Simply the Thing I Am, Shall Make Me Live
Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter 1.
Author' s Note: Thanks to xxOMGgalxx for reviewing and faving this fic! I always say my thanks!
I'm re-editing chapter 4 a bit, but it won't really affect the story much as it's more of a fix up for grammar. If you do notice any mistakes, please point them out as for the current moment, I do not have a beta. I may fail to notice grammar mistakes as English is not my first language. However, I try my hardest to write as best as I can and edit it in a short time.
We're on 500 hits already! Wow! You're all awesome! =) As promised, here you go~! Chapter 6!
Action chapter!
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~ Chapter 6: The Heart's Core ~
Just a Mile Outside the Chocobo Farm, Late September 0007
"Wark!"
"Honestly, you stupid bird! Can't you see I'm trying to practice!" the auburn haired man seethed. "Stay away from me or you will be roasted chocobo!"
Genesis scowled when he heard a muffled snicker with his enhanced hearing. The large bird made no movement backward but instead snuggled further to the ex-Commander. He cast a glare at the item creator. "You're not helping, Ryan."
An equal glower was sent to Eve the droid who was rolling in laughter in the air. She to Ryan's relief had taken the warning and had zoomed off behind his golden chocobo for protection, before a Firaga was blasted where she was previously - a courtesy from the former Commander's equipped Materia.
The green eyed brunette chuckled. "Don't blame me if the girl likes you. You attracted her."
When the auburn haired ex-SOLDIER was about to pop a vein on his head as the black bird nestled further, Ryan took the reins of the feathery Genesis fan, and guided the bird away from him still grinning like an loon. Genesis grunted back at him which he translated as a 'thank you'.
It just wasn't everyday or maybe not ever, you get to see Genesis of all people getting loved by a chocobo. Cloud was a norm told in fanfiction by many fans, but was by sheer luck that when they landed on the Eastern continent that the lure with one of his stronger potions for attracting chocobo... which ended up attracting a black chocobo.
Seeing such a thing in real life was beyond hilarious. At some points in the journey when Genesis extended his black wing out, the bird had done as much as to flatten and straightened his feathers as if Genesis were its mate. No matter how hard Genesis tried to pry away from the bird, if the bird didn't want to back off it was intent on keeping him close company.
So, that ended up with Genesis in a bad mood for the last few days - but Ryan couldn't deny the entertainment it provided. At least it was a good reward after sticking up to Genesis when he wanted to do nothing but kill or seal himself.
After a few more sword drills with Rapier, Genesis dropped down and sat the ground exhausted. That was the cue where after tying the black chocobo to a sturdy branch. He made his way over to the ex-Commander with a water bottle and passed it to him. The said man vociferously gulped down the water until there wasn't any left.
"You're lasting longer this time. You're on the way to recovery." The brunette said.
Genesis snorted in contempt. "Not as much as I would have liked."
His clothes were drenched with sweat, but they were close enough to the Chocobo farm. Since they got to the farm the day before, Genesis got a red t-shirt and black training pants he wore now with his boots which were what was left. It was so normal of all things seeing the ex-Commander wearing them without the leather. Then again, there weren't many options on what to wear with his old clothes as they were beyond repair. They'll order better ones from Kalm.
Ryan knew what was really slowing down his recovery, but that was a sensitive subject. Genesis didn't exactly had the drive or motivation to live. He was only tagging along out of curiosity and reason. Without them, the Symbologist was certain that the auburn head would go back and brood he didn't deserve to live at all. It was best to take it slower.
Ryan took two small bottles consisting of a potion and an energizer to Genesis. "Here."
Silently the other man drank both of the bottles down. With his right hand he'd try to feel the part where his wing would sprout from his left side of his back. It felt so odd of all things there was only black gash were it was supposed to be. He did not understand how the wing was still there inside of him, but the process of taking in and out his wing did not hurt like when he was degrading. In all truth he believed that the Goddess had healed him, but he loathed the fact he still had his wing. In a way it was a reminder of all the bad things he had done in the past. A reminder he used to be a monster, and still had a chance turning into one again.
"Rough day?"
Genesis rolled his eyes. He never liked small talk. Even back then he wasn't exactly a people person. "I think that's glaringly obvious."
"You're doubting yourself again." Ryan stated in a toneless breath.
That was something that Genesis grudgingly respected and disliked about Ryan at the same time. He wasn't into small talk either, but the young man had an amazing perception to read him of all people like he was an open book. Genesis was no Sephiroth in masking his emotions, but he did prided himself in his capricious nature that made him unpredictable to many. Maybe Ryan's impulsiveness was something that made him easily to predict what the he thought of. Yet, he knew Ryan was no fool.
The auburn head was furious. "Would you, when you've killed your own entire village? Drove your only true friends insane? Killed more people in the madness of the monster you've become and still remember every bit of it?" The last few words were bitter with self-loathing.
"I don't know. No memories than the last three years." The brunet replied honestly. "You're afraid of how people react on what you've done?"
