"Dang, another chapter so fast?" Roxas seemed mildly impressed.
"Yep. I just got so motivated." JAM explained. He then turned his attention to the readers. "Alright, here's chapter two of Force of Destiny. I'll be doing the disclaimer this time."
"Really?" Kairi asked.
"Mm-hmm. Anyway, I don't own anything and I never will. Wish I did, though…" JAM thought about what he would do if he did own it. He then shook his thoughts aside. "Anyway, here's the next chapter."
Chapter 2: Reminiscing
Aerith sat down right in front of the grave marker, not caring if her dress got dirt on it. Her walk down memory lane had filled her heart with warmth yet also filled it with sadness. Zack was her first love and she had never forgotten about all the times they shared together. She giggled as she remembered the time while they were trying to sell some of her flowers to make Traverse Town look a bit livelier.
Flashback:
"Do you think we'll sell a lot of flowers?" Aerith asked him as they set up shop in the neighborhood playground.
They had gone with the most bizarre looking of the wagons that day to see how popular it was. Zack had enjoyed building this one more than the other ones as it looked the coolest to him. Aerith was a bit skeptical but chose not to ruin Zack's optimistic spirit and so kept quiet.
"Yeah, it's really cute! I like it." Zack told her, too excited to see how it didn't fit that description. It looked for futuristic than anything else.
Suddenly, a man in a lab coat entered the playground, seeming fascinated by the wagon as he walked forward to them.
"What is this!" He asked with his head cocked in curiosity. "I've never seen a model like this before! Is it a new weapon?" The man asked excitedly.
Zack stepped back in shock at the man's comment. "No!" He yelled. "It's a flower wagon! Can't you tell?" Zack motioned for the man to look at the wagon again.
Trying to stop the conversation before it got out of hand, Aerith spoke up. "Would you like to buy a flower?"
"No…" The researcher responded, but he was still looking at the wagon. Zack caught sight of this.
"What are you staring at…?" Zack asked.
The man turned to face Zack directly, returning to his eager self. "Could you sell me this vehicle for 10,000 munny?" He offered. "I may be able to convert it into a powerful weapon." The man explained.
"No deal!" Zack turned down the offer. "I made this wagon from scratch for Aerith! You can't put a price on something like that!" Zack said passionately.
Aerith adopted a thinking pose. "Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to fill our wallets full of money first…" The whole reason for the flower wagon and its content was to earn more money. It had been Zack's idea after all…
Seeing Zack's disappointed face, Aerith broke out of her thinking pose and broke into a grin. "Hehe…I'm kidding, silly!" Aerith giggled at how gullible her boyfriend was.
This response pleased Zack as he let out a sigh and lowered his tense shoulders. "Okay, buddy, if you're not buying, then move along!" Zack told the researcher. The man turned on his heel and left after that. "Some people…" Zack muttered.
Just then Zack and Aerith turned at hearing voices approaching. "This is where it was sighted." They heard one of the men say as they entered the vicinity.
Three infantrymen rushed inside the playground. "Unidentified weapon sighted! Preparing to engage!" The man in front ordered the other two. This caused Zack to become exasperated.
"Oh, come on! It's just as flower wagon!" Zack told them.
The men looked at the object over a bit before the man in front turned to look at his two companions. "Looks like a false alarm men! Alright, let's get back to headquarters." The men instructed them before all three men walked out of sight of Zack and Aerith.
Zack's torso fell forward to where he was staring down at the ground, arms sagging in defeat. He felt crestfallen and disappointed that all the flower wagon seemed to attract was trouble. He was about to apologize to Aerith for messing things up again before he felt two arms surround him. He stood straight when he felt Aerith nuzzled her head on his back. He blushed a bit when she did.
"Don't worry, Zack. What matters is that we had fun today." She told him, trying to raise his spirits.
He still felt a bit sad as he maneuvered them to where her head was now placed on his chest and he put his arms around her small waist while his chin rested on top of her brown locks. "Yeah, but, I disappointed you, Aerith."
Aerith looked up into his eyes when he said that. Green met sparkling blue as she shook her head. "Don't say that. You could never disappoint me." What she said came from her heart. "Besides, I quite like the wagon you made; even if it isn't as cute as the other two." She told him, smiling sweetly to show she was playing around.
