of blue truck. "Everyone, get in !" Tifa sat next to Zack as Aerith Barret and Red got on the truck bench.
-Firing up boys !" Shouted Zack, putting his feet on the acceleration pedal as he drove through the troopers, who quickly jumped away. Cloud saw them and followed with his moto. The soldier shouted:
-Don't let thel get away ! Contact every mobile unit !"
Rufus entered the president room. Turks and troopers ran everywhere to secure the place, ice shard and burnt trace were still everywhere. Tseng, who followed through, quickly helped getting rid of the president corpse. Rufus sat on the chair, the blood and dent of the katana still on the table. He looked outside through the window only to see the many trucks and moto driving toward Zack's position. He smiled.
Meanwhile, Kunsel got ready to jump on a bike. He sabotaged Roche's drive, so the soldier was screaming at everyone because of it. He quickly drove to try and catch up to the group.
"Get away from here !" Shouted Barret, shooting at the troopers annoying them. Cloud was driving precisely cutting every other engines with his soldier longsword. Tifa asked Zack:
-How is it that Cloud took the motorcycle? I thought you were gonna drive it !
-Yeah, well... Couldn't get the toy away of the kid could I ?" Aerith threw light shots on the bikes to make them fall as Cloud smirked while driving fastly. Suddenly, he got concerned when he saw the moto pull out.
-Think we scared them?
-More like made them angry" said Red as a giant weapon with eight wheels started to chase them. It was some sort of machine with a main body, with a head too, of course only esthetical. He had weapons for arms, both capable of slicing, shooting, and fire flames. Cloud quickly drove away from fire spreading.
"Wow !" Shouted Zack as the huge machine started shooting toward them. Aerith and Red casted a shield to protect them from the bullets but the machine droved faster toward them and tried to slash toward Aerith. The black haired swordman drove away from the hit, saving the one on the trunks lifes. Cloud tried to cut off the wheels but it got barriers on it. The weapon struck the trunk of the truck with it's front wheels, making everyone jump a bit. Red ended up on it, and started to run around. He jumped toward Cloud as the soldier threw his sword in the air and caught the dog, still speeding up to bring Rex back on the trunk. "Okay, now I'm pissed !" Said Zack as he took Tifa's hands and put them on the wheels. "Sorry, leads on you !
-Wha..." Before she could finish her word Zack jumped out of the truck, grabbing his sword and grabbing Cloud's one in the air. He spinned fast and struck several times the "body" of the weapon, then jumped off using its head as a jumper. He landed on the trunk.
-Barret, we pull the trick again ?
-Sure thing!" Aerith gathered energy toward Barret arm who fired a few shots on the weapon. The lightning ball interrupted the shielding of the wheels and Cloud quickly drove and slashed every wheel he could before they saw what seemed like the end of the road. A many meters gap. Cloud sped as fast as possible and Zack jumped inside the truck through the window, scaring Tifa. He then gently pushed her away and pressed as hard as possible on the acceleration pedal.
-We're not gonna make it !" Shouted Cloud. Tifa shoved her hand through the window as Cloud jumped off the moto and grabbed to it, helping himself stay steady with his foots on the door.
-Aerith, Red ! Think you can put magic to propulse us ?" Both of them nod. Barret shouted: "Hang on tight everyone!" Cloud hold tight to Tifa's hand as Zack wrapped his arm around her shoulders to put her steady, Barret shot a huge ray of light amplified by the magic runes of Aerith and Red's innate magic. The truck got propulsed to an amazing speed, effectively making it fly over the gap as the moto fell in. The Shinra weapon was struck by the ray of energy, which made it drive to the left and also fell into the gap, a huge explosion rising. Cloud held on as strong as possible as Tifa's arm began to hurt. Though, none of them let go. Barret held Aerith with hit other arm while using his foot to not fall off, as Red planted his tooth on Aerith's rod, allowing everyone to remain somewhat steady. The truck landed back as Barret stopped shooting. Cloud fell as Tifa jumped off, and they both rolled unharmed just like when they jumped off the train. Instead this time Cloud landed on top of her. Tifa gently pushed him off.
"You okay ?
-We really should stop pulling stuns..." He got up as Tifa laughed, and handed her his hand to help her back up. Everyone looked worriedly at them, and sighed from the relief. Zack started to see if the engine had anything left but every possible alert signs light up on the truck. He laughed and got out of the truck.
-Car's busted ! Well, at least we'll be okay now I guess !" He said looking at the gap. Aerith ran toward him.
-That jump, that was awesome man !
-Hehe, thanks !" He said smiling! "This shot was amazing too !" The others reunited toward the Zack. Red asked.
-So, what now...
-Hmm..." Said Aerith looking around. "Aha ! Stairs, there !" Tifa nod at her as Barret looked around.
-Okay peoples, let's go !
-Sure thing big guy !" Said Zack. Everybody started climbing down the huge ladder which will leed them under the plate level, toward Midgar's exit. However, Zack stopped just before climbing it down as a moto jumped through the gap, using ice as a platform to enhance the jump. Zack took his sword.

