Hello there and welcome to my first fanfiction on this site. This is a CloudXZack story so if Yaoi bothers you please do not read this fanfiction. A little back ground on how this story come to be. My cousin (StrifesLove) has challenged me to take on this fanfiction which is loosely based on the general plot line of her fanfiction SOLDIERs of the WRO. She wanted to know what I'd do with it. That does not mean I am any less dedicated to this story I am completely dedicated to it in fact. This is also a Mature fanfiction unlike SOLDIERs of the WRO so please do not come here expecting T and getting M instead.
Other than that please sit back, enjoy, and keep your eyes open for weekly updates. Chapter progress is shown in my profile for those of you who would like to keep up with how much I've gotten done of the next chapter.
Everyone please give a large round of applause to my beta reader DragonGirl323. Without her this would look quiet a bit rougher.
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII (If I did Zack would never have died.)
And without further ado I give you, SOLDIERs of Regeneration
Moonlight filtered through the open window and cold air brushed across my bangs, causing them to sway slightly. Fresh snow glowed under the full moon's light and I could not help but smile at the magic of nature. The snow somehow caused everything to look like something out of a dream. Although, if I was honest with myself, everything was like a dream anymore. Hazing between forgotten memories and old terrors I'll never forget. It was only times like these that let me truly relax, and it was my mismatched family that made it all possible.
Tifa had demanded I take time off for Christmas with the rest of AVALANCHE this year. For once I'm glad she did. Seeing the group together for a joyful gathering, rather than a serious one, would always be a precious memory. Now, Cid was passed out on the bar with Reno not far behind him. Denzel and Marlene were asleep surrounded by new toys. Yuffie was passed out in Vincent's room and everyone else was in spare rooms. None of them had wanted to bunk with me and honestly I could not blame them. Reeve, Vincent, Tifa, and Cid are the only ones comfortable enough to stay with me at night through the night terrors. Also, as a SOLDIER in all but title, I brought up a lot of bad memories for AVALANCHE.
Reeve had inadvertently stirred up some bad memories of my own tonight. It was the reason I was still up tonight. At first, I was surprised to see that he had attended the gathering in person. He had been so busy running the WRO lately that he rarely took time off anymore. However, it was mostly to make an announcement. Apparently, he had been working non-stop on reintroducing a new and safer SOLDIER program to the WRO. The program would become public in two weeks' time and active in three. Most of AVALANCHE had agreed it was for the best in current times. I think I was the only one besides Vincent that disapproved. The pain of knowing that some kind of SOLDIER program was out there; it brought back so many memories. Not all of them good, and not all of them mine.
As the clock struck two in the morning, Reeve himself walked into the view of my window. He was smoking, and from his expression, deep in thought. Smoking was a new habit he had picked up after finding it helped him cope with stress. Cid had started him on it, swearing that cigarettes were all that got him through working at the space station. Sometimes I envied them. Mako was a hindrance in that way. Not even alcohol had an effect on me. I'd tried to get drunk once, much to Tifa's dismay. Two kegs later, I was not even buzzed and by then Tifa had cut me off.
Reno kept telling me that my continued depression was because of inactive warrior syndrome or something like that and suggested I take some missions from the WRO for monster control. I'd told him no, but he still brought it up every time he saw me. In fact, those visits and conversations had been coming more often lately. Perhaps it had something to do with Reeve's new SOLDIER project. It would make sense for them to target me, I guess.
A voice from below suddenly pulled me out of my thoughts. "You know, Cloud... I just don't understand why you won't join up with the WRO. We are old friends, right? It's nothing like Shinra used to be. Yuffie is employed until she becomes queen next year and even Vincent has helped out as a mercenary of a sorts."
Reeve had finally noticed my presence above him. Or at least finally acknowledged my presence. "You always have a way of reading my mind, Reeve."
With a slight shift to look up in my direction, Reeve smiled. "It's a talent one picks up quickly around Ex-SOLDIERs. You may have never made SOLDIER, Cloud, but you think a lot like the ones I've met. You could still make that dream a reality in a way."
