Responses:
xXSymmetryXx: I was aiming for that feeling. the extraterrestial. It had to happen sadly.
Fushia Flame: For this story specifically it is Evie/Zack.
Stardust2011: Thank you ever so much.
I apologize for my disappearance, I hit an all time low this month just this past week. I sprained my wrist, hurt my toe, bruised my knee, lost my phone, and I got sick. Not including everything else that smacked me in the face. It's all better now. Promise. I'm making time for you. I Promise. I'm always a Chapter ahead of this story now.
We've got to the point where the timing is very skewed. What is supposed to take a year in the Final Fantasy timeline takes literally a few seconds in Crisis Core. There's no good way to write that much time of travel without skipping it or just gently grazing over what happened. If anyone has a suggestion on how to approach this let me know. I'm very unsure about it at this point. Hopefully it turns out well and I'll be cranking the next chapter out for you loves soon. -Hq16
Words: 3,387
The feeling was like being in a dream, you could see it, but you knew it wasn't real. I felt weightless. I recalled a feeling similar to this the day I joined SOLDIER. The day I became a member of SOLDIER. A female had survived the surgery, as I think about that decision now I wonder at what price was that decision? I never thought things in my life would turn out the way they did.
I rose through the ranks, became friends with Tseng, the very person who had watched over me while I trained. The person who had recommended me for the job. Our lives were intertwined even before I knew his name. I'd end up trusting this man with my life, with every fiber of my being. I loved him I think, I had lost my virginity to him back then. He was special to me. He had a place in my heart no one could take from him.
Then there was Angeal. My mentor, my friend, my comrade, and my brother. I had fought with him and against him. I never thought I'd cry so hard over the death of anyone until he left. He had been the one to recommend me to Sephiroth. He already had a student, and he was more than enough to handle.
Genesis. Our dislike for one another was often mutual. But he too was a comrade, by association we were friends.
Sephiroth. If there was one man who had become more things to me than Sephiroth did, I had yet to meet them. He was a friend, a brother, a comrade, a mentor, a teacher, and a lover. I loved him, dearly. The loss of him equal to that of a close family member. A loss I had just experienced.
Then he came into my life, Zack. There were no words for him. This eighteen year old that I had fallen so adamantly in love with. I would do anything for him. I would die to see him live. I would kill to prevent him from dying. He was irreplaceable in my world, I just wish he knew that.
That little brat from Wutai, Yuffie. In a sort of ass backwards show of friendship I cared for this little girl. Zack and I nearly died several times trying to keep her safe. I hope she finally learned her lesson after that last one and stopped her shit.
Aerith. I cared for her as a friend, as a little sister. I respected the relationship her and Zack had, and respected her for being so knowledgeable. It seems before I had known how much I loved him, she had known. I want to apologize to her, for any trouble I might have caused in her life.
Next came Cloud. He was like my little brother. Interesting to me, he was cute, and had an innocence I would fight to protect. I had grown fond of him in the past week. Very fond of him. We were friends now. I would protect him with my life if he needed it.
Last but certainly not least was Tifa. The closest thing to a best friend I ever had. I would give anything to know she escaped alive. She was beautiful, more beautiful than me in my opinion. Beauty like that doesn't deserve to die.
Then my mother and father. I never found out who they were, where they were. Why they left us alone in Midgar. I remember living above the plate with my brother, something was blocking my other memories.
My brother, the one person I had been trying to find since finding freedom. Where was he? Where did Shinra take him? Eric Reinhardt. It couldn't be hard. He was my twin, he looked like me. He had dark blue eyes and straight black hair. I had to find him. I had been searching for years and I never found him… Maybe I should give up. Maybe… he's dead.
I mean, I'm dead. I'll get to meet my mom and dad now. And I'll get to see Eric again.
As if consciousness rose in me, I could see green specks. Is this what death is like? Am I in the Lifestream now?
It grew dark, and suddenly there was a blinding light, and I was standing on water. I flinched quickly, but it didn't seem to bother me much. The water below my feet reminded me of a mirror. I could stand on it, but I couldn't see past it. There were two feathers falling. I watched the first one, pure white. Angeal?
