He opened his eyes to the sound of a roar. The light was hitting his eyes so intensely he had to raise his hand to cover the source of it, stretching his hands out to the intruding threat that was approaching his way. Everything was trailing in his vision and he couldn't think straight, all he kept hearing were footsteps and a voice in the back of his head telling him to "run". He tried to get on his feet but found he couldn't move, the first wave of pain shooting up his leg telling him to look down and assess the situation. That's when he noticed that there was a large pillar on his legs, he was pinned and had no way of escaping the SOLDIER's on their way to him. He tried to move the beam but it was too heavy for his hurt and tattered body. He wasn't strong enough for the first time in his life to get out of a situation he had caused.
He admitted defeat as the SOLDIER closed in on him with their weapons pointed and there lasers finding their way to his body like a swarm of firefly's attracted to his clothes. The light was now directly in his eyes causing another wave of pain to soar to his head all the way to the back of his skull only to find it's way to a pressuring pound in between his temples. From the way he felt he could tell that whatever he had been doing was dangerous enough to get the SOLDIER called on him. Looking around at the wreckage site he saw flames sporadically engulfed everywhere and feeding on the pillars that had somehow found their way to the ground, like a demon must devour a fresh kill.
"Who are you, and WHAT happened here?", the SOLDIER shining the light in his face demanded. In all honesty, he wished he knew but his pounding brain wouldn't permit anything in accept more pain. Squinting and in pain he managed an "I don't know" and just looked down in a daze, the world feeling like it was hitting him much like a tidal wave must hit a person. This was all too much to him and he wished very much to just be in his bed at his house and away from this insanity, wherever that was.
"Get him out of that rubble and get him on a stretcher", the SOLDIER ordered. A dozen others leapt down to where he was and began the hard work of lifting him out of the wreckage that had fallen on him. After what felt like ages of them laboring they finally got the beam a few inches lifted off of him, all they could manage. It was at this point that he realized that he could not move his legs at all, the slightest movement would send waves of excruciating pain up to his already pained brain. He cried in agony and one of the SOLDIER nearest him got the hint and began to grab him and position himself in order to assist the boy out. Just as the SOLDIER was positioned correctly the roof from up above them let out a few feet and stopped just enough to show them that they were in trouble if they didn't hustle.
"GET HIM OUTTA THERE NOW!!!!! THIS WHOLE PLACE IS COMIN' DOWN AND I WON'T LOSE ANY OF MY MEN TO THIS DEATHTRAP!", the lead SOLDIER ordered frantically.
The group lifted the beam a foot higher and the SOLDIER and the boy began to move carefully out of the spot they had found him in. When he was safely a few feet away from the area the SOLDIER's dropped the beam and began to usher the boy and SOLDIER out, moving obstacles in the way to make sure they could move as quickly and efficiently as possible. When they were a few yards away from the area, the roof collapsed. Looking back the boy and the SOLDIER saw that the collapse of the roof gave way to an oncoming disaster that they needed to get away from ASAP. The roof had knocked over a pillar that soon crashed into another pillar. These two pillars came toppling over caving in the roof further and starting to make the second story of this concrete sanctuary that had once been a cathedral into a caving in tomb. The roof was cracking and falling apart making pillars topple over everywhere. And it was fast approaching them.
"MOVE NOW!!!", said the lead SOLDIER. They began to run with everything they had, carrying the boy on his back the SOLDIER was in front with the lead. Soon the calamity had caught up with them and they were dodging falling debris, and scorched beams that prevented their escape. The main door was a good 20 feet away, they stood a chance of making it if they could hustle a little faster. As they got closer to their goal one of the beams fell on a SOLDIER that was lagging behind. The SOLDIER with the boy stopped as did the lead SOLDIER. Without thinking the lead SOLDIER took off his helmet to reveal a stern looking man with black hair reaching to his shoulders, and a strength in his eyes the boy had never seen before. Later on the boy would say that it was like looking in the face of an angel that was here to protect everyone.
