The dialog plays shortly after the happenings of Advent Children. Cloud and Avalanche scan the Shinra-Building for remains of Sephiroth or Kadajes gang. Cloud checks the SOLDIER floor and stops at the lockers. One of them belonged to Zack… Strewed around the bottom lie some old pictures, which are now picked up by Cloud. One shows Zack and Angeal, after he became his mentor, another himself along with Zack and Sephiroth. As he becomes sad, he unknowingly enters the lifestream…
Zack stands beside him and looks over his shoulder.

Z: "I always loved that picture! We had a lot of fun that day, huh?"

C: (a little surprised of his show up) "Yeah…"

Z: "Hey, what´s with that face?"

C: (starts shaking)

Z: (after a few quiet seconds) "You know… "

(he takes out two other pictures from his belt)

"I always carried those with me after I took them?" (he gives the to Cloud)

C: (looks at the pictures: One shows Zack and Aerith in the church. It was taken by Zack
himself, which is why his arm is seen in the left of the picture. On the second one he
can see himself and Zack mucking around. Another member of the Shinra-Army took
it. Cloud knows that Zack wants to cheer him up, but…)

"I know that you´re not mad at me, but… It´s just… If it wasn´t for me, you would
have escaped!"

Z: "And for what?! Do you really think they would have left me alone? Shinra would have
searched for me everywhere and they would have tried to hunt me down for the rest
of my life. Even worse – they would have got you!"

C: (confused) "So? They would have killed me…"

Z: "No! Cloud, you would have been their guinea pig! You are the final result of Project S
and a perfect success! They never wanted me. I was just in the way, because I
choose to protect you!"
(after a minute of silence)

"I knew they would kill me if I stay with you. And I will never regret my death or my
decisions in the past, as long as you know WHY I choose that way….Do you?"

C: (Cloud looks up at him, tears coming up, the question written in his eyes) "…"

Z: "Because you are my friend! And You´ll always be!"

C: "You too…"

(Zack tousles Clouds hair, whereon Cloud comes up with protest and pushes away his hand)

C: "I miss you!"

Z: (smiles) "Don´t worry! I´ll always be there when you need me!"

(Cloud slowly starts to exit the lifestream)

Z: "And Cloud…"

C: "Yeah?"

Z: "Do me a favor and smile more often!..."

T: "Cloud!"

(Cloud, back at the building, turns and sees Tifa, coming for him)

T: "Are you alright here?"

(He looks down at his hands, which are still holding the fotos – including those Zack
gave to him)

C: "Yeah!" (And he smiles)

The End