Seeing Genesis' hands gripped into a fist, Ryan was sure that he was afraid. Knowing how prideful the former SOLDIER was, the item creator didn't say anything to the unanswered question. He took a breath and just sat in front of the ex-Commander rummaging through his pack and tidying it as a natural habit.
Genesis studied the man in front of him. "You're a real queer mystery, Ryan. You don't run away or look at me with pity, nor do you give me any judgmental looks after what I told you what I've done. Why?"
"I just don't think I need to." Ryan said as he let his attention off his pack. "People tend to judge others on what they've done, not necessarily what they've been through. I mean – I don't even have memories of my past. How do I deserve the job of judging someone I have no idea what they're really like on the base of what other people told me? Even if I did, I'd never want to judge someone who still had the mind to realize what they did was wrong."
"And all those things you heard of – you would just let it all go?" Genesis asked incredulously.
Ryan shrugged, his attention back to sorting out items in his bag. "A woman once said that if you can't accept someone at their worst, then certainly you don't deserve them at their best. I'd rather not be a hypocrite. I have no idea how much you suffered, Genesis – but if the Goddess saved you after all you did, then don't you think she saw something in you that was worth saving your life?"
The words affected him as Genesis froze like he was stabbed with invisible sword through him. 'What did the Goddess see in me?'
The notion alone was enough to make the proud warrior feel he was sinking into an endless hole of darkness. Sure, he played the role of the prisoner like in LOVELESS to find a cure to his degradation. However – just where and what was the good the Goddess saw in him?
"Hmm?" Ryan said picking up an item that clearly wasn't his. That brought the auburn's gaze to the item creator. A yellow post it note was stuck on it with a smiley on it. "This will help?" He read. Taking the post it off the cover he read the cover. "LOVELESS, pocket book edition."
"Not yours I presume?" Genesis asked, feeling comfortable to see a paperback that was smaller than his previous owned one. He was rather thankful that it provided a distraction from him to answer Ryan's previous question. Even now it seemed the Goddess was still watching over him.
Ryan flicked the pages, "It's Rika's, although I don't see how it'll help me." He noted there were other notes in it, but chose not to comment on them.
This time Genesis felt offended seeing the brunet called it useless. "It's the gift of the Goddess!"
"Then you carry it," the item creator gave the book to the Materia user. "Don't mind the notes scattered all over the pages. Rika has a habit of scribbling quotes she likes on her favorite books. By the looks of it, she must have tried do some interpretation on it."
Most likely they were the same that was according to the complete Crisis Core ultimate guide. The way Genesis took the book so carefully made Ryan think the book was his lifeline. At the same time he owed Rika that by having the book with him, and the sense of familiarity was another step to Genesis' recovery in mind. 'Thanks lil' sister.' He swore he's make it up to his twin somehow.
"You can return it to her when we meet her in Midgar. Let's head back."
Genesis didn't answer but all the same he stood up, sheathed his Rapier, and with Ryan made his way to his black chocobo. The bird nestled him knowing he was feeling uncomfortable, which he shoved its head gently and hefted himself up.
In a calm chocobo walking pace, they headed back to the Chocobo Farm in silence with the item creator in front with his golden chocobo. Bored, the auburn haired mage opened the pocket version of his beloved masterpiece to find something written on the inside cover of his held book. Written 'Rika Spencer' and the date were the obvious things that Genesis wasn't surprised at. However the quote that was written startled him.
"I learned a lot from the stories my uncle, aunts and grandparents told me: that no one is perfect but most people are good; that people can't be judged by their worst or weakest moments; that harsh judgments can make hypocrites of us all; that a lot of life is just showing up and hanging on; that laughter is often the best, and sometimes the only response to pain.
Perhaps most important, I learned that everyone has a story – of dreams and nightmares, hope and heartache, love and loss, courage and fear, sacrifice and selfishness. All my life I've been interested in other people's stories. I wanted to know them, understand them, feel them. When I grew up into the world, I always felt the main point of my work was to give people a chance to have better stories." - My Hero
'My Hero?' Genesis thought in confusion, as all those words had meant something important to the owner of the book. More importantly they were words who the girl considered a hero. A excruciating flashback came to his mind of his own words that were so long buried in his memories. The last battle he had with his friends Angeal and Sephiroth...
'I too would like to become a hero.'
He laughed weakly at the past so quietly that Ryan took no notice. He felt naive about wanting to be a hero back then, that was identical to Sephiroth. Sephiroth only ended up a monster like he was. Ironic. Here he knew he was in pain and he just... laughed. How unusual. Nonetheless he felt slightly better. The words certainly had virtue to them. Perhaps this was the first time he read something that was so straight foreword than LOVELESS.
'Accepting weakness. Saving people by knowing, understanding, and feeling others. Was that what being a hero is all about?'
ShinRa Communication Outpost, Further North of the Mythril Mines, Late September 0007
I wasn't feeling heroic at the moment.
