Natalie Caelum raced down the stairs, hearing the continuous pounding on the door. She slowly opened it and smiled when she saw it was her best friend Zack.
"Hey Zack. " She smiled, opening the door and motioning for him to come in.
" Hey Nat! " Zack plopped down on the couch with a sigh. Nat sat down next to him.
Nat was fourteen and Zack fifteen. They had been best friends all their lives. Having been friends for so long, they both had an uncanny ability to know if the other was troubled emotionally by something, just by the way they acted, spoke or looked. Zack knew Nat sometimes more than she knew her self.
He noticed something was wrong now.
Zack turned to her.
"You said you wanted to talk to me about something, so I came as quick as I could. What did you need to talk to me about? "
Nat sighed, this had been bothering her for the past week and she needed to tell Zack.
" You wanna go for a walk out to the river? "She asked. Zack nodded, understanding that she didn't want to talk about it with her parents around.
"Susan! Zack and I are going for a walk! I'll be home before supper!" She called to her step mom. She slammed the door behind her before Susan could reply.
Zack didn't seem surprised at this, he knew that she hated her stepmother.
On their way to a secret place they found when they were younger, they talked about random things particularly involving ShinRa's SOLDIER unit. Like most kids their age, that was there dream, to join SOLDIER and rise up to be like the great hero Sephiroth.
When the reached the river that ran past their small hometown of Gongaga, they stopped. Zack backed up and, at a full run, took a flying leap and managed to get to the other side.
"Come on Nat. It's easy. "Zack cried from the other side.
Nat backed up too, but hesitated.
It had rained really hard last night and the river, which was normally really calm and slow, was flowing rapidly.
If she fell in the river when it was going this fast … She shook her head, no; Zack wouldn't let her fall in.
At a running start, she jumped over the river …
… And missed the bank by mere inches.
"Nat! " Zack cried catching her arm before the rapids took her downstream. She was waist deep in water but luckily Zack had a strong grip on her arm.
Her eyes widened when she saw that Zack's boot was slipping in the mud, he would fall in too.
"Nat. Hold on. I'll get you up. "He grunted and heaved her up on the bank. Though unfortunately in the process he fell in, Nat safely on the bank. Nat caught his hand.
With one final burst of strength she pulled him up onto the bank, both of them collapsing in the mud. They both lay panting there for a few minutes before looking at each other and laughing, partly out of fear, realizing how close they were to being swept downstream, and because they always managed to get each other out of complicated situations like this.
Zack, who had been staring up at the sky, turned his head to look at her, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"You know, I'm really glad you're here, because without you I'd probably be dead right now. " He grinned. Nat grinned back at him.
"Me too. I'm glad we're best friends Zack. I don't know what I'd do without you. "
Zack chuckled slightly, somehow amused by Nat's words.
" You've gotten stronger. I guess that training we've both been doing is starting to pay off. "
Nat grunted.
" Finally. I thought the only thing I was going to get out of it was bruises and being sore twenty-four seven. "
They both laughed.
With a sigh, Zack rolled back and jumped up. He held his hand out to help Nat up.
"I love how you do that. "
" Do what? "
"Roll onto your back and jump up onto your feet. " She grinned. Zack smiled.
The two of them continued on through the dark woods, they knew the way by heart and soon found themselves at their secret area, a large cliff that looked out over the town with a massive oak tree, surrounded by irises of all different colors.
Zack and Nat climbed the tree and sat on their usual branch, the third branch from the top.
Zack leaned against the trunk of the tree, his right leg dangling over the edge and the colors of the sunset reflecting on to his young face.
Nat looked at him, his head leaning against the tree and his eyes closed in peaceful bliss, and she realized - how funny he looked with wet hair.
Zack heard her snicker and opened one eye with a smirk on his face.
"What's so funny? " He asked.
"You're hair looks really funny when it's wet, Zack. " She laughed.
Zack chuckled and looked out, staring out at the horizon. Nat followed his gaze, her eyes following a flock of geese hurrying to fly south for the upcoming winter; she tilted her head back with a smile and watched the geese fly above the tree.
Zack laughed.
"Don't do that, you'll fall! " He exclaimed. Nat laughed with him and sat back up, staring out at the horizon.
She didn't think anything could have made her happier than being with Zack in their favorite spot and watching the sunset.
She sighed, she had to tell him now, he looked calm on the outside but she knew he was dying for answers on the inside.
"Zack…?"
"Yeah, Nat? "
"I've decided that I'm going to join SOLDIER and I'm leaving for Midgar as soon as possible. "
She was surprised to see that Zack didn't look at all shocked or demand for her to stay.