Zack's face broke into a grin as he chuckled at her personality. Then, his smile turned into a smirk. Aerith looked at him quizzically before she let out a squeak as she was hoisted into the air and was supported by two strong arms that held her bridal style. She buried her face in his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck so she wouldn't fall.
"Zack! Stop!" She said but her voice was laced in laughter as she talked. "People are watching." Sure enough, they had drawn a crowd of little kids that were watching them from the monkey bars. Zack didn't relent as he used his unoccupied arm to wave at them.
After a while, Zack finally set Aerith down right next to the wagon, his hands still holding onto her hips while her arms were still around his neck. Their faces were only a couple of centimeters from one another. From a couple of feet away, they heard the kids yell out comments at them.
"Kiss, kiss, kiss!" A little girl in a white dress said.
Staring into each other's eyes, Zack and Aerith relayed their undying love for the other. Zack leaned forward as his eyelids shut closed. Aerith reciprocated the action and everything seemed to go in slow motion. After what seemed like eternity both of their lips met together in a gentle kiss; it was a kiss with a touch of gentleness, providing a very sweet, comforting, assuring feeling. Their lips moved with one another while trying to make this last as they wouldn't be able to see one another for a while.
"EW! That's gross!" An eight-year-old boy said, sticking out his tongue in distaste. The other girl bopped him upside the head for saying such a thing and the boy apologized to save his young life.
After a while, both parted from their sweet act as they needed to refill their lungs with oxygen. They stood breathless as they sucked in great gulps of air. Zack was about to kiss her again when he heard giggling coming from the jungle gym. He turned around to see the intent faces of 5 eight-year-olds. Aerith saw them, too, and broke away from their embrace, blushing at having an audience. Zack rubbed the back of his neck in slight embarrassment.
The crowd of kids all uttered the exact same phrase. "Ooohhh…" They said as they leaned forward to take a closer look. This caused Zack to smirk at the little kids.
"Don't you know it's not polite to stare?" He asked them before he started advancing on the kids. "Guess I'll have to get my friend to teach you all a lesson." He then raised his hands in the air and wiggled his fingers. "Prepare to face the wrath of the tickle monster!" He yelled as he ran towards the small children.
The kids screamed in delight as they scattered to avoid the wrath of the tickle monster. Zack was chuckling as he chased after his 'victims'. Aerith couldn't help but admire how great with kids Zack was. She was sure that he would make a wonderful father one day. She blushed as she imagined herself right beside him as he taught a young Zack to ride a bike and fail miserably at fixing their daughter's hair.
She was brought back to the present when she heard Zack chuckle behind her. Turning around she came face to face with her worst nightmare; Zack approaching her with full intent of tickling her. She was extremely ticklish and so she wouldn't have to face the torture, took a step back every time he took one forward.
"I'm warning you, Zack. Don't get any closer." She said as she kept on backing away. She was about to make a run for it when her back met the wall of the jungle gym. She looked around and saw that she had nowhere to go. She looked back at Zack and gulped as she embraced her destiny.
When Zack's fingers wiggled against her stomach, she couldn't control her actions as she erupted into full blown laughter. Zack smiled as he moved his hands over her stomach and to her ribs. It seemed that her sides were far more sensitive because her laughs increased in magnitude and volume.
After a couple of minutes have passed, Zack pulled his fingers away from her body to let her catch her breath. She was still letting out giggles as she regulated her breathing before she turned her head away from him and walked toward the flower cart. Zack followed after her to try and calm her down.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't help myself." He tried to explain himself but Aerith chose to ignore him, although she trouble keeping a frown on her face when he started fumbling on his words. "Oh, come on, Aerith. I was just having a little fun, is all." He whined.
Aerith, who had been pushing the cart along, stopped and turned to give him a glare that chilled him to the bone. "You know how ticklish I am, yet you still did it, and you expect me to forgive you?" He winced a little.
Suddenly, Aerith's glare turned into a smile as she turned back around to grab hold of the wagon. "Well, I guess I could forgive you, if you move the cart for me." She told him and barely had time to blink before the wagon was released from her grip and Zack was three feet away.
"Well, shall we get going, then?" He asked her as he impatiently rocked on his feet. The actions made her think of a puppy wanting to go out and run around the yard. She giggled as she followed after him.
They had to hurry so they could have a little bit more time to themselves before he had to go away on a mission again. Neither knew that that would be the last time they saw each other again.