Three days we left Fort Condor with Luxiere giving us a farewell, things had been quite hectic.
Passing the wastes with monsters wasn't that troublesome when you got two ex-ShinRa guys pumped with Mako and Sephiroth cells. I never ever had a chance to use any of Gemini sabers' other forms; just the usual hack and slash like Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean I could get. Mainly because Cloud and Zack were doing most of the killing spree. The element of surprise was far better suited in tight situations. I mostly stuck myself as backup keeping their backs from getting attacked and supported with magic, and in a way I was giving the spiky chocobo to exercise his muscles. If he got tired I would step in.
Then when we got to the outpost, it was guarded sparsely but not enough for trained military personnel or Turks to get through. Still, me being all – uh – not pumped with the green stuff, military trained, or an FBI guy – you could say I wasn't as alert as the other two.
Even Flux couldn't warn me because if we made any noise we'd get caught by patrolling guards. So I was at some points dragged, pulled, yanked, spirited away into hiding places literally and figuratively, especially when the guards got too close and we wanted to avoid fights. With Cloud feeling better, now I felt like a useless mobile sack being tossed around. I didn't complain, it was the truth – but I did have some explosives on me so I was feeling optimistic that I'd be useful at one point or another.
On the topic of usefulness, I've managed to jam the internal communications in the outpost. It wasn't all that hard, all we had to do was jam the mobile communications in the general area first, get into the security monitor area, and hacked into the system. And at the same time we searched for a certain Wutaian Turk that promised us we'd meet up at one of the main rooms that led to the transportation dock.
Zack and Cloud in their SOLDIER uniforms (minus the emblems), stood in the corridor making sure to take down any enemy that would come down from each end of the corridor. Flux and I were on the cameras and security computer searching for Tseng and looping the whole CCTV system.
"How long does the jammer last for?" Zack asked slightly twitchy. He was more then ready to bolt when we got a glimpse of our targeted Turk.
"An hour, the outpost doesn't have a buffer like in Costa del Sol. Weird." I replied just as quickly. I guessed they probably weren't expecting it to be easily infiltrated because it was only an outpost. "It's more than enough time to let you guys talk quietly, but doesn't mean it's not going to stand out, and people would start to notice something is wrong."
"You have him on visual yet?" Cloud asked just as impatiently. We did need less people coming into contact with us - I didn't blame him on worrying, but working under pressure in these circumstances wasn't fun at all.
:: Issac! There! Camera A3D2! Transport corridor to hanger 3! :: Flux pointed out.
"Alright, I'm going to close the other main doors from the other sectors so we can thin down the guards, and evacuate the normal workers with the fire alarm. Flux, download the map to get there with any other exits so we can get out!"
My fingers blurred as I rearranged most of the registry of the mainframe, so whoever came here didn't have much of a choice to try and un-hack it. My small black droid on the other hand pushed his hand into a connecting access point, changing it into an adapter, and started to absorb map data.
While I typed up madly closing and opening windows, Zack whistled. "Are you sure you're not a Turk, Issac?" He joked to lighten up the atmosphere.
"Nope." I said emphasizing the 'p' without taking my eyes off the screen with a grin. I was still proud he counted me a Turk. "Never a part of ShinRa, never plan to be one."
:: Download complete! :: Flux claimed. At the same time, I was done with the system completely.
"All right!" The ex-SOLDIER announced gratefully they were done. "Flux, lead the way. Cloud, take the front, Issac in the middle, and I'll take the rear. Let's mosey!"
In single file, we ran to through the corridors passing through quickly. Flux lead the way and occasionally warned whether someone was close or nearby. If they were single guards, they didn't last against Cloud with his sword HardEdge. If they were in a group, I took the liberty to cast Graviga with my Gravity Materia on them and they fell like flies while keeping one of my Gemini sabers in one hand. Zack made short work of anyone trying to get behind us with the Buster sword or get blasted them with lightning Materia.
Less than seven minutes, we were at the hanger Tseng was in.
"You made it alive I see." Tseng said calmly.
Yup, man in black doing the CIA thing. Not that I was expecting anything else. His face was emotionless as always, but when I looked at his eyes that were on Zack, it looked like he was conflicted. Not that I should be surprised, they used to work together four years ago, and I was sure that Turks did what they did because of orders. There was also the part where he had a soft spot for Aerith. Him being here meant he must have weaseled his way so that they could meet up. I was still wary if he wanted to capture us or not.
Zack cut to the chase, "You're doing good yourself. What do you want?"
Tseng didn't move at first as he was too busy examining Cloud who was by all odds standing and gripping his sword on guard when he should have still been comatose due to Mako poisoning. Then his eyes laid on me.
"An item creator?"
It was obvious as my pack was a standard issue bag that item creators would carry. He probably wasn't expecting me to be with Zack and Cloud.
The raven head warrior stood protectively in front of me, which I felt thankful for. Zack didn't want the Turk's attention on me. "A good one, but that's not what we came for."
