Howl at the Midgar Moon
Chapter 3
"Damn man! Wow… I can't believe that…fuckin Shinra!" Kunsel said as he punched the table forcing the drinks to wobble.
"I know man, I still can't believe it. I wasted so much time for that fucking company! And…after all my dedication to Shinra…I think I lost the one thing that matters most to me…"Zack said holding back tears as he downed the rest of his golden liquid in his glass.
"Zack…I hate to be corny, but love always finds a way. Just be patient. " Kunsel said as he poured Zack more whiskey.
"Yeah that's true…love finds away…but what if love isn't looking…what if love things you're gone?" Zack said as tears began to fall from his eyes.
Kunsel looked at his friend; he couldn't believe what he was seeing before him. The man he looked up to, the strongest man he had ever know was falling apart before him. "Hey Zack, I have something for you. I stole it from Shinra on my last day of work. I was hoping to give it to you once I saw you. I thought it would help you fight off Shinra once you got home. I stole it from the tech department, I think Scarlet was going to use it as a power source for some machine. " Kunsel said as he began to go through his closet.
"You never did believe I was dead did yah buddy?" Zack said as he was getting excited for his gift. He couldn't remember the last gift he had gotten.
"Nope not for a second… ah! There it is!" Kunsel said as he pulled out the sword and handed it to Zack.
Zack's eyes widened as he looked at the large dark blade. It wasn't nearly as large as his buster sword which Cloud currently carried. He could feel the sword pulsing with great energy. Zack got a huge grin on his face once he held it in his battle stance. "Wow! Kunsel you are the mother fuckin man! Damn dude! What the hell was Shinra doing with a blade like this?" Zack asked.
"Well from what I overheard days before I left , it was some kind of Ancient weapon. You know like those people who once lived on the planet…not like it's ancient hahaha! But Hojo really wanted it, he believed that the weapons true potential would only be unlocked by an actual Ancient, so your shit out of luck there buddy. Just be careful with it, the sword pulses with power. Crap! I forgot what it was called! Um… I got it! Ragnarok! Yep that's it!" Kunsel said with pride.
"Ragnarok…well it's nice to meet you, I'll have to introduce you to some of my monster friends hahahah!" Zack said with a chuckle.
"Did you really just say that? I'm regretting giving you the sword now…weirdo!" Kunsel said as he joked.
"Aw come on! I'm just excited! Now I just need to replace these shitty Shinra armor and I'll be set for battle." Zack said as he yawned.
"I guess you should get your rest before you head out in the morning…hey why don't you take my cell phone! That way we could stay in touch!" Kunsel jolted.
"Um'''if you wana…sure!" Zack said uneasy about taking his friends phone.
Kunsel handed Zack his phone and his charger with a huge smile.
"Thanks buddy…"Zack said as he hugged his friend.
Zack stayed for another hour before he headed to his room to get some sleep before he headed out in the morning.
LINE_
The next day Zack drove his bike straight to the lift that would take him to Rufus's boat. He knew that, it would be the only logical place for his friends to go. 'They have no transportation, so you'd thing that they would hop on this big old thing.' Zack thought to himself.
Zack entered the boat without anyone stopping him, he had the perfect disguise. He was dressed in a Shinra uniform, and he was in Shinra territory. "I see you disguise is working well…Zack" A cold deep voice said from the dark of the haul of the boat.
"Sephiroth? Is that you?"Zack asked.
"Who else would it be friend?" Sephiroth replied.
Zack cringed at the sound of 'friend' from Sephiroth's mouth. "What do you want?" Zack asked with bitterness in his voice.
"Same as you…I just want a ride." Sephiroth said with a chuckle.
"I'm here to meet up with my friends!" Zack shouted.
"Friends…I thought I was your friend? HAHHAHA! I may be more of a friend to you than you think once you see what your friends are doing upstairs on the deck….And wasn't one of your friends that girl…the one that left you to rot? If it wasn't for me you would still be Hoko's pet." Sephiroth said.
