A/N: Thanks for reviewing and stuff. I just ended one of my other fic and I am considering ending another one. It's so hard though... This should be the second to last chapter for this one.
I am considering doing one of those "insert name here finds insert another name here" fics. But it's a bit of an overused plot device, unless you do it with a twist. Anyway, on with the fic...
Chapter Three: The Ninth Circle of Hell
(Zack's POV)
"Here we are at Cosmo Canyon, with all the knowledge about the Planet that's fit to fuck me."
That's what I said when we arrived. I am pretty sure that Sephiroth and the others were staring at me, along with the lone guard at the gate of the canyon. But I didn't care, I was tired. It's hard work pushing a buggy up a wet, muddy slope, and in cold, hard rain no less.
"You're full of it." The guard muttered. "Now, what does Shin-Ra want with Cosmo Canyon?"
"Nothing. Just a place to stay until the rain dies down a little." Sephiroth replied coolly. "We're willing to double the normal price of staying at the inn here."
The guard regarded us for a moment, and slowly stepped out of our way. "You can stay here at the normal price. However, you're not premitted to buy equipment, weapons, or materia. We don't any more of your blood money than we have too." He said harshly.
Shin-Ra had never really been popular outside the Midgar continent, but it seemed as if people were starting to get disillusioned lately. The Corel Incident was proof of that. It was probably going to get worse before it gets better.
I'll be the first to admit that I joined SOLDIER for glory, like a lot of others. But, I don't know what I would do if people rebelled against them. Maybe I'd go with whatever seems to be the lesser of two evils...
"I feel something tugging me..." I said dreamily.
"Uh, that would be me, telling you that you've been standing here staring into space for the longest of times." Cloud answered. "The others have already left."
"...Huh..." I said stunned. I looked around for the others and they were out of sight. I grabbed Cloud and ran into the inn.
(Zack's Journal)
We didn't get to stay in Cosmo Canyon long... We stayed like a day and then the locals ran us out. They really didn't want Shin-Ra troops hanging around. I couldn't really blame them though... The company was starting to seem oppressive.
Anyway, we're about to leave for Nibelhiem again. We should be there within the next couple of days. ...There's my call. I'll write again soon.
(Two Days Later, Zack's POV)
'I hate this town... I really, really hate this town... I really, really, really hate this town...' I thought sullenly as I looked around room in the Shin-Ra mansion.
Ever since we've arrived my heart has been anxious...like I've been waiting for something to happen. Frankly, it was maddening. And then that business with the reactor... Nothing about this mission has been good since we've arrived here. It's been all sad and dramatic.
All I wanted to do was do something relaxing, and I haven't been able to do it, because...I don't know. 'Perhaps it's time for a journal entry, that's always relaxing.' I thought. 'I should have just done it earlier.'
(Zack's Journal)
Ever since we've been in Nibelhiem, the mission has been intolerable. It was alright at first, you know...but then...
When we first entered the town, we were assaulted by a monster, as well as the mako smell. After that, we spent the night at the hotel. The next day, we went to the reactor. While we were going there, we lost a member of the party. We were going across the old bridge in the mountains and it broke...
Some poor unfortunate soul was lost that day. I hope it was quick and painless... Then we had to go on an alternate route to the reactor (good thing we had a guide, we would have been lost).
It was like a freaking maze, but we made it through. Then when we got to the reactor... It was horrible! Normal members of SOLDIER have been showered in mako, right? And materia is made from condensed mako, correct? Well if you put a human inside one of the machines that condenses mako, you get a monster. It was...disturbing! I'll be scarred for life.
That's not all either. When we first entered the town, we (me, Cloud, and Sephiroth) were talking about our parents. During the conversation, Sephiroth said his mother's name was Jenova. Well, in the Mount Nibel Reactor, there was a chamber where all the condensation machines were, and it was called Jenova too. And Sephiroth found out a secret about himself...
On the trip back, to me it was like the Ninth Circle of Hell. No one was talking and Sephiroth didn't even acknowledge our existence. Not that I could blame him. Once we got back, Sephiroth went straight towards the mansion and into the basement. I haven't seen him since. I just want everything to be normal again. But I don't think things will ever be the same again. That would be impossible.
(Zack's POV)
'...That would be impossible.' I thought as I finished writing the journal entry. '...Don't I feel all better...'
I sat in the room in silence for a minute. A sudden feeling of forboding entered my mind for a quick second. '...Sephiroth...should I go see him?' I asked myself. I already knew the answer, but I really didn't want to do it...
(Zack's Journal)
There are so many things I want to say... But I don't have much time left... Cloud has killed Sephiroth, I think. We were drained after the battle with him. I think I saw some guy take our guide to a safe place when the battle was over. After that, I awoke beside Cloud in the Shin-Ra mansion, with some creepy scientist. I remember hearing something about an experiment and then I blacked out again.
I can't remember how, but we managed to escape and come to Midgar. Right now, we're in Sector Seven. Cloud and I decided on becoming mercenaries and fighting along side... AVALANCHE. But I don't think I'll be making it that far... I wish I could have seen Aerith one last time...
A/N: That's it. I would have made it longer, but I have a more fics to work on. Plus, I feel bad that I started a new fic and I haven't updated the others after a while. Hope you liked it. Thanks everyone.
