Disclaimer: I don't own FF7 or any of it's characters. No copyright infringement intended. FF7 and it's characters rightfully belongs to Square Enix.

Hello everyone. This story takes place during and after the ending of Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core. Since I'm a big fan of Zack Fair and Cloud Strife, they both live in this story. This is my second story and well, I think that it turned out good. Please feel free to tell me what you all think about it. Zack and Cloud are both just best friends in this story too. Absolutely no slash, except for Zack/Aerith and Cloud/Tifa. Anyways, please enjoy.

Fight for Freedom

Chapter 1

"Hey pops, what do you think we should do once we get there?" Zack asks in a loud tone as he turns his head towards the driver who was kind enough to give them a ride to Midgar in the back of his truck.

"What are you sayin'? You two boys are still young, it's up to you to do whatever makes you happy in life. You've gotta find your purpose in life kid," the older man says in a deep voice, as if he's offering Zack and his semi-comatose best friend some wise words of wisdom.

Zack turns and looks over at Cloud. "Heh yeah, easy for him to say. He's not being hunted down like we are." The ex-SOLDIER lets out a long sigh before he continues, "Well Cloud, we are flat broke, man. So, once we get there we need to find a way to get us some money, right?" he says in a serious tone while Cloud continues to stare off into space.

Cloud soon moans through closed lips, "Mmngh." The young blonde manages to slightly lift his head up some for a couple of seconds before he goes limp and his chin comes to rest on his chest again. The younger man sighs before he groans, "Uungh, ngh."

"Oh, hey I've got an idea!" Zack cheerfully announces before he continues, "We were in the military. Hmm, how about I be a mercenary. Yeah, that's an awesome idea. I can do a lot of things that guys my age can't do," Zack cheerfully states, his eyes wide with excitement.

"Hey kid, that's not what I meant. Were you even listening to me?" the driver asks, a little annoyed.

"I'm gonna be a mercenary and that's final. I'll go on all kinds of missions, dangerous ones and easy ones, anything that pays good." He softly chuckles before he adds, "I'm gonna be rich."

Zack smiles as he looks over at his younger friend. "Well, what are you gonna do when we get to Midgar?"
Cloud remains completely still and silent. Zack can't help but smile as he says, "I know what I'm gonna do when we get there..oh no, wait, that's right her mother lives there too." His smile quickly fades away with the last part of his statement. "Hmm, guess I'll have to think a few things over." He looks at his friend and asks him, "So, when we get there where are you going to stay?"

"Nghhh, guhh," Cloud manages a weak moan as he looks down.

Zack kindly smiles at the blonde. "I'm just kidding. You know I wouldn't do that to you. We're friends, right?"

They continue down the road when they suddenly hit a pot hole.

"Guhh," Cloud groggily groans as he slightly starts to fall over to the side.

Zack catches him before he falls over the rest of the way and sits him back up to where Cloud's propped up again.
"There ya go friend." He looks up at the bright blue sky as he thinks out loud, "You know somethin', when we left Midgar to go to Nibelhiem about five years ago, it took us like three months to get there. Now we're going back to Midgar from Nibelhiem and it's taken us about nine or ten months. Of course, we've been on foot most of the journey." He gives his friend a big smile and jokes, "Man Cloud, your village really does take the old saying 'out in the sticks' to the extreme. Then again, Gongaga is out in the sticks too." He softly chuckles. "We really are backwater experts, huh Cloud?" Zack laughs as he smiles at his friend.

"Can you hear me? When we arrive in Midgar we're going to start our own business and become mercenaries together. Mercenaries, that's what you and me are gonna be. You understand me, Cloud?" Zack asks as he continues to look at his younger friend.

Cloud incoherently mumbles in response, "Nghh."

Zack kindly takes it as a yes. "Good." Zack smiles as he scoots closer to Cloud and wraps an arm around him, pulling him close for a gentle hug. "I love you, Cloud. You're like a little brother to me. I actually see you more as a brother than a friend. Did I ever tell you that?"

Cloud lets out a comforted sigh as he rests the side of his face on Zack's chest. "Mngh."

Zack gives his younger best friend a big smile and playfully ruffles his hair before he gets up and leans over on the roof of the truck and looks at Midgar coming into view.
'Finally, we're almost there. I really can't wait to see Aerith again.' Those happy thoughts quickly fades away as Zack suddenly notices two snipers on a nearby hill aiming for a head shot on Cloud. Once the loud piercing sound of a gunshot echoed through the dry desert winds, Zack quickly turns around and tackles Cloud to the floor on the back of the truck. He lands on top of him before the snipers get a successful shot on them. Zack looks at the driver and shouts, "Pops, park us over by the rocks!" Zack turns to Cloud. "Cloud, rides over," Zack says as he quickly scoops up Cloud and jumps off of the truck after it stops.
Partially putting Cloud down to let him use his own feet, he holds onto the blonde to help support him as they walk over to a shady spot next to some large rocks. Once they reach this spot, Zack sits him down. He crouches down next to him with a concerned look on his face. 'Man, it's been almost a year now. Is he ever going to recover? What am I thinking? Of course he's going to get better. I know him, he's a tough kid,' Zack thinks to himself. He playfully ruffles Cloud's hair while he slightly laughs. After a few seconds, he stands up and walks away.

During this time, Cloud slowly lifts his head up and watches Zack leave. Knowing that this may be the last time that he may see his best friend alive, he's desperate to try and stop him from going. Still unable to speak, he slowly lifts up his left hand and reaches for him. 'No, Zack. Please..don't go. Please, don't...leave me here..like this,' Cloud slowly thinks to himself as he silently begs for Zack to stay. However, Zack doesn't look back and continues walking towards the bright sunlight. Cloud's hand falls down next to him as he suddenly loses consciousness.

That's the end of the first chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it. I've gotten some really good writing tips from the-ice-cold-alchemist, Chibipinkbunny, and Blue Jae, thanks a lot guys. So, I've been editing my stories a lot. Hopefully the paragraph structure is right now. If not, than please feel free to let me know and I'll fix it again. I seriously don't mind fixing it if it needs it. It gives me something to do, haha. Oh, and don't worry, I have it to where Zack does live in this story. There's no main character deaths in this story. In the very last paragraph, that part's from FF7: Advent Children Complete and FF7: Crisis Core. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed it and please feel free to share with me what you think about it.