"I see what your trying to do Sephiroth… I'm not going to join you in whatever the hell you're up to." Zack shouted.
"Me? Up to something…My how that hurts. I'm just trying to get home myself Zack. " Sephiroth said with a smile.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't know that." Zack replied.
"It is fine, you are forgiven, that is what friends do. Now why don't we venture upstairs shall we? Here put this on. I wouldn't want Shinra to recognize you." Sephiroth said with a grin as he threw Zack a SOLDIER helmet.
"What about you? Won't someone recognize you?" Zack asked.
In a blink of an eye, Sephiroth transformed into a sailor with brown hair and blue eyes. "Does that answer your question? Now let us go up to the deck shall we?" Sephiroth said as he motioned to the stair case.
LINE_
"Come on guys ! There's the boat! Everyone put their uniforms on right?" Tifa asked the group as she pointed to the large ship.
"Hehehe yeah, but Barret doesn't fit in his!" Aerith said as pointed at Barret.
Everyone in the group burst into a laugh. But it was short lived as Rufus made his way towards the boat.
"Everyone get in the boat and blend in! Anyone asks you for i.d you say you left it in the Haul, and then take them out. Got it?" Cloud said as the group ran into the boat.
Everyone spread out throughout the boat and did their best to blend in with the crew. Cloud and Aerith went to the deck above. Aerith walked over to the edge and looked out to the sea, as the boat began to push off from the shore. Aerith enjoyed the look of the sea, but she felt a tug in her chest. 'Zack you promised me that we would see the world together. But now I'm seeing the world with him…what should I do… ugh!' Aerith said to herself.
She felt a pair of arms go around her shoulders. Her heart stopped, she prayed to god it was Zack by some miracle. She turned to see Cloud with his arms around her. "Hey you looked like you could use a hug. Everything ok?" Cloud asked with a smile.
"Yeah everything's fine. Just the ocean brings back some memories you know?" Aerith said with a giggle.
"Yeah I know what you mean. But, remember that I am here for you and I always will be." Cloud said with a big smile.
Aerith felt her heart pound; she loved that look on his face. She had been hurting so much lately, she needed this. Aerith moved her face closer to Cloud's. Her lips touched his softly. Cloud returned her kiss with one of his own. Their kiss got deeper as Cloud pulled Aerith closer to his body. The kiss was delicate but passionate. It was short lived as Aerith pulled away. Her eyes were locked with Cloud's. 'He has the same eyes, he's cute hehehe' Aerith thought to herself.
"We should head down to the haul, and get our stuff together before we head out. Aerith remember, I will always be here when you need me." Cloud said as he turned to go down the stairs.
Aerith felt her face get red and joy filled her heart. She ran after Cloud to go down with him to the haul.
LINE_
Zack stood on the upper deck looking down at the lower deck. He leaned against the rail and watched all the sailors. Sephiroth stood next to him with a smug grin on his face. Zack just ignored it. He watched as a familiar face walk towards the rail. "Aerith! She's going to be so glad to see me!" Zack said as he turned to run to her. He was stopped as he felt a hand on his arm.
"Watch." Sephiroth simply said.
Zack turned and looked down at the lower level where Aerith was standing. He watched as a guard walked up to Aerith with blond hair. He wrapped his arms around her lovingly. Zack felt his heart break into a thousand pieces. His eyes began to swell with tear. He continued to watch the scene unfold. Zack's fist began to clinch hard, as his watched Aerith lean in and kiss the man on the lips. He felt a warm sticky liquid fall from his hands as he recognized the man who she was kissing. "Cloud…" Zack said as he looked at his bleeding hands.
"Oh, I am sorry you had to see that. I only wanted you to see where Rufus Shinra was sitting. I thought we could…take him out…and enjoy our freedom. I had no idea that was going to happen." Sephiroth said as he put his hands on Zack's shoulders.
"It isn't your fault…it's his fault…he's living my life!" Zack felt pain and anger fill his chest.
"How could he do that to you…you died for him?"Sephiroth said as his green eyes sharpened.