I knew that one was coming. Shaking my head and letting out a sigh I stared down at Reeve with a frown. "I let that dream die long ago, Reeve, and it's not just SOLDIERs. A lot of us who fought for Shinra have the same mind set now a days. Some of us can return to duty while others are haunted by too many ghosts." Black spiky hair, a wide welcoming smile, and bright violet eyes flashed before my eyes, causing my ribcage to constrict around my heart like a vice.
"That may be, Cloud...but you're still fighting. Unlike those who are haunted, you have not given up yet. The planet is still in danger as you know. Monsters have become more numerous, Mako pools are springing up everywhere, and the Lifestream is fluctuating."
"AVALANCE is working to help the monster population. Cid has been making rounds with his airships, and Shelke is helping to clean up Deep Ground with Vincent," I pointed out.
Reeve hummed a little. "That is true... I have also been working on a plan, as an aside from SOLDIER, to help out the world." Reeve paused to drop the butt of his cigarette into the snow and stomped it out with his heel. "Just keep what I've said in mind, Cloud. The WRO could use someone like you and who knows. Your ghosts might not be ghosts for much longer, they could just end up heroes."
With those parting words, Reeve strode from view and into the bar below. A few moments later a door closed down the hall and I let out a pent up breath. What had Reeve meant when he said my ghosts might not be ghosts for much longer? Shrugging it off for the moment, I closed the window and moved off to find sleep and the nightmares within.
A dark room filled with old furniture made up my surroundings, eerily mirroring the bed rooms back in SOLDIER. Silently, I prayed that this was not another dream or memory of my partially forgotten Shinra days. I'd never been actively aware of myself in those dreams, however, so I had suspicion this was just a different trick of my mind.
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a quiet whimper from the bed. A covered figure lay shivering under the blankets and I quickly strode over to the figure. That whimper had shot right through me for some reason, and all I wanted to do is make sure it never happened again. However, the feeling that whimper gave me was nothing compared to the shock and dread of seeing black spiky hair laid out on that pillow.
A sigh escaped my lips. "Zack...are you here to haunt me again?"
Another whimper and Zack mumbled out a few words I barely caught. "Cloud... I've failed you again."
I could not help my hand shooting out to clasp Zack on the shoulder, but backed up in alarm as it went right through him. Confused, I said aloud, "but...I'm the one who failed you, Zack. I never lived up to your legacy, never made SOLDIER, but most of all I failed to save you."
His soft sobs broke my heart and I wished that this nightmare would end. It was far worse than any I'd ever had with Sephiroth, Hojo, Jenova, or any of my memories. Broken words fell across my ears as my tortured soul stood only feet away listening. "I got back too late. You're gone, and I can't join you. Is this how you've felt? All those years I was gone?"
My eyebrows scrunched together as I sat on his bed, still confused, but willing to do anything to comfort Zack, even if it was only a dream. Zack's tear filled eyes were hard to meet. In life, Zack had always been strong no matter what happened. Even when he walked out to meet his death he had done it with a smile. So to see him broken over me was nothing short of heart breaking.
Sitting down on the side of the bed, scooting closer to him, I whispered, "shhhh. I'm here, Zack, and so are you. You never failed me." It surprised me somewhat to hear my words come out slightly choked.
Reaching out to brush away his tears, it surprised me even more when my fingers connected and he looked me right in the eyes. "Zack...don't be sad, please. Sure, it is lonely without you here and I miss you, but I've tried my best to be a legacy you could be proud of. I'm not alone anymore. I have people here who are family to me, but you'll always be dearest to my soul, Zack."
Quiet sobs and tremors still raged through him. However, a warm, calloused hand reached up to cup my own cheek, causing my eyes to slide closed in relaxation of the familiar feeling. "I miss you, Cloud, my soul aches and my heart hurts without you here. I'm glad to know you're happy though." A soft, familiar smile spread across his face.
"I know, Zack... I've felt the same way for the past four years." A strange tugging let me know I was waking up and I almost groaned. Dream or not, I was enjoying Zack's presence and not ready to return to reality yet. None the less, I was waking and leaving Zack. "I have to go, Zack, my times up. I don't know how, but I promise to be a legacy you can be proud of. Be at peace Zack, please."
Suddenly, I found my forehead pressed against Zack's as he whispered, "I'm already proud of you, Cloud. Always have been and always will be, no matter what."
Everything faded slowly till darkness was the only thing left to me, and Zack was gone once again.