The air was tense, and even Flux was flying over my shoulder peeping out what would happen. I slightly gripped my sabers harder, my right saber ready on the switch to change it into gun mode. Blade whip mode was too dangerous to use in a cramped place like this.
Cloud was at the exit we came in as he kept his ears alert for company. All the same, he flexed his grip on HardEdge now and then. Our resident Turk stood at the doors which led to the third hanger leading to a landing pad. It was most likely he came by copter. The other doors in the room led to the other landing pads while the furthermost from us lead to the cliffs.
Tseng from his coat took out a pack with yellow tape seals, revealing through the clear plastic were letters. He tossed it to Zack. "Those are 88 letters from Aerith."
Zack had easily caught it with his free hand, clearly mind blown away just how much time passed. "Why did you-"
"A favor for last time." Tseng interjected. "She is fine at the church. Yet, ShinRa watches her."
If there was anything that worried Cloud, it would be seeing some color being drained from Zack's face. "Zack?"
Shaking his head into focus, there was another question that bugged him all this time. "Where's Cissnei?" Zack narrowed his eyes.
"She doesn't work for us anymore." the Turk replied emotionless.
"WHAT? What do you mean she doesn't work for you anymore?"
Tseng turned his back on the ex-SOLDIER, "I suggest you leave. There are ShinRa Infantry that are already aware of your presence."
"Wait a moment! I want answers!" Zack demanded.
"Zack! We got infantry going up the stairs!" The blond shouted from over the door. Cloud was already closing it in a flash and barricading the door with what crates there were in the room.
The ex-SOLDIER growled his attention back to the Turk. "Tseng!"
When we had our eyes on where the Turk was, he disappeared into thin air.
Deliver packet. Here you go. Your girlfriend is doing fine. By the way, you're screwed. Have a nice day.
Definitely Tseng style.
Bold, to the point, and a creepy exit for added effect.
On impulse, I forced myself to move and started to stick explosives all over the beams that supported the building's main structure. The place had to go down. I rolled my eyes while I set up the detonation time, Zack was complaining he'll never understand the Turk.
He then had joined in tossing any sort of boxes to help the blond at the door, after he stored the box of letters in his own pack. "Issac, how many minutes we got till it goes boom?"
"Ten minutes, tops."
"We're taking the way to the cliffs then." The ex-SOLDIER decided.
At a bad time, more alarms blared. Cloud punched the keys into the computer that hugged the wall. "We got Infantry coming and going through the cliff exit, we're trapped!" With no choice, he closed the door access to the cliffs to lessen the amount of enemies coming at us.
"Planet! This couldn't get any worse!" Zack cursed.
We were in seriously deep shit. Come on! There had to be a way out! I furiously scratched my head and racked my brain quickly for ideas - before we either went boom with the building or we'd be caught by ShinRa. Our intended exit was blocked. Think! Let's see... items, corridors, ways... maps? Argh!
Then images flickered in my head. Corridors, railings, transport hanger number four, and... a ShinRa helicopter.
'Huh?'
'That is your path, Issac Anders.'
I knew that voice anywhere. 'Cosmos?' I thought with wide eyes. Was she INSANE? I didn't even know how to WORK a goddamn freaking helicopter!
'Trust me. Now GO!'
"Zack, Cloud, to the helicopter on hanger four!" I shouted on top of my lungs to the two.
Flux was smart enough to respond, zoomed through the air, and led the way for me. I followed him as that gave no chance for Zack or Cloud to complain on the whys or the whats. Although I heard Zack asking, "You can fly a chopper?" as I left the room. They felt a mutual feeling that we needed to get out. I was ahead running in wheezes, as soon the other two catch up to me not out of breath at all. I hate my short stamina.
When we got to the landing pad, we were greeted by four guards.
Flux shot two with his laser gun, while Zack and Cloud leap ahead to take care of the other two. A few more security personnel came from behind us, forcing Cloud and Zack to stay and fight them off. I ran without stopping into the black helicopter.
This was crazy, idiotic, stupid!
All the panic and worry was probably enough to give me a heart attack. That wasn't until I sat in the cockpit I sensed familiarity with it. Flashes of more images in my mind, my eyes were facing a more elaborate cockpit that was what you'd expect in a Star Wars movie. All the new information was coming into my head.
"I've flown before." I gasped. The other me had some experience handling flying vehicles!
No sooner after I said those words, my hands were acting on autopilot. Keys turned, switches to to manual settings, my eyes darted to the status of the helicopter. All check. The propellers started to turn. I took to the controls and started to make a lift.
:: Zack! Cloud! Hurry! Hurry! :: Flux shouted over.
Thanks to their Mako enhanced bodies by the time I was flying about 2 meters off the ground, they just jumped into the helicopter doors. My black droid zoomed in afterward.
More people on the ground kept shooting at us, but that was enough to motivate me to bring the copter higher into the air. Still, it was a little too slow gaining in height than I wanted to. Bullets were coming through the metal - I think some of the people on the ground got themselves anti-air guns or something. The fact the were aiming at me wasn't good. Two bullets cracked to the window, one narrowly missed my head, while the other grazed my arm.