"Let's go down to the haul, and get ready to get off this ship." Zack said as he wiped tears off of his face. He turned and walked down the steps.
LINE_
Zack walked down to the haul and saw Cloud and his group on the other side of the ships haul. He quickly dove and hid behind some large crates. He watched as the group got out of their disguises. Zack felt his heart pound as he saw Aerith. She looked so pretty in her pink dress. He remember the day that he left for Nibleheim, he had asked her to buy a pretty pink dress, he planned on taking her to dinner and asking her to marry him. He felt tears fill his eyes once more, but they were interrupted as he felt a pair of hands on his shoulders.
"I must be going Zack. I have things I need to do. It was good seeing you again, I hope everything works out for you and you catch up with your friends." Sephiroth lied.
'Now, please do my dirty work, slow them down for me. You see mother, I told you he would be of use. Mother you do not have to fight this one, let him do it.' Sephiroth thought to himself.
"You there! Freeze!" Sephiroth yelled as he grabbed Zack by his shirt and threw him out form hiding.
"What the hell!" Zack yelled as he was thrown.
The group turned and looked at Zack, their faces went cold. Zack starred at them and wondered why they were giving him that look. Then it hit him, he was wearing a SOLDIER helmet, his hair was longer than it used to be, and he almost had a beard. He looked like a total different person. 'Shit!' Zack thought to himself.
"Red, take the girls off the ship, Barret you stay with me. He's a SOLDIER first class, he's going to be tough." Cloud said as he drew his sword.
"Cloud…"Tifa said.
"Just go Tifa. We'll be alright. Remember, I'm a SOLDIER first as well, this should be cake. I was second in command remember?" Cloud said reassuringly.
'But Cloud…that wasn't you…it was Zack' Tifa worried. "Just be safe" She said as she ran up the stairs.
The group ran off into the distance and quickly disappeared.
'Sephiroth…what the fuck man!...well maybe this will be nice. I won't hurt them, but I will give Cloud a little bit of my mind…' Zack thought as he smirked. He pulled out his new sword, he looked at the blade, it was dark and had a purple hue to it. The blade was vast, and had an intricate hilt. Zack grinned as he held Ragnarok in his hands. He felt the power in his hands. He put his hand out towards Cloud and Barret and waved at them towards him.
"Bring it!" Zack said with a grin.
"Oh that mother fucker didn't just taunt me! I'm gunna tear his ass apart! Eat this shit fucker!" Barret yelled as he opened fire on the Ex-SOLDIER.
Zack did not move, he simply swung his sword faster than an eye could blink and deflected every bullet away from him. Barret's jaw dropped at the sight of the speed the man had.
"Yo Spikey you sure you're a SOLDIER first? I don't think you could do that!" Barret said.
His eyes widened as he felt sparks flying from his gun hand. He looked to his left as saw a grinning man under a helmet next to him. Barret looked down at his gunhand, it was cut off right before his for his life covered his face, as he felt a blow to his stomach as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. Barret fell to his knees and gasped for air; he collapsed and fell on his chest. Cloud's eyes focused on the dark haired man before him. He gripped his sword tight and prepared for battle.
"You son of a bitch!" Cloud yelled as he jumped into the air. He pulled his sword down with all his might, Zack grinned and stepped to the left dodging Cloud's strike. Cloud was one knee, with his sword on the ground, he looked up at Zack. His eyes were wide, fear filled his heart has he felt a blade at his throat.
"Now…I thought you said you were a SOLDIER first class…you fight LIKE YOU NEVER MADE IT INTO SOLDIER! Now pick up your weapon, and try that move again. That braver or yours was pathetic." Zack yelled as he pulled his sword away from Cloud's throat.
Cloud quickly got to his feet and did two back flips to put distance between him and his enemy. Cloud grinded his teeth and jumped at his enemy once more with his sword high in the air. His sword came down as hard as he could, but his blow was easily parried. Cloud hung in suspension for a brief moment and looked down at the man.