End Flashback:
She had always joked that the carts he made weren't cute enough or that she wanted a nicer one. She had only said those things to spend more time with him. She'd actually loved all the hard work and dedication he had put into making them, just for her. In fact, she still had every single one of the wagons he had made for her. She had moved them from the church in Traverse Town and put them in her cottage.
Looking at the large sword, Aerith was reminded that it had taken another master after Zack's death. This one being a man who had the hair of a Chocobo; hence the nickname Yuffie had dubbed him with, Chocobo-Head. She remembered the first time they met. In fact, it was Zack who had introduced them, way back then.
Flashback:
"Honey, I'm home!" Aerith heard the distinct sound of Zack's voice ring around the church. "And I brought someone to help sell the flowers." He continued. This caught her curiosity as she stood up from her spot near the flowers and turned to see two men entering her sanctuary.
The one on the left was obviously Zack, the large sword on his back and the crazy hairstyle proved it, but the other was someone she'd never seen before. He was wearing blue clothing that had several belts and straps hooked on it and a green-grey piece of cloth around the collar. Around his right shoulder he had a strap that carried his gun. From where she was, she could tell that his eyes were a light blue shade and seemed to glow a bit; not as much as Zack's, though. His golden hair was spiked up and reminded her of a Chocobo's fur. She giggled a bit as she made that connection.
"Hey, Zack." She said as she walked over to the two. "I was wondering when you would come over."
The statement caused Zack to rub the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Aerith. I meant to come sooner but work kept us longer than we thought it would. But that's why I brought my friend here." He then motioned for his friend to step forward.
"And who's your friend?" Aerith asked.
The spiky-haired blond extended his right arm, palm stretched out for Aerith to take. "Hi, my name is Cloud. It's nice to meet you."
Aerith smiled as she raised her own arm and grabbed a hold of his extended hand. "I'm Aerith." She said as she proceeded to shake his hand. After a couple of shakes, their hands separated. She then turned around and walked over to the back of the church. "So, shall we get started?" She asked over her shoulder.
"We'll be right there." Zack called out to her and her nod in response before she went to get the flower wagons. When she was gone, Zack turned around to stare at Cloud.
"So, was I right?" Zack asked his best friend, trying to be as quiet as possible.
Cloud nodded his head as he whispered his response. "You were right, Zack. She is an angel and you're lucky to have her." This caused Zack to be filled with pride but pushed that feeling aside as he saw his friend frowning slightly.
"Aw, don't worry, Cloud. Soon you'll join SOLDIER and then Tifa will be all over you." Zack elbowed his friend while winking. Just thinking of his childhood friend made him blush; he's had a crush on her ever since they were children. Zack started laughing at seeing Cloud turn into a tomato.
"I'm back!" Both men heard Aerith say as she entered the room with the 'cute' cart as she dubbed it. Out of the three, this one seemed to attract more customers.
"Great!" Zack said as he took the wagon from his girlfriend. "So, shall we go?" He asked her.
"Sure! Let me just—Shoot!" Aerith said as she reached inside her pocket. Zack and Cloud grew confused when she frantically patted her dress.
"What's wrong?" Zack asked.
"I must've left the church key in the back room." She said as she frowned. She then looked up at her boyfriend with a puppy dog face. "Zack, be a dear and get them for me."
"Sure. I'll be right back." He told them as he disappeared into the back room. When he was out of sight, Aerith turned to the spiky-haired teen.
"So, are you a SOLDIER like Zack?" She asked as she tried to start a conversation.
"No, I'm just an infantryman. But I've worked with him on some occasions." He told her how it was his dream to join SOLDIER to keep a promise he made to a friend of his named Tifa. When he was done, he saw that Aerith was swooning a bit.
"What a romantic story!" Aerith gushed as she clasped her hands together in front of her. Cloud blushed at her insinuations. Just then Aerith broke out of her fangirl mode to stare down at the ground.
"Hey, Cloud." Aerith's voice seemed a bit sad as she talked causing Cloud to tilt his head in curiosity. "May I ask something of you?" She asked.
"Sure, what is it?"
"Can you make sure that Zack stays out of trouble?" Cloud was taken aback at the request. Why would someone as big and strong as Zack need someone like him to take care of him. Seeing his face, Aerith continued. "It's just, I worry about him. I don't know if one day he'll go on a mission and never come back. I couldn't bear it if—." She started crying as she stopped herself.
