Chapter Two - Regeneration

His task completed, his rage fuelled strength began to fade. His arms grew weaker, the sword suddenly much too heavy to carry. He let it drop with a thud next to the body of his prey, now cold and lifeless on the floor, surrounded by blood. As he staggered back to his friends, he felt a great wave of satisfaction crash over him. The man who had caused the death of so many innocent people had been put to death. His family had been avenged. And his friends were safe.

Zack nodded in respect as he struggled to his feet, now wrapped in bandages, his breathing slowed. His eyes revealed his intense internal conflict, both relieved and distressed. Though the battle was necessary, he had still lost a friend and idol. He had failed in his duty to deal with Sephiroth himself, had lost the battle, and had almost paid for his failure with his life.

"Thanks Cloud. I owe you one. Your girl's safe, just like I promised. She should be coming around soon. Go to her. You're the hero this time, after all."

Cloud breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, reaching up to release the clasps on his helmet and casting it aside, his blonde spiky hair flattened and dripping with sweat from his exertions. He wiped away the worst with his sleeve and knelt beside Tifa, still out cold but in no immediate danger. He moved her back to a more comfortable position, resting her against one of the mako infusion pods, and her eyes slowly flickered open. She looked up at him and blinked a few times, smiling as he came into focus.

"You came to save me, didn't you? Just like you promised." she whispered, her voice weak. He nodded and smiled back.

"Sorry I was a little late."

She gazed longingly into his deep blue eyes and her smile broadened. "You came for me when I was in a pinch. That's all that matters." She winced as she pulled herself up to kiss him softly, smiled, slumped against the pod and closed her eyes, unable to stay awake a moment longer.

Zack stumbled over to join them and began casting his healing spell on her, the shimmering green light surging into her wounds, binding them together. It was still only a temporary measure, she would require a proper medical facility to fully recover, but this would keep her stable for a few hours. Zack's injuries would also require medical attention, but the sheer grit granted to him by his training in Soldier seemed enough to keep him on his feet for now. As Tifa slept, the friends surveyed the scene in the core, silently paying their respects to the man Sephiroth had been before this all began.

Zack reached for his sword, wincing as the pain in his ribs flared, looking upon his fallen comrade. Such a tragic loss, not only to Shinra and Soldier, but the world. Fear of this man had prevented wars that would have cost thousands of lives, put an end to the conflict with Wutai, inspired many young men to join Soldier and protect the innocent. They could only hope that the newscasters honoured the man Sephiroth had been instead of portraying him as nothing more that a psychopathic murderer. Even after a tradegy such as this, he still deserved some honour. Zack reached down and gently brushed his old friend's eyes closed, returning his sword to the straps on his back and turning to leave in silence.

Cloud could understand why his friend was in conflict, but he certainly did not share Zack's desire for things to be different. As far as he was concerned, this man had brutally murdered innocent civilians. Not just strangers either. These people had been his friends, his family, his entire origins, ripped from this world without remorse. It was true he never knew Sephiroth as well as Zack. Firsts tended to keep to themselves, they rarely socialised with the grunts, save for Zack of course. But no legends from his past were enough to balance what Sephiroth had done here today. He was a murderer. Nothing more. Cloud felt no remorse as he turned to leave, only satisfaction. He resolved to keep this feeling to himself, if only for the sake of Zack's feelings, but he knew Tifa would understand. She had lost just as much, her family, her home, her childhood friends, everything. All they had now was each other.

He smiled as he left the core, watching as Shinra medical staff swarmed into the facility to load Tifa onto a stretcher and escort Zack to the helicopters waiting to take them to Midgar. They would be ok. For now that was enough. He took his place by Tifa's side as she was lifted into the medical helicopter, clutching her hand as she slept. She may only have him left, but he would do everything in his power to make sure that was enough.