"You see, you have no form what so ever…did you just pick up as sword and decide that you were a SOLDIER?" Zack asked mockingly as he kicked Cloud in the chest sending him sailing through the air. Cloud flew through the air for what felt like minute but was only a mere few seconds. He felt a great pain in his stomach as he opened his eyes. There was the man, with his knee in his stomach.
Cloud fell to the ground hard and made a loud metallic thud as he hit the metal wall. Cloud looked u at the man, and quickly reached for his sword. He stood up quickly and dove towards his opponent. Zack grinned with excitement as he saw the little flare in his friend. Zack griped his sword in his left hand and sprinted towards Cloud. Their swords clashed with great force, and sent each other back a few feet. Cloud jumped towards his rival. He swung his blade as fast and as hard as he could. Each one of his blows were easily blocked.
Zack swung his sword hard at the blond haired man as their swords clashed. The force of his blow sent Cloud sailing through the air. Cloud came to a crashing halt as he crashed into the steel plated wall. He body left a imprint. He fell to his knees and felt blood running down his head. He looked up at his enemy and was prepared for the final blow. He closed his eyes, wincing in fear for his death. But the blow never came.
"You really plan on protecting those girls with this skill…with this strength? You disappoint me Cloud. Get up, get your friend out of here. Keep your guard up at all time you hear me? I better not find out that you let anything happen to those girls…my wrath will be greater than any pain you could ever feel if something did. Now go!" Zack yelled.
Cloud looked up at the man and saw a tear falling from his face underneath his helmet. He grabbed his sword and threw it on his back. He sprinted over to Barret and helped the man to his feet and hurried to follow the others.
LINE_
Zack threw his helmet against the wall with all his might. The helmet shattered into a thousand pieces. "What's wrong with me? He's your fucking friend! You could have killed him!" Zack yelled at himself at the top of his lungs. He felt tears run down his cheeks, he felt his world crashing faster than he could fathom. 'I'm alone…nobody to care about me…they left me…he left me…she…left me…replaced me…' Zack cried to himself.
Zack stood himself up and wiped his tears. "Hold yourself together man… just go meet up with them…just tell them what happened…and join them. Yeah! That's what I'll do!" Zack said as he punched his palm. He began to smile and feel optimistic.
"Ok, let's grab my bik….ugh!" Zack screamed as he fell to his knees holding his head.
"He stole her…are you going to do nothing?"
"Traitor"
"She loved you…but you died for him…and now he stole her from you"
"Kill him!"
"Kill her!"
"Join me on my journey home…to the promise land!"
"Sephiroth… if that's you…get out of my head!" Zack said as tears fell from his eyes. Zack fell to his hands and knees and began to sob.
"I am not…yours to toy with… GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Zack screamed as he felt his arms go numb. He collapsed and passed out.
LINE_
Cloud hobbled out of the large ship with a barely conscious Barret around his shoulder. Everyone turned with a smile as they saw their two friends emerge from the ship. The smiles quickly faded as their faces turned pale.
Everyone sprinted towards the two men as fear filled the group, destroying their morale.
"What the fuck happened!" Tifa asked in a panic.
"He….he…was so strong…" Cloud said as he struggled to breath.
"Aerith go book a room in the inn, we need to spend the night here. Hurry!"Tifa cried out.
Everyone in the town had begun to focus on the scene that was unfolding on the dock. Cloud looked around and knew that the group needed to get out of site instantly. "Guys hurry, let's get in our room, and I will tell you everything there I promise. Let's move." Cloud ordered.
The group scurried to the local inn, and laid Barret down on the bed. Everyone noticed Barret's gun arm had been in very bad shape, it was going to need to be repaired as soon as possible.
"Cloud what happened…" A worried Aerith asked.
We were attacked by that SOLDIER first that you guys saw…but he was amazing...I was no match for him at all. He beat me like he was fighting a child…but that wasn't the weirdest part." Cloud said as he looked down at the ground. Tears began to fall from his eyes He looked down at his hands with a look of shock on his face. His leather gloves were getting wet, and he had no idea why.