"ANGEAL! IT'S TOO LATE! THIS PLACE IS CAVING IN AND WE'RE ALMOST OUT, DON'T DO THIS", said the SOLDIER with the boy on his back.
"That is not the SOLDIER way and it is DEFINITELY not mine! Go ahead, i'll catch up with you outside, just make sure this boy gets to the infirmary! NOW GO!"
Angeal ran back towards the SOLDIER that was pinned down by the beam and began to lift. The SOLDIER with the boy hesitated for a moment, and then decided to follow orders and ran as fast as he could towards the exit, dodging the rapidly falling debris that was standing between them and safety. The roof was gonna give any minute and Angeal needed to get out of there NOW. Just as they hit the door the rest of the building gave out and the whole place came crashing down, sending them flying towards the ground a few feet and a big plume of smoke billowing after them.
"NOOOOOOO!!!! ANGEEEAAAALLLLLL!!!!", screamed the SOLDIER that had just saved the boys life. All of the other SOLDIERS stood there waiting and murmuring amongst themselves peering into the smoke that was still thick hoping to see a figure of any kind. Hope was not there as they waited for ten minutes for some sign of life. The SOLDIER that had saved the boys life came to him and with a somber tone said, "Come on, let's get you to the infirmary."
A WEEK LATER
The boy had broken both legs and was told he might never walk again. He had found out the the SOLDIER that had saved his life's name was Kunsel, he would never forget it. The boy had been having dreams about the man that had ran back for his comrade. He would never forget his name either, Angeal. The boy decided right then and there that THAT was the man he looked up to and wanted to be like when he grew up. He wanted to be strong enough to protect any of the people that were around him. He wished that Angeal was still alive as he went to sleep in his bed in the infirmary. That's when he had the dream.
Angeal was standing there with white wings and looking over him saying something that he could not understand, it was inaudible but the boy knew it was important and something he would get when he was older. The boy looked at Angeal and started to see him fading, and just before he fully disappeared he heard him say, "What are your dreams?"
The boy awoke to see Angeal standing over him. Thinking he was still dreaming he answered Angeal, "To become strong as you, to become a hero". Angeal just smiled and stretched out his hand. The boy sat up slowly and painful realizing this wasn't a dream and stared at his hand. He then started to slowly stretch out his and Angeal gripped it warmly. The boy looked up at Angeal and was fully awake now. He was SURE this wasn't a dream because he could feel Angeal, as well as the wings were gone. Angeal just stared with a sparkle in his eyes and a smile on his face. The boy was confused and was dumbfounded at what was happening presently. An entourage of questions came beaming to the boys brain and he heard himself say, "I thought you were dead". Angeal just smiled and open his mouth as if to say something, and then thought better of it.
"What is your name?", he asked instead.
"Z-z-zack. My name is Zack Fair"
"Well, Zack Fair, my name is Angeal Hewley. When you are old enough... join SOLDIER... and maybe, just maybe, you can achieve that dream"
"B-but the doctor told me i might never walk again, i don't think i'd be much use to SOLDIER"
"Here's a little secret. If you want to truly become stronger, NOTHING will hold you back. If the doctor says you will never walk, prove him wrong and strengthen those legs. You know squats are really helpful in strengthening leg muscles so i hear", Angeal said with a smile as he turned away to leave. He walked to the door and then stopped and stood for a moment. He turned to look at Zack and smiled as he said, "See you in a couple of years kid, don't let me down".
Zack let his head rest on the pillow as he looked up at the ceiling fan. He knew what he wanted to do now and so he closed his eyes and thanked Angeal silently. He would never know how big of an influence he had been on him, but he hoped that he wouldn't let Angeal down. He then smirked, "Squats, huh?" and closed his eyes to get rest, tomorrow would be the first day of the rest of his life.