"I knew that you would eventually make up your mind about whether or not you wanted to leave Gongaga. I could tell something was troubling you and I figured that was the reason for it. "Zack told her, sitting up.
Nat smiled. Zack could be so mature when he wanted to, he always knew what would make her feel better and she loved those moments when he always led her along and helped her.
"When we were younger, do you remember that promise I made you? " Zack asked, once again leaning back on the tree and closing his eyes.
"Yeah. " Nat nodded.
"I told you then that I would never leave your side. And I'm sticking to that promise. I'm going to Midgar with you. "
Nat's eyes widened in shock, she knew Zack's dream was to be a hero and make it into SOLDIER, but she never imagined him leaving home.
" You're serious Zack? You'll come to Midgar with me? "
"I'm completely serious. I'll never abandon you and besides, "He flashed her, his usual sharp-toothed grin. "I have to be there to keep you from doing anything rash. "
They both laughed.
"Thanks Zack. I really appreciate it. I didn't want to go to Midgar alone but I knew that if I wanted to obtain my dreams, then I have to start trying, you know? "
Zack nodded.
" …. Have you told your parents yet? "
Nat shook her head.
" No. Not yet. …. I don't know how they'll react. "
Zack sat up and moved over to sit next to her, he put his arm around her shoulders.
" Don't worry. I'll be there with you. "
Nat smiled and threw her arms around him, giving him a large hug.
" You're the best Zack! "She cried. Zack laughed, his cheeks going red.
The two of them sat like that for a while, Zack with his arm protectively around her.
Zack sighed.
"We should probably get back. Our parents won't be too happy if we get back after supper. "
"Oh! That's right; I told Susan we'd be back before supper. "Nat exclaimed in surprise, she was so focused on telling Zack that she was going to Midgar that she had forgotten all about it.
Zack laughed and slowly climbed down the tree. Once he was safely on the ground, Nat descended down the tree too. She had a close call; her hands slipping, but she managed to catch herself and regain her footing again.
When she was about two feet off the ground she jumped the remainder of the tree and landed on the ground, throwing up a small cloud of dust.
Zack frowned and took her hands, which were bleeding.
"What did you do? " He asked.
"When I slipped, the bark scratched up my hands. It's no big deal though. "She shrugged it off.
" You are so stubborn sometimes. "Zack grinned.
" And that's why ya' love me. "She said with a sheepish grin, putting her arm around Zack's shoulders.
Zack laughed.
"Hey, wanna have a race back to the river? " Nat asked with a confident grin.
"You're on! " Zack laughed and the two of them took off through the woods, flying past all the trees and pushing past all the briars.
Zack was so far in the lead, but tripped over a root and, after making sure he was okay, Nat ran past him and got to the river first.
Zack ran up behind her a few seconds later, panting with a large smirk on his face.
"I would've beaten you. "
Nat snorted.
"Huh. If that root would've appeared out of nowhere, you would have. "She grinned at him. Zack had an evil gleam in his eye.
"Oh uh. " Nat muttered.
Zack tackled her to the ground and the two wrestled, throwing up dust and scaring a pair of crows that were resting in a nearby tree.
They both lie panting and out of breath, though grinning from ear to ear.
"Come on, Zack. We should really get home now, before my mom freaks out on us. "Nat said jumping up. Zack jumped up too and gestured towards the river.
"You wanna go first? " He panted.
Nat shrugged.
"Sure. Why not? "
She took off at a run and soared over the river with ease, luckily landing on the bank with no trouble.
Zack clapped and jumped over too, landing perfectly.
They walked the dirt road towards Nat's house, talking about how they were going to explain to their parents their decision.
Nat took a deep breath once they reached her house.
"We'll tell them after dinner okay? " Zack told her.
Nat nodded.
"Alright…. "She said quietly.
" Dad! Susan! We're back! "She called as she opened the door, the house strangely dark.
Her step mom, Susan, startled them by flipping on the lights.
"Whoa! " Zack cried jumping back a little bit.
"Do you know how late you are? You said you'd be home by supper and it almost thirty minutes after! "Susan yelled.
Nat flinched and looked at Zack.
Well, this isn't going to help explaining our decision to them. Their eyes both said.
"And what did you do to your hands? Look at the two of you! You're filthy! "
Nat felt like crawling into a little hole and burying herself. Ugh, her step mom was so annoying! Didn't she know anything about kids? They wanted to get dirty.
"Sorry Susan. We'll go wash up. "
"You better! And hurry, your father is at the table waiting for you two! "
Zack and Nat ran up the stairs, feeling ashamed.
When they got up to the bathroom to wash off their hands and faces, Nat would have lost it if it weren't for Zack.