Then the other, all black. I watched this one too. "Is that you?" I asked. The water and sky seemed to go on for forever. I took a step away from the two feathers. "Maybe this is where I go into the Lifestream." Then as if to contradict me, the image around me broke and everything went black again. Was I not able to join the Lifestream?
Something felt weird. I couldn't describe it, something was touching me. Hands. Words. Louder. Louder. If I could hear and feel, didn't that mean I was alive?
My brain pushed itself awake, my body getting heavy, like I was weightless before and now I was burdened with having to live. My limbs felt tired as if they hadn't been used. My eyes were tired and I didn't want to open them. A voice rang around me.
"Evie… come on. Come on. Evie! You have to get up…" I felt like I had forgotten how to move, and my eyebrows furrowed slowly. My lips frowned as I fluttered my eyes open to see Zack. My heart soared to see his face. Slowly his worried expression faded and he smiled. His arms that held me pulled me in close. He hugged me tightly to his body. His voice whispering.
"Thank Gaia," he mumbled. He pulled away as my armor started to bother me. His eyes flickered over my face as if searching for something. They stopped at my lips for a few moments before he pulled away and stood. His hand pulled me up gradually.
My legs were wobbly and he helped me stand for a few minutes, "Zack," my voice sounded harsh and unused. "Where are we? What… happened?" He shook his head unable to give me any real answers. His body had a coat of Mako green around him, and I assumed I had the same. The scent seemed to weaken my legs, my eyes glazing over to see a similar sea green envelop my vision. Zack caught me easily as my body began to fall limp. He kneeled next to me waiting patiently for whatever was happening to pass.
I didn't know what was going on. I couldn't move. Just breathe and stare at whatever my half lidded eyes would let me see. Then it faded and my control returned, and a gloved hand held my cheek. My eyes rose to lock with Zack's. He was worried again. I smiled halfheartedly to try and make him see I was alright. He shook his head, knowing the truth. He knew me too well.
"Stay here with Cloud, Eves. I'm going to go find our stuff," He leaned over to kiss my head and leave my line of sight, as the sea green left my vision completely. He wasn't gone for long returning with his things on and my things in hand. A bag and my sword. In the bag was materia, potions, my phone, my crafting travel kit… pretty much everything I had on me the last time I was conscious. I watched Zack for a few moments, but he pulled me up slowly, his hands not moving just in case I fell again. I felt my strength return and my attention was switched to Cloud.
He wasn't moving, or talking. I bent down and recognized the look on his face. I probably looked the same not too long ago. Briefly I wondered what it was; I hoped that Cloud would wake up soon. Zack walked over to a man knocked out on the floor. Instead of asking, I saw a piece of paper next to where Cloud was sitting. I walked over to it curious, my eyebrows furrowed at the words I read and I called to Zack.
"Zack, listen to this: Analysis of Procedural Failure. Failed Case #1: SOLDIER 1st Class. Summary: Desired effect did not occur. Strong tolerance to Jenova cells due to SOLDIER conditioning, assessed as cause. Failed Case #2" Shinra Infantryman. Summary: Weak tolerance to Jenova cells led to toxicosis. Lack of response to outside stimuli suggests severe system damage. Recovery highly unlikely," I stopped reading to glance at Cloud. "Do they mean Cloud?" Zack's expression was solemn, he didn't seemed pleased to hear these words. But there was one last page. "Failed Case #3: Female SOLDIER 1st Class. Summary: System damage. Tolerance level is perfect; succumbs to toxin rapidly and without warning. Recovery unlikely." My jaw clenched. They turned us into their little experiments. My hand crumpled the paper and smashed against the experiment table, causing a large crack to form.
"Evie," Zack mumbled softly. My blood was pounding with rage. How could they just do that to us? We're not their fucking play toys. A hand touched my shoulder and my rage dissipated quickly. I wasn't angry, I was betrayed.