"Cloud are you okay? What's wrong?" Aerith asked as she sat next to him and rested her head on his shoulder lovingly.
"Yeah I'm fine…I don't know why I'm crying. It's really odd…I feel like I lost someone…and I found them…like seeing a long lost relative or something. I have no idea to be honest. But I'm ok though!" Cloud said as he smiled at Aerith.
"Cloud can you tell us what's going on please? I'm really nervous." Tifa said trying to break up the flirting that was taking place in fornt of her. She was truly nervous, but the flirting bothered her more.
"Oh well, he was a SOLDIER 1st and he was the most powerful fighter I have ever seen. when I was in SOLDIER I had seen some great fighters in my day…but he was bar-none the best I have ever faced." Cloud began.
"Can you remember what he looked like? Do you think he is something to worry about?" Red had asked.
"Well, remembering what he looked like is kind of hard to describe. He was wearing a helmet so I couldn't see his face. But he did have long black hair…it went down to the middle of his back and he had a scruffy beard." Cloud said.
"Is that all you can remember? And do you think he is dangerous…do you think Shinra is sending their best man to bring us in?" Red asked another question. He was getting annoyed with Cloud lately. He hadn't been focusing on the mission at hand and seemed to be more interested in Aerith.
"…..He did have a scar on his jaw bone. I only remember it because his beard wouldn't grow on it, so t kind of stood out. And to answer your question I don't think he will be a problem. He was too strong to be a member of SOLDIER. He was on Sephiroth's level. But this is where things got weird." Cloud said as he felt his tears flowing from his eyes.
"What do you mean weird…" Tifa asked as she had tears in her eyes. Everyone was to nervous and too into the conversation to notice her tears.
"He knew my name…" Cloud began.
"Well you said yourself that you were a famous member of SOLDIER second only to the great Sephiroth. So I'm sure everyone in SOLDIER knew who you were." Red said.
'But Cloud…you weren't in SOLDIER…could it really be him… It sounds like him…but it can't be. Stop it Tifa…you just want it to be him…you don't want the guilt of leaving him there….' Tifa thought to himself.
"Good point Red, but that doesn't explain why else it was weird. He told me to make sure that I protect the girls…and if anything happened to them, that he would hunt me down and kill me." Cloud said looking at the floor searching for answerers.
"Girls do you know anyone in SOLDIER?" Red asked the women.
"No…" both the girls lied.
"That is interesting, well it seems like he isn't going to be a problem. We should rest, and head out in the morning." Red said as he walked over to the corner of the room to find a place to lay down.
"Agreed." Cloud said.
LINE_
Zack opened his eyes and slowly got to his feet. He took in his surroundings and noticed no one was on the ship. His eyes widened as he saw the carnage that surrounded him. All the Shinra employees had been killed and lay dead. Zack ran up to one of the dead sailors and feared it was his doing. His fear was quickly relieved as he noticed the wound could have been from not other than Sephiroth.
Fear filled his heart and he ran throughout the ship searching for the bodies of his friends. Tears began to pour from his eyes as he imagined the bodies of Aerith lying cold in a pool of her own blood. Zack searched high and low and did not find his friends anywhere on the ship. Zack felt relief overwhelm him; he looked down at his phone to check the time. "Shit! It's 11:30 already! Crap…you know it really blows to be me sometimes… I better hurry and try to catch up with them!" Zack said as he sprinted towards his bike.
He opened the hatch door to the rear of the boat. Zack waited impatiently as the door slowly opened. He tapped his foot repetitively as he sat on his bike waiting to shoot out into the night. The door finally opened and Zack revved the engine and drove as fast as he could into the night.
LINE_
Zack finally had to stop for the night, and decided to make camp near a small stream. He quickly started a fire and laid in the grass and looked in the sky. The stars were out and the sky was clear. Zack smiled as he felt relaxed for the first time in a long time. "Wow has it really been that long since I relaxed?" Zack said aloud as he thought of before he left for Nibleheim. He remembered Aerith laying next to him as they went on their picnic outside of Midgar. She had laid on his chest and nestled in to his neck. Zack felt sadness over run his heart…"Aerith is probably sharing a bed with him right now…" Zack said as he rolled over and felt tears run down his face.