"Damn it!" I winced as a trickle of blood came down.
The copter went jolting down for a second, before I regained the controls again. Flux had taken the initiative to quickly get to my pack and got a potion to heal it. I pushed the copter forward on leaving the communication outpost tower behind.
"Issac! Are you alright?" Cloud shouted over to me.
"Just a light wound! I'll get this copter up!" I shouted back. I didn't look back and did what I could, but I heard the sounds of deflecting bullets making contact to metal behind me.
"GAH!"
"Zack!"
What the HELL happened back there? My head screamed to not lose focus on driving the copter while my heart was leaping all over on what happened to Zack. A large explosion came from behind us and my adrenaline went mad because of the turbulence caused by the bombs already destroying the outpost rocked the copter in the air.
Up! Up! Up! Safety! To safety!
It wasn't until another 30 seconds later I got the helicopter to where we were high enough, I set my bearings towards Midgar at full speed. We were flying over the mountains soon, and I was predicting that we'd burn all the fuel as we got over half of the Midgar wastes. It was only then I was able to glance back, but I couldn't let my eyes stray back for long and kept looking forward.
"Cloud? Zack? You guys OK back there? I asked worriedly.
There was no response from Zack at all which made my heart drop. Instead, Cloud replied. "He's been shot in the abdomen. Long rifle bullet from a sniper."
"Size?" I asked with suspense fear.
"A 20mm caliber." Cloud said straining as he was shuffling around, trying to get the wound to heal with a Restore Materia.
I gulped heavily. That kind of size was used for rifles to take down tank armor or used in a anti-air rifle! I didn't want to imagine the hole in my friend's body or what ever that sort of bullet did to his organs. I felt sick after all that, Zack still had to get heavily injured. Seeing him get shot numerous times by smaller bullet wounds was already bad in the Crisis Core. A bullet that was supposed to go through tank armor...
No! No bad thoughts! Focus. Focus, Issac.
"Cloud, grab my pack and get what ever you got inside that thing and give it to Zack, alright?" I hated my voice sounded that I was going to break down and cry there. I never was trained to face military situations, I was just a civilian.
The blond said no word and rushed for my pack, but before he went to our injured friend, he gave a comforting squeeze on my shoulder. "Get us to as close as Midgar as possible. I'm sure Zack would want it. I'll do what I can so Zack survives."
"Thanks, Cloud." He turned, and dashed back to the unconscious ex-SOLDIER. I turned to Flux. "Help Cloud out while I drive, okay?"
My black droid friend hovered and frowned worriedly :: Kay... Issac will be OK? ::
"As long as Zack is," I croaked. If he died, then all of this would be for nil. At times like this, I'm glad Cloud was there. I didn't think I would keep a my head working properly in panic mode.
A slow understanding nod from Flux, he left me and hovered over to the back.
Mountains soon turned to a barren wasteland of light browns and dust flowing in the wind. I didn't dare asked what was going back there; far to be afraid that somehow I failed - I was supposed to save him. Three heavy hours and all was heard were the propellers of the chopper.
My eyes darted around the cockpit to distract myself from going into morbid thoughts. Noticing the key to a storage compartment was still there, I opened it with my left hand. I shuffled through it taking out the rags, maps, flight logs, and other sorts of paper. At the bottom a shiny object. A Transform Materia. If I wasn't so depressed I would have whooped and shouted 'score!' on top of my lungs.
Instead, I looked at it with a good sense it would be useful very soon.
My eyes were on the beeping tank fuel.
"Issac? What's wrong with the helicopter?" the blond asked as he came to check me.
"We're out of fuel. This is as far as it can go."
"Land her down, Zack's not going to be better with the vibrations." Cloud said slowly.
I nod and set my sights to a suitable landing spot. Once on the ground and engines off, I took my pack, and Zack's while Cloud carried Zack himself as well as his Buster sword. It was ironic that the roles were now reversed.
Before I left, I changed the Materia in my Carbon bangle. I cast Mini on the helicopter with the Transform Materia, followed by a Firaga with a Fire Materia. As long as the thing was in smithereens and the black box was destroyed, there was little left they could track us down.
Cloud and I then kept walking for a good long distance before we found a cave in one of the larger rock spires. He set down Zack who seemed to be pale running a fever. Bandages were wrapped tightly, thick just over his stomach, heavily stained red. Flux stood and guarded the outside entrance.
This time I really wanted to know what happened. "Cloud? Back when we escaped, can you tell me what was going on?"
"Zack deflected a bullet with the Buster sword that was aimed to the propellers. Another sniper got him though." He sighed heavily.
I frowned, sudden goosebumps on my skin. "With a 20mm caliber? Seriously?"
Cloud swallowed nervously. "It's one of the few things that are for making sure to take SOLDIERs down if things went... wrong. I was part of the ShinRa infantry before. I remember a few things..."