Cloud was panicking now. He was terrible at dealing with people when they were crying. He tried to calm her down before Zack came back. Who knew what he would think when he saw his girlfriend crying while Cloud was standing there.
"Please don't cry, Aerith." He tried getting through to her. "You don't have to worry about Zack; he can take care of himself. But, if you'd like, I could look after him for you." He said and the motion caused Aerith to stop crying.
"You mean it?" She asked, still sniffling a bit.
"I promise." He reassured her with a smile.
Aerith smiled back at Cloud while using her fingers to get rid of the moisture on her cheeks. "Zack is lucky to have a friend like you." She told him before reaching out and giving the teen a hug of appreciation. Cloud hesitated for a second before bringing his arms up to embrace her back.
Zack chose that very moment to come into the room. "I found them! They were in the—"He stopped himself as he saw the scene that was taking place. "Am I interrupting something?" He asked, casually leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed at his chest.
Cloud and Aerith jumped back from each other as if they've been burned. Both turned to see the emotionless face of Zack staring at them carefully.
"It's not what it looks like!" Cloud started. "She was just thanking me for—"He was interrupted as Zack let out a booming laughter.
"Don't worry, Chocobo-Head. I trust the both of you too much to ever be suspicious of anything." He told them as he left his post and walked over to grab a hold of Aerith's waist and planted a loving kiss upon her lips, which she returned. Cloud stood there feeling awkward at witnessing such a spectacle. They kept that up for a while before Zack pulled back and walked over to the flower cart.
"Ok, let's go sell some flowers!" He screamed enthusiastically as he dashed away with the cart. The other two chuckled as they followed after the SOLDIER. Both had secretly decided to keep their promise a secret so Zack that doesn't believe that they don't trust his strength.
End Flashback:
Cloud had kept his promise to Aerith during the times they were paired together on missions. He viewed Zack as a role model, hero, and even as an older brother. And that's why it hurt him so much when Zack had died before his eyes. They've become the best of friends during their short time together and both Zack and Aerith have viewed him as a younger brother; always protecting him from harm. Yeah, Cloud was actually the youngest of the three.
Thinking of how Cloud behaved now, she wouldn't believe that both Clouds were one in the same. Cloud used to be a shy teen that couldn't help but show emotion all the time, and now he was an enigma, someone who didn't show emotion, and tried with all his might to save those around him.
She remembered vividly their encounter almost 2 years ago when he returned from his long overdue stay at the Olympus Coliseum. At first, Aerith didn't recognize him. But after seeing his unique hairstyle and glowing blue eyes, she had embraced him in a reunion hug. She remembered standing there, hugging him, while he just stood still like a statue. She had asked him what had happened on that mission they had taken and why he was found in Olympus. They were supposed to have gone to take care of some things in a place called Hollow Bastion before returning home. That's when she noticed something.
"Where's Zack?" She had asked and physically felt the man in front of her stiffen at the name. She moved back a bit to look up into his face and then into his eyes. What she saw made her gasp.
His usual glowing eyes seemed dull and hazy as if remembering something painful. His shoulders were tense and he was staring down at the ground, away from her face. She had put two and two together and broken down where she stood. If it wasn't for Cloud's sturdy grip, she would've surely have fallen on the wooden ground. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she cried in mass hysteria. She vaguely heard Cloud muttering apologies in her ears as her heart shattered into a million pieces.
"Whoa." Sora said.
"Yeah, I was surprised, too. I just sat down and wrote this while watching Crisis Core cutscenes." JAM said, looking at his writing.
"When are you going to tell us how he died?" Aerith said as she cleared away the tears from her eyes.
"Next chapter is a flashback to that specific scene." JAM promised her. "Just so everyone knows, I'm changing the death scene from Crisis Core."
"But, why?" Naminé asked.
"Because, I had an awesome idea while watching the Sephiroth/Cloud fight from KH2." Everyone cringed as they saw JAM rubbing his hands together in insane glee.
"Oh my god, I'm afraid." Sora said.
"You better be!" JAM said before bursting into maniacal laughter. A second later, JAM turned to stare at the audience. "Alright, you know the drill. Press the button right below this entry and tell me what you think. I hoped you liked it."