"Come on now man hold your shit together…you got shit you need to think about. Matters of the heart can wait." Zack said to the stars.
'Cloud…I hope you realize what you're doing. You walk around pretending to be a SOLDIER but you fight like a cadet. I'm sorry friend…but you suck. Your form was horrible; your attacks were predictable and sloppy. You're going to get yourself and the others killed if you continue…what if you had to fight a powerful opponent? 'Zack said as he let out a deep sigh.
'I know you're out there somewhere Sephiroth. Every bone in my body is telling me that you're up to something…but you've been my friend…like the old Sephiroth I used to know…how the hell did things get so fucked up so fast! One minute I'm alive, the next I'm Shinra lab rat. I survive all that shit just to go down fighting against the army…. You've got to kidding me… then I lose the love of my life to my best friend…kill me now god…what could I possibly have survived this shit for? I would have been easier being dead. ' Zack thought as his mind began to drift to Aerith. He couldn't help it, he loved her and she was the reason he was alive now.
'Aerith…I fought off death once for you. Once I finally broke free…I find you with another man…I don't want to imagine what you're doing with him now… I think I rather have stayed dead." Zack said as he began to cry.
LINE_
Zack opened his eyes, his vision slowly came into focus. He looked up at a wooden roof, his eyes began to burn. Sun poured from a large hole in the roof. His back was pulsing in pain, and his head felt extremely foggy. 'What happened? Am I dead?' He thought to himself as he slowly began to stir.
"Hello? Hello? Heelllooo!" A voice rang from above.
"Are you an angel? Is this heaven?" Zack said as he struggled to see the figure above him. The light from above was blinding, and made it nearly impossible to see.
"No silly, this is the church in the slums." The voice said.
Zack's heart began to pound, it was the most beautiful voice he had ever heard. 'Please be hot please be hot! For the love of…'Zack said to himself as he focused on the women.
"…god…she beautiful." Zack said softly.
"What was that?" The girl asked.
"Oh, um…nothing…How did I get here?" Zack asked as he rubbed his back.
"You fell from up there? It was kind of scary. I was just minding my own business, and BLAM! You came crashing down! And you killed some of my flowers! You brute!" The girl said as she folded her arms and pretended to be mad.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt your flowers!" Zack said as he stood up in a jolt.
"I guess it's alright…just this one time. Your safety is a little more important than my flowers. But just a little!" The women said as she made a gesture with her hands to show a small amount.
"Hehe thanks…I guess. I'm Zack by the way." He said as he held his hand out to shake hers.
"Nice to meet you Zack. I'm Aerith." She said as her tiny cold hand met Zack's large hand.
"Man I really made a mess…I need to make it up to you." Zack said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Nah, it's ok. I'm just glad you're ok." Aerith said as she began to blush.
Zack saw her blush and decided to be bold. "How about I make it up to you…I'll take you out on a date!"
"What…it's not nice to mock me." Aerith said as she hung her head low.
"I'm not kidding! I would love to take you out, just once. You don't like it, I'll take you home. How does that sound?" Zack said with a smile.
The girl looked at him as she felt her face get bright red. She never had any boys ever look at her, especially one as cute as him. "Ok, but just one!" She said with a smile.
Zack smiled as he continued to dream. He felt happiness fill him for the first time in a long time.
Zack stood in Aerith's kitchen as he tied a smock to his back. It was the first time Aerith's mother had left the two of them alone in the house. Elmyra had decided to take a trip to visit her step sister in Kalm for the afternoon.
"Are you ready to cook those brownies!" Aerith said with a huge smile on her face. He walked over to the man with raven spikes and hugged him tightly.
"I'm ready but I'm not exactly the world's greatest cook."Zack said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"I thought you SOLDIERs were good at everything!" Aerith said as she rested his head shoulder.