That explained why even Zack went down. I flinched. "How bad is it?"
"The bullet exploded and scattered into pieces inside him." His tone was grave. "Shrapnel in many parts of his organs, I couldn't remove the tinier pieces, even if I have a mastered Restore Materia. Any healing Materia doesn't take out foreign substances when they heal. If we don't get him to a hospital, at this rate we're going to lose him."
I wasn't prepared for this. I was no doctor or surgeon. Hell, no item I had in my pack would actually help. If not, Cloud would have done so before. There was nowhere we could go that would be safe and fast for us to get Zack healed up. He'd die before we reach Seventh Heaven. The slums didn't have any sort of facility to heal. No potion and Materia would work... my heart sunk to the pit of my stomach.
There was no way it was going happen, right?
The ending of Crisis Core was never meant to change?
Zack moaned in pain. "...Where? … What?"
Both Cloud and I held him down. "You got shot by a sniper." Cloud said quietly but loud enough for me to hear. "Parts of the shrapnel is in your system and floating in your blood."
Weakly the raven haired blinked. " ... the price of freedom is so high." He heaved as he breathed. "No hospitals... We'll end up back at the labs... so this is it?"
Blond spikes tussled as Cloud denied furiously. "You can't die now, Zack! You saved me, you told me we'd open a mercenary group, you'd get to meet Aerith again! You said you wanted to spend more time with her! You haven't even read her other letters yet! Just hang on for a bit longer."
Those words Cloud said made me feel more guilt than ever before.
"You did great, Cloud. But – it's already getting – worse." Zack managed to rub Cloud's blond hair praising him in his pain. His eyes turned to me. "Issac I – Could you go to Aerith for me?"
And what? Tell her that her boyfriend died?
That I failed to save him?
I didn't realize I was crying until I felt a tear drop on my hand.
Who said guys didn't cry? In the end, is this how it was supposed to be? I didn't answer Zack. I couldn't. Did I went through all that chasing Zack and Cloud with Ryan from Nibelheim for nothing? Now it ended up that my hero was going to die anyway? Just when we were so near to Midgar...
I thought I was here to stop this! I didn't come here to watch him die! He still had a chance to make things right! He could make up with Genesis! He could even be an older brother to Shelke! He could support Cloud fight Sephiroth! He could finally … meet Aerith... Shit. I visibly trembled holding back a cry as he took my hand.
I kept on shaking my head that I didn't want to hear his last words. Not after coming so far.
'Healing.'
I stopped myself from responding out loud as I held my breath. 'Cosmos was telling me to heal Zack?' I never was good with healing because of my Symbol, that kind of magic couldn't heal him like this.
'Healing. Your Symbol of Destruction. It is why I entrusted this task to you.'
...that's why... I can heal and destroy the shrapnel in Zack's body at the same time.
But if I used my Symbology powers then the two of them would know that I'm not exactly... normal.
'Trust. Friendship. Family. Be brave, my Chosen.'
Those were the most important things. I took a deep breath and wiped my tears. "No – I'll save you."
Cloud gave me a desperate look. He really did want to believe it. Zack was confused, but at the same time he was gritting his teeth.
To both of them I gave my own pleading if not begging expression. "Just – Don't freak out, okay?" I prayed that it was going to work – No – it MUST work. I was here to change the timeline.
I took off my Carbon bangle, with it my Materia. I needed to focus on this, so I didn't need the Materia affecting my stats. Just above his injured abdomen, my hand hovered.
I called within myself the symbols more specifically the Healing spell. However this time, I also called upon the Symbol of Destruction. Three glowing blue magic circles circled my arm, and my Destruction symbol glowing on the palm of my hand. I focused the energy that Cosmos had everywhere in the whole area; Creation Energy, the source of the universe itself and the endless and limitless power of the celestial cycle. Blue particles came to my hand and came together into a ball that resembled a blue glowing sphere star.
"Healing."
Zack blinked and then he blinked again.
He felt peace.
A field of stars.
Was this the Lifestream?
'No.'
He turned and behind him and saw a lady with an ethereal glow of white with a long silk dress. He didn't know what Minerva looked like, but certainly the ex-SOLDIER felt that this person – no – being was a Goddess.
As she walked it was as if the stars floated around her. Her aura was confusing to Zack, it was warm but cold and soothing at the same time. Light and bright to his heart made him warm inside. Dark and covering him into blanket of rest. There were so many things that she was which gave an impression she was... everything.
"Who are you?"
'You're correct on what I am.'
Zack was rather crestfallen that the Goddess didn't want to let him know who she was. His ears perked when he heard her chuckle.
'Your mannerisms are that of puppy. No wonder they like you. Nonetheless, your loyalty and kindness is without fault even after facing so much evil. A person who stays true to their self.'
Zack smiled at that. "I've never heard anyone say that before. Maybe only Aerith told me once."
'You should listen to her. Forgive yourself. You don't belong here. They await for your return.'