Chapter Text

As Aerith jumped down the ladder, she sighed.
"Well, that was something !" Barret sighed.
-Should have seen the stairs un Shinra's HQ ! This ?" He points at the stairs with his gun. "This, was nothing" Cloud looked worried at the ladder. Tifa noticed.
-Hey, where's Zack ?
-I..." He started climbing back up but saw his friend finally getting down. When Zack reached down, he looked at the others.
-So... What's next ?" Asked Aerith. Tifa shook her head, without any clue. Barret scratched his head as Cloud took a few steps away. Zack noticed it. A black feather fell into the blond man's hand, and suddenly turned into dust.
-Sephiroth... So long as he's still out there I...
-Wait !" Said Barret at the other looked at him. "Guy is supposed to be dead but he's back all of a sudden ?
-Zack told me about him." Said Aerith. "Everything about him is wrong.
-Aerith's right." Said Tifa as Rex asked.
-So, where do we go next ?" There was a silence as Zack scratched his head and ran in front of everyone.
A few minutes earlier before he came down, Kunsel arrived before him on a moto. Zack had his sword drawn and Kunsel laughed.
"You still want to fight ?" Zack sighed and put back his sword.
-I thought you were looking for us...
-I am." Zack looked puzzled and Kunsel laughed. "Don't do those puppy eyes ! I come peacefully.
-Peace huh... What do you want ?
-I wanted to wish you guys good luck." He paused for a few seconds and walked toward Zack. "I thought about what you said... About Sephiroth... And about Shinra.
-Yeah ?
-I've been facing the facts for a little while now... It's barely holding up... Shortly Rufus will be named president and it will just start over like nothing happened... As he was still dead.
-Sephiroth huh...
-Zack, I need to know." He gazed into his eyes. "Five years ago... Did you... Kill him ?" Zack laugh.
-No clue... Cloud did it.
-Cloud huh..." There was a small silent as Zack scratched his head.
-So buddy... You want to come with us ? I mean, we could use someone with your skills !
-I can't Zack... I'm the main soldier now. Everyone, is looking up at me... As I once did with you.
-I know, I thought you'd say that...
-Til we meet again ?" Said Kunsel, fist in the air awaiting a fist bump. Zack laughed and bumped it.
-So you really came to say good luck !
-That and..." He hugged Zack. "Don't... Don't disappear again" Zack pushed him gently and smirked.
-Never again !" Kunsel smiled and got back on his bike.
-That's what I wanted to hear ! Be safe out there." He created a sort of ice bridge to cross it back. Zack waved goodbye.
-You too buddy !"
The whole group was looking at him now they he had got their attention.
"There's no turning back now... Sephiroth he's... I don't know if we can say alive... But he's here. And he's got something planned." He put his arm around Cloud's shoulder. "And we're gonna make sure to crush the party, right man ?
-Yeah." Cloud smiled at the crew. Barret laughed.
-Then it's settled !" He turned to face Midgar once again. "Marlene... Daddy's coming back real soon honey !" He said, fist in the air. Cloud and Zack laughed.
Suddenly it began to rain. Aerith looked at Zack but suddenly, he wan't here anymore. No one was. Except Cloud. But it wasn't the Cloud she knew. He passed just next to her, sobbing, blood on his face, dragging Zack's sword behind him.
"Almost there... Hang in there Cloud... You're a Soldier... First class..." He looked far toward Midgar, ready to enter into the town alone. The mirage of another time stopped as she suddenly looked into the airs.
"The steel sky... I miss it..."
As the rain continued to pour, another story unveiled at another plan of existence. The white haired swordman, pushing his plan to the next step, as always. The mirage of yesterday might disappear on the wake of a new day, a whisper of another world, a truth that was once foretold... A world, where he didn't survive... A world full of Hollow...

This other and unknown journey will continue...