Betrayed by Sephiroth. Betrayed by my company. Betrayed by my President. Betrayed by Tseng. I thought he would be the one to see us to safety. It was painful, emotionally taxing feeling all of these things. My shoulders fell and my throat tightened. My breaths started to become shaky and quickly afterwards I was being pulled into a strong hard chest. Zack.
Sometimes we needed these moments. He knew how I felt. I found comfort in knowing that and wrapped my arms around him tightly, the paper falling to the floor forgotten as I tried to keep myself from sobbing pathetically.
"We're going to get through this Eves. We are. Me… You… Cloud. We're getting out of this alive. I promise you." I took long breaths, tears escaping my eyes finally.
"I hope so Zack… I certainly hope so," We stood together hugging for a few moments more and I realized how easy it had become. How a near death experience brought us together so easily. We pulled apart and he was smiling sadly at me. His fingers pulled at a strand of my hair. I gasped piercingly at the sight.
My hair was long enough to reach my waist now. I had barely noticed it before, but now it seemed impossible to not notice. I had nothing to hold it back, and as I rose a hand to pull it away, his gloved hand stopped mine.
"It looks nice," That was all I needed to hear to keep from moving my hair. The moment lingered for a while, and for once there was no one to stop it. I pulled my eyes down from his gaze and we seemed to remember the task at hand.
"Stay here with Cloud for me; I'm going to look around real fast." I nodded easily turning to Cloud with a worried glance. I knelt down in front of him and touched one of his bright yellow spikes fondly. Poor kid, he didn't deserve to go through all of this. Zack returned fast enough and motioned me to follow him. I nodded picking Cloud up and throwing his arm over my shoulder. He was conscious enough under his toxicity to just barely walk.
I whispered to him, "It's a start Chocobo head." Zack lead the way ahead of us claiming to clear the way as Cloud and I stumbled along. Once he was sure the way was cleared, he returned and took Cloud's other arm, making the walk much faster. We entered the mansion without much of a problem. Together we sat Cloud down on the bed and again without needing to repeat himself, Zack ran ahead making sure all was safe.
For a moment I wondered why he felt the need to leave me with Cloud, I could certainly fight with him. Or help him. Maybe he wanted me to watch out for Cloud? But where was Cloud going, and with him clearing the path who would be coming after him? I sat on the bed waiting for his okay. Silently I wondered when I had become so submissive.
A beep reached my ears. Mail. I tilted my head curiously, we never got mail out in Nibelheim. I flipped my phone open to read them, fan mail. The third one caught my eye it was from Shinra…
This is an official notification of the change in status for the following personnel.
Evelia Reinhardt – SOLDIER 1st Class:
Killed in Action
Sephiroth – SOLDIER 1st Class:
Killed in Action
Zack Fair – SOLDIER 1st Class:
Killed in Action
Two infantrymen were also killed in action.
My heart dropped. They were claiming us as killed in action… They thought we were dead. Tseng was there, didn't he know we were alive? Shinra had to know the truth. We had survived the fight.
When Zack returned the look on his face said he knew that he saw it, but we only silently locked eyes before picking Cloud up and leaving the mansion. Things were not looking up whatsoever. If anything they were getting worse by the moment.
The sun was shining outside, our timing was right. The sky was a beautiful blue, the mountains as tall as ever. I smiled to myself until I remembered what view would greet us when we saw the town. My heart dropped, and my throat tightened. I followed after Zack slowly but surely with Cloud alongside me.
We entered the town, and too preoccupied with Cloud's safety neither of us seemed to notice just what had happened. My eyes snapped up as a noise of surprise came from Zack. One quickly fell from my own lips as I saw the town before me… as if nothing had happened. As if the fire had never been here. It was quiet though, unlike it used to be.
Suddenly infantrymen were shouting and running towards us. "Where the hell did they…." I started as I walked towards Zack who pulled out the Buster Sword. Soon they had us surrounded; I pulled Harpenger from my back and moved to stand next to Zack.