He was confused again. "I'm not dead?"
'Not this time, Zachary Fair. This time life awaits you. Go, young hero. You have much to do and live for.'
The ex-SOLDIER's eyes widened. "Hero?" The last thing he remembered was that the Goddess whoever she was smiled warmly, and waved at him a farewell. "Wait!"
When Zack came to, he was felt all his wounds were healing like a shower of cool water washed over him; more shockingly the shrapnel in his body were gradually disappearing. He looked to his healer, Issac still having his eyes focused on his abdomen. The item creator's eyes were glowing bright blue, like neon blue. Even as the symbols came and went as he poured in magic into the ex-SOLDIER, it was so different to what he felt when he was cured with Materia. Then it was gone.
Zack abruptly sat up. "Issac, how did you do that?"
Cloud was trying to get Zack to sit down, but he also stopped wanting to know answers.
Hazel hair shifted uncomfortably. "It came with me when I woke up." He looked to the ground as if it were more interesting. "I... I don't have any memories of my past besides the last three years in Costa del Sol. Perhaps for one." He gripped his left arm in a shiver. "If you count... getting chased by white coats and infantry people as anything."
"Are you like us?" Cloud asked. He himself knew what it felt like having memory loss. Yet, he still had some things he could remember about his hometown, even if they were scattered and pieces. He couldn't even comprehend having nothing to start at all.
"I don't know." Issac confessed. "I wanted to go to Midgar for answers. When I overheard you two one night about being in the labs – I...I thought of coming along so I could find something to do with my memory. I'm sorry."
To Zack that brought back memories of the time he talked with Issac, more importantly his words...
'I-I kinda lost my past with everything in it before, you just... need to do what you can do right now. Please take it. It wouldn't do me any good either and leave me guilty if I didn't help your friend who is in need.'
The ex-SOLDIER was quiet. 'You too, huh?'
Being chased by white coats and infantry just screamed out he was a victim of ShinRa. Now it made sense how Issac had always mentioned that his life before three years ago ended up being complicated. The item creator was no SOLDIER nor did he have Mako eyes. Yet who was to say when you were experimented on by white coats, meant you would end up like how everyone else was who were experimented on before hand?
The dual saber wielder was no doubt still human, he cared so much about him and Cloud that he deserved better. No, the three of them deserved better. He shook his head in amusement as the meeting with the Goddess came to his mind. 'Forgive myself? A hero?' He was wondering on who were the 'they' she mentioned. He shouldn't think too much, all that mattered now he had two people to thank at that moment.
In a spontaneous instant, the two including Cloud (despite now having Mako enhanced reflexes) Zack Fair pulled both of them into a hug. "Thanks... for bringing me back." Cloud had definitely after a pause returned the hug, but the item creator was rigid. "What's wrong, Issac?"
"You're okay with what I did?" he asked sounding a bit timid, but didn't escape from the headlock of Zack's arm.
"Of course I am!" Zack smiled at the younger man parting him from his headlock and looking at him. "It doesn't matter if you have odd things or abilities because some demented sick scientists went at ya, and you turned into something you're not - it doesn't make you less of a human. You saved me, that makes you human." At this, Issac started to cry. "Hey! I didn't mean to-"
Issac lightly punched the ex-SOLDIER on the shoulder. "Geez, these are HAPPY tears! Just let me cry these out and be happy for a sec, alright? PLANET! I thought I was going to lose you! You could have died!"
He was too happy to care that tears kept on flowing down and also kept wiping them away. At least he succeeded his mission and also his dream his hero made it out alive. Thank you, Cosmos! I can't thank you enough!
At this Cloud seemed to chuckle but supported the hazel item creator, although he rubbed his nose stopping himself from sniffling. "Y-You really scared us bad back there, Zack."
"Okay! Okay! I give! My fault entirely to always keep you two worried for me." Zack gave a peaceful gesture holding his hands up. He felt guilty that he gave up back there to his only two friends that supported him and sighed. "How about you guys decide on what I should do to not make you worry? How about it?"
The two thought about it. Cloud shrugged not sure at all what to request. That left Issac.
"Could you at least try to stay alive whatever happens?" Issac suggested. He kept on wiping all the excess tears away or what was left of it.
The blond thought on this and also inclined. "I think that's the best suggestion yet." Cloud looked to Zack seriously this time. "I don't have all my memories back, I wouldn't know what to do or react if you had just died Zack."
Time stood still for the ex-SOLDIER. Zack had never realized how much they were counting on him to be there, and what the consequences were if he died. He was willingly to give his life up just like that. That immediately gave Zack the memory of fighting his mentor. The raven haired man closed his eyes, he would have done the same thing as Angeal - left behind all that sadness behind. I'm an idiot. He still had people who cared. 'One thing to do then.'
"Cloud, can you get me my sword?"