***

Nobody would have volunteered for this task. Speaking to professor Hojo was never an exciting prospect at the very best of times. Now it was the very worst of times, and a lowly security guard was tasked with informing the professor that Sephiroth had been killed. The legendary hero had just been confirmed dead by field medical teams sent to investigate the Nibelhiem incident. Their reports had just been recieved from the core of the mako reactor, where they confirmed what internal security cameras had shown, the apparantly invincible Sephiroth impaled through the back by the weapon of his comrade Zack Fair, a fellow Soldier.

Information was sketchy for such lowly members of the company as himself, but rumours had begun to spread around that Zack wasn't actually the killer. The rumours said that another lowly guard had taken Zack's sword after the Soldier had been defeated and caught Sephiroth off guard. These rumours were mostly dismissed, after all how could a grunt sneak up on Sephiroth, especially with a weapon like the Buster Sword? Zack was well known for the size of his weapon of choice, most of the security force at least knew of him, if not knew him personally as he alone made the effort to get to know the grunts. No way a grunt could kill a Soldier.

He knocked on professor Hojo's door and stood to attention. How he was ever getting through this meeting was beyond him. As the footsteps beyond the door grew closer, he swallowed his fear and sucked in his chest. The life of the grunt was never easy. But this was the time to show his mettle.

***

The sight of Midgar used to fill Shinra troops with pride. The sight of the immense Shinra Tower rising from the very centre of the city was always a grand reminder of Shinra's achievements, their technical marvels such as the mako reactors powering the city, greatly increasing the quality of life for the citizens of Midgar, bringing peace and stability to thousands.

To feel a part of such an organisation once filled Zack with a sense of purpose. Today it filled him only with sadness. Returning to headquarters as the man rumoured to have killed Sephiroth, a hero to all. Nobody believed that Cloud had dealt the final blow. Perhaps this was for the best. Killing Sephiroth would no doubt attract much unwanted attention from those who had idolised him, his many fan clubs, the Shinra executives. Everyone would want answers, maybe even reprisals for the death of their hero, especially since Shinra would no doubt cover up the truth of Nibelhiem from everyone. At least the general populace would lack the courage to fight a Soldier First Class. Cloud would be torn apart.

Tearing his eyes from the tower, he looked over at Cloud, his uniform singed from the fire but otherwise unharmed, sat by Tifa's stretcher, clutching her hand as she slept. Her injuries were severe but nothing the Shinra medical staff couldn't handle. It would seem she was the girl Cloud had mentioned from time to time, the girl from his village who occupied his thoughts. It was wonderful that he had someone. Pulling his phone from a pocket on his uniform, he found a message waiting for him. It warmed his heart to see it was from his own sweetheart.

'My flowers are getting quite popular. The cart was almost empty coming home this afternoon. Maybe I should set up a store at my church. See you soon!'

She'd signed with a kiss as always, knowing it would make him smile. He had been so caught up in his personal turmoil he had almost forgotten he'd be able to see her again. No matter what happened, he'd survived to spend another day with her. She would make everything alright again. She always did.

***

The medical staff had been ready and waiting on the helipads for thier arrival, rushing Tifa off to the most advanced facilities in the world, with Cloud refusing to leave her side of course, insisting that he would report for a medical exam as soon as he knew she was safe. Zack slowly made his way towards his own medical support, his legs still uneasy. He could see his friends Tseng and Cissnei across the pad, members of the Turks he had worked with before, waiting to see him arrive safely home. Cissnei waved sweetly at him, her long crimson hair whipping wildly in the winds that buffetted the tower, with Tseng opting for a simple nod. After all that had happened, it was good to know he still had friends.

The medics scanned him fully and decided that his natural regenerative abilities, already enhanced by his mako infusion as a member of Soldier, would be enough for a good recovery. They instructed him to rest and relax, insisting they would put in an order for some well earned vacation time to his superiors. As they left for the medical wing, Zack looked back to see the second chopper arrive, and the president had come down to meet it personally. No doubt it carried Sephiroth's body. No doubt he was to be given a hero's funeral.

***