"Cloud!" Zack had turned to glance at Cloud and one of the men were trying to steal the helpless blonde. I hissed as I tried to run towards him but they surrounded both Zack and I individually. They had numbers, but we had power. My materia glowed with life in my arm, a cast and a couple of sword swipes had the circle on the ground either knocked out or dead. I ran towards the man trying to grab Cloud. He ran away and another group showed up. Zack escaped from the men surrounding him to grab after the man grabbing Cloud to be surrounded again himself. This seemed to go on for a good ten minutes. If it was a game it was a poor excuse for one. It made me angrier than anything.
I sighed as the last infantryman ran away. I made to step towards Zack but both him and I fell to our knees. "Whoa… what's wrong with me?" I heard him say.
I knew what he was talking about. I was tired. That small fight had made me awfully tired. Zack collected himself first, walking towards me to see if I was feeling the same. I nodded silently and stood slowly.
We turned to Cloud with solemn expressions; Zack walked over to him to kneel. The boy had yet to make any moves or say any words. Zack shook his head sadly.
"Let's return to the mansion and regroup…" I agreed without a word and followed his lead as we stumbled Cloud back towards the mansion where he decided we should stay until it got dark and we had more energy.
I don't remember the last time I was ever so quiet. We returned to the room with the bed, where we sat Cloud down.
Zack walked closer to him, worried for his well being "Cloud… Could this be Mako addiction?" He glanced at me for confirmation and I flinched. I wasn't sure how to answer. I had never seen someone experience Mako addiction. Zack fell back against the floor and muttered something to himself. I sat on the edge of the bed silently. I couldn't think of thing to say.
"Why don't we get change of clothes? His clothes are drenched in Mako, all of ours are. It might help if we change." I nodded again silently. We prioritized Cloud's change first. I helped only once he had pants back on. A SOLDIER uniform. It fit him well.
"Looks good on you.." Zack remarked to the deathly quiet teen. His expression was soft, and I handed him his own change of clothing before leaving. He had found this before while roaming the mansion. It was one of the uniforms I had brought to Nibelheim. It certainly didn't smell clean but at least it wasn't what I was wearing now. I threw it on and returned to the room as fast as I could. The eerie silence bringing pain to my ears.
I opened the door to see Zack staring at a piece of paper. He was reading it to himself. Once he was done his eyes flicked to my own as if remembering something important. He muttered something to himself, but I only caught a few words, "… deserves to know…" I sent him another quiet, curious glance.
"I need to go to Midgar. Wanna come with?" He seemed to be asking Cloud and I as if he was really expecting us to say no. I shrugged easily, and Zack frowned visibly
"You've been so quiet all day Evie…" I shrugged again.
"I'm not much in the mood to talk." He nodded silently at this. Another beep came from his phone and soon after mine, then a third and fourth. I opened my phone to see a message from Zack's fan club.
We continued running the fan club after Zack's untimely death,
but we have to disband due to financial reasons.
We would like to share one last comment from Black Suit,
the secret informant who shared so much with us:
"It was very sudden for us, but I'm sure
Zack now has the wings he always wanted,
flying the great big skies...with that great
big sunflower smile."
Our thanks go out to all 109,348 members out there.
May Zack always live within our hearts.
My heart squeezed again, another lump forming in my throat at reading these words. Then I read the other message, one from my own fan club.
After so much time without Evelia,
we thought that the club would die,
All of you have supported us,
and support her even after her tragic death.
like many before us, our club will need to disband for financial reasons.
There were many things we admired and adored about her,
but a friend of hers said:
"Wherever she is, I know she's much happier.
Things in life come with a price.
She would have wanted us to smile and laugh with her, even after death."
We hope that we can continue to honor this great woman for years to come.
Our love and pride and many thanks to every member, all 92,766 of you.
I smiled at this, wondering who would have known to say something like that. Then there was another message from the clubs that always saw me with members of SOLDIER. Everyone had also died out, The one supporting Zack and I ended up being the most powerful of them all with over 150,000 members. Odd considering neither of our fan clubs had that many people in them. Zack didn't say a word and I certainly wasn't in anymore of a mood to speak than I was before.
Zack talked quietly with Cloud and eventually we laid down to rest up until night time finally rolled around.