The blond was perplexed at the request, but obliged. I watched as Cloud lifted it easily and gave the sword's hilt to Zack. In his sitting position, the Buster Sword horizontally sat on his lap. Both Cloud and I warily watched sitting in front of him as his fingers stroked through the etches of the swords in deep thought. He sighed.
"This sword used to belong to my mentor... before it was passed on to me." Black spikes shifted looking to Cloud and then to me. "Put your hands on it here."
Cloud had immediately placed his on the hilt. Hesitantly, I did as well.
Zack smiled at us. " Hold on to your dreams. If you want to be a hero you have to hold on to your dreams and also your pride." A pause. "Those were his last words. Even after he died I never really understand what they meant. But after today..." He looked at me, "I think he meant that I shouldn't give up my life so easily." Zack also looked at Cloud. "I was wrong to give up there, I just threw my pride away to live." He breathed out. "I've got my second chance, so – Cloud, Issac – I'm no hero-" when Cloud and I wanted to protest he held up a hand. "Yet. But I'll try to keep going no matter what. So – will you guys watch my back for me?"
Cloud chuckled softly. "You need to ask, Zack? We've been doing it all this time." He shrugged with reason.
The ex-1st Class pouted. "I know that! But, even I sometimes break down too, you know. So from now on, let's watch each others backs. So whatever your dreams are, make sure you keep your pride. What do you say, Issac?"
At first I was speechless, however, I couldn't help but smile widely at the hopeful face he was giving me. Zack will always be Zack. I gave a nod. "Sure, let's head to Midgar together."
"It's a promise between us then!" Zack whooped at that, but groaned immediately that his body wasn't in all good shape. "Dammit, cramps aren't gone yet!" He laid back down on the ground.
This time Cloud laughed and shifted the large sword carefully away, "I think any sane person would rest a bit. Even back then you always have a gigantic supply of energy, Zack." He sighed in relief although some of his memories were still sketchy. "That means we'll be a while here."
"What to do while we wait?" I pipped up, but still rested in a laid back position after all that stress.
In a sudden movement, Cloud smirked as his eyes glinted mischievously at me. "Say, Issac, we've got 88 letters to go through. You want some?"
Catching on what he meant, I followed. "Yeah, I'll take a few for you."
The reaction we wanted was light speed. "WHAT? H-Hey, hey, hey! That's private! They're from Aerith!" Zack's cheeks burned up and soon his whole face. "Clooooud! What are you trying to do?"
"Pass the time," the blonde's tone was playful even though it was quiet. This Cloud who was more amusing like in Crisis Core definitely was my favorite.
I took out the box with numerous tape seals from Zack's pack as I was carrying it. "First come, first serve."
"That's mine!" Zack protested.
Before he squished me, I tossed it over to Cloud. Since the puppy wasn't able to move so much, the cave was filled with laughter as we played 'man in the middle'. The said 'man' was Zack. A few minutes after, we were all tired out laying on the ground out of breath all grinning like lunatics. I hadn't had any real sort of fun in ages. In the end, we didn't read the letters anyway. It was just a game me and Cloud decided on spot to get our mind off that we could have lost Zack that day. Although Zack was our victim, he did enjoy the game while it lasted.
Cloud coughed to get our attention. "We should get back on track."
"So – When are we going to get into Midgar?" I questioned still a bit out of breath, from playing around and laughing too much.
"Tonight." Zack inhaled and exhaled smiling and knowing he was getting nearer to the person he wanted to meet for so long. "We'll go under the cover of darkness."
In the heart of Life, green tendrils of raw Mako flowed endlessly in numerous directions. Interconnecting, spiraling, coming and going. In the middle of it all stood a lone figure who eyed the energy around her with a puzzled thought.
The flow had somehow changed, some things that were missing while others should have returned to the Lifestream. Steps of her armor echoed as she passed through the energies that was her essence. She frowned at how there were foreign energies that she did not recognize.
'Impossible, another Calamity?'
Minerva was certain he healed the auburn haired man that had carried the alien's cells. Yet it was odd that his energy was hidden from her by this other... source. She wondered what had happen to him.
The fact that there was another unknown energy that exploded with a similar frequency before made her wary. Her vessel as the Planet was not truly healed from the previous battle 2000 years ago, humans were draining her life source, and there was only one that was left of her chosen children, the Cetra.
Jenova's puppet had quite recently escaped from within the Lifestream. That was worrisome. It would mean the puppet would do anything to restore Jenova's power. She would not have the strength to truly prevent her vessel from destruction should another threat as Meteor come upon her.
Now, more unknown energy sources took place. Minerva gripped her staff in anger.
'My vessel shall suffer no more.'
She would not accept any foreign entities anymore. They were too dangerous to let live. The cost had been too high the last time. This time she would watch the threads of fate carefully.
'And if I must, I shall end them.'
TBC...
And that's a wrap for this chapter! Hope you all enjoyed this 8k+ words of goodness for the weekend!
The longest quote in this chapter credits to a certain President of the US.
Next up, MIDGAR! Finally we can get to the main parts of the game! :)
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