"I swear she's so….ugh! She's another reason why I want to go to Midgar! "
"I definitely liked your real mom better. I still don't know why your dad would want someone like Susan instead of your mom. She rocked. Remember when she used to make us those individual Dumbapple pies? "
Nat smiled.
" Yeah. I haven't seen her since she and Dad got divorced, it's been four months and I've only gotten a few letters but she hasn't called or anything. "
" Maybe once your in SOLDIER you can visit her whenever you want and you won't have to deal with your Dad not letting you go. " Zack suggested, wiping the mud off his face with a washcloth.
"Yeah. You ready? "
Zack nodded.
" Yup. Let's go eat! Whoop! "Zack cried racing down the stairs. Nat laughed and ran after him, sliding into the seat beside him. Zack rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"What's for supper? I'm starving! "He exclaimed. Nat laughed again.
Her Dad smiled over the paper he was reading.
"How was your day you two? "
" Hmmm…..well we fell into the river and in the mud. Watched the sunset, wrestled and ran back home. I'd say it was awesome. "Nat grinned at her Dad. She definitely liked her Dad more than Susan, at least he cared.
Susan brought out dinner and they ate in silence after that.
Nat felt her stomach clenching into knots every time she thought about telling her father their decision.
Dinner was over way to fast for her and it was time to tell her father.
She took a deep breath and with a nod from Zack, she started.
"Dad. We need to tell you something. "She said to get her father's attention. It worked.
She closed her eyes, nervously, but found the strength to go on when Zack placed his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm leaving for Midgar to become SOLDIER. " She told him her tone of voice leaving no refusal.
Her father and Susan were shocked.
"What? You know they don't allow woman to become SOLDIER, let alone a fourteen-year-old girl that can't even do her chores without messing them up! "Susan cried, her comments igniting a spark of fury within Zack.
He stood up quickly, nearly pushing his chair to the floor and glared at Susan.
"I don't believe she was asking your opinion. " He said in a dangerously low tone. Nat's eyes widened, was this, her Zack? He had never lost his anger this bad before.
" If Nat wants to be in SOLDIER, than that's her choice, not yours. You aren't even her real mother, you don't have a decision in the matter…" Zack continued, ignoring the shocked stares he received from Nat, Susan and her father.
Susan lost her temper too and stood up, successfully knocking down her chair.
"I don't believe I need a boy telling me how to run my family! "
" Nat isn't your family! She's family by law, not blood! It's her father's decision on whether or not he accepts her leaving, not yours.
" Susan! Zack! Sit down! "Her father yelled. Susan sat but Zack hesitated a moment before he too sat down. Nat put a comforting hand on Zack's shoulder.
Her Father looked at them.
"Natalie, are you sure that this is what you want? "
" Yes. I'm sure. "
Her Father sighed and put his head in his hands.
" Sir, I'm going too, so I'll protect Nat to the best of my abilities – "
"Which isn't very impressive. "Susan muttered. Nat glared at her. Zack pretended to ignore her comment.
"And I'll do whatever I can to make sure that she's safe at all times. "
" Zack, thank you. But I'll have to discuss this with Diane. "He said, naming Nat's real mother.
" I'm going, with or without yours or Mom's approval. "Nat said, scowling. "We're leaving for Midgar as soon as possible, long enough for us to say our goodbyes. "
Her father sighed.
" Nat I don't ….. I guess I can't stop you from following your dreams. At least call your mother and tell her your decision. "
Nat's eyes brightened and she hugged Zack.
" Yes! We did it Zack! "She cried. Zack laughed. They both ran for the nearest cell phone to call.
Nat's mother was harder to convince than her father. She didn't want her daughter becoming a SOLDIER, facing all the dangers the SOLDIER unit were put through, along with the operations and other risks she could take. But with Zack's help, Nat convinced her that she would be safe and reminded her that, with training, she would be able to protect herself.
When her mother finally agreed, Zack ran up the stairs along side Nat to help her pack, a goofy grin on his face.
…
The next day found them sitting in the back of an old pick up truck on there way to Midgar.
"Can you believe it Nat? We're finally going to Midgar! "Zack cried looking like a kid in a candy shop.
" I know! It's so exciting that we'll finally get our chance to become SOLDIER! "
Neither one of them could stop smiling.
They didn't speak for a while, letting their smiles speak for themselves, both of them fidgeting, eager to get to their destination.
Zack was the first to break through the silence.
" Hey, Nat, what's your dream? You've mentioned that you had one, just never actually told me what it was. "
"It sounds foolish and all but….I want to be the first ever female SOLDIER. And to be a hero, like you want. There would be nothing cooler than to know that you helped, and probably saved, many lives... "
Zack smiled.
" That doesn't sound foolish it sounds like a wonderful dream. "