"Not all of us SOLDIERs are good at everything…I on the other hand am!...except cooking!"Zack said with a grin.
Aerith let out a grin as she handed Zack 3 eggs as she began to grind chocolate bars into powder. "Here I'm sure you can manage the eggs. Hehehe!" Aerith said as she giggled.
"Oh hush! I can handle the eggs! You're so mean to me!" Zack said as he smiled.
Aerith began to grind the chocolate and began to make chopping noises. Zack placed the three eggs pn the countertop and reached over for a piece of chocolate. Aerith shot him an evil look as Zack pulled away a small piece and threw it into his mouth before she could take it away from him.
"You're so bad!" Aerith pretended to yell.
"But babe, the chocolate is almost as sweet as you!" Zack said with a smile.
"You are so corny…but you're so damn cute! Now get to work Mr. Fair! I want my brownies!" Aerith said as she went back to work.
Zack looked over to the counter and noticed that there were only two eggs. 'Where did the little bastard go! Huh…' Zack said as he took a step back. He had stepped on the egg which had fallen on the ground. Zack slipped and lost his footing. He tried his best to regain his footing but he was too late. He fell to the floor and hit the kitchen table on the way down. He hit the floor with a thud as his eyes widened as he noticed the egg carton was falling towards him. "Crap" Zack said as he prepared for impact.
Aerith turned and looked at the man who was on his back and covered in eggs and egg shells. She put her hands on her hips and looked down at the man. "What on earth am I going to do with you?" She said as she walked over to help the man up. She took two steps and slipped on the same egg that had taken Zack down. She tumbled and land right on top of Zack.
"See, it wasn't my fault!" Zack said defensively.
Aerith giggled and rested her head on Zack's chest. "Hey Zack…?" She began.
"Yes dear?" Zack said with a grin as he pulled up his head to look at her.
"Don't ever leave me okay." Aerith said as she rubbed his chest.
"Don't worry I won't." He said as he held her close.
Aerith looked up at his blue eyes and bit her lip. She put her lips close to his. Zack put his lips against her softly. Aerith returned his kiss with one of her own. The two began to kiss deeper and more passionately. She ran her hands through his hair as his hands wrapped around her lower back. The kiss stopped suddenly as the two locked eyes. They were both breathing deeply. They looked at each other lovingly as they said "I love you." At the same time. Zack smiled, it was their first kiss and the first time they said I love you to one another.
Zack's smile quickly faded as he felt a great heat surrounding him. His eyes widened as he noticed the scene had changed. He was no longer in Aerith's house; he was now standing in the center of a burning town. He looked around and took in the horrid scene.
'Wait this is Nibleheim…but this isn't how it was before…'Zack said to himself as he looked around. Moments later Aerith had run through his body as if he were a ghost. She had tears running down her face as she sprinted out of sight. "Aerith! Wait!" Zack screamed to dead ears.
It was no use; he was not actually at the scene. 'Relax Zack it's just a dream, it's just a dream!' He told himself. He looked around at the carnage that surrounded him. The town's people lay in pools of their own blood. He felt his heart drop and shatter as if it were a block of ice on a hard floor. He ran to see Tifa lying on her back and gasping for air as blood slowly trickled down the side of her head. His eyes roamed as he noticed Cloud lying on his back with a large piece of wood driven into his chest. He lay still and lifeless as blood oozed out.
Panic began to fill his heart as he sprinted searching for Aerith. Zack stood still as he looked at a man with dark hair and bright blue eyes standing in the center on a large sea of flames. Hate and anger filled his eyes as he looked back at him. Zack saw a shadow run past him in the corner of his eyes. Aerith ran straight into the flames and shoved the man in the flames.
"What are you doing! How are you! I lo…." As the rest of what she said became a blur.
Zack shot up from his slumber covered in sweat. His heart was pounding. He put his hands through his hair. "Damn…what a dream…what the fuck was that all about!" He yelled to himself. Zack's eyes widened as he grabbed his sword. He heard voices and ruffling coming from the nearby woods. He prepared himself for battle.
