Chapter 6: Looking Through Zack's Eyes
Disclaimer: Square Enix owns Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, its predecessor and all their characters.
"Where is Zack now?"
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"You know where Cloud, just look beyond."
"Beyond…" He was restless, he couldn't find an answer… Ashura was sleeping, curled up as a great big feather ball of black fluff beside him keeping warm.
Vincent had refused to say anything more than that. Cloud shook his head frustrated. What did Vincent mean? It was the middle of the night; the crickets had begun to sing. Cloud settled back into the armchair by Vincent's fireplace and stared down at the ID tag, Zack's words constantly echoing, whispering in his mind. "Here… If ever you need me, just call ya? I'll be here for you." "…Zack" He finally whispered, not daring to breathe as he fingered the slick coolness in his fingers.
The ID tag glowed softly and shimmered slightly. Cloud felt as if he was suddenly hurled into an empty space, where all around him was golden and shining and shrouded in mist. "Zack?" The place offered no reply; Cloud found that his voice didn't even echo. The iridescent gold swallowed everything; Cloud couldn't hear the sound of his footsteps as he circled around, much less the sound of his voice. "Zack…?"
"Wow, how nice."
Cloud raised his head to see meet a pair of verdant green eyes shinning like bright emeralds as she looked out of a window constantly, multi-colored, multi-faceted lights reflecting in her eyes. Cloud followed her gaze and to his surprise, found himself looking out a very old glass window; it was so old the glass was a dusty, dirty yellow… The view was fantastic, with cheery music constantly played in the background. Isn't this Gold Saucer? I'm in… The gondola?
"Oh! Look, Cloud."
Cloud continued to look out the window, the gondola passed the Chocobo track and Chocobos hurtled past the window in a flash of brightly coloured feathers and dust. He smiled a little, remembering the adrenaline of riding on one of those magnificent birds not long ago. Ashura would have put these birds to shame. Yes… It has to be…
"It's so pretty."
The gondola rumbled along its track, through dazzling fireworks, lighting up the entire Saucer in a magnificent display of color and light.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She sighed contentedly.
This is… My memory… But why?
She smiled a little and looked down, nervously fidgeting her fingers a little. Cloud already knew exactly what she was about to say. "...first off, it bothered me how you looked exactly alike." She lifted her head with curious eyes and continued. She's so beautiful…
"Two completely different people, but look exactly the same."
"The way you walk, gesture..."
"I think I must have seen him again, in you..."
Him? Cloud thought to himself, slightly jealous at the softness in her voice. Who…? He wanted to ask but found himself unable to say the words. He couldn't remember. His memory had been like that of late. Constant flashes of white and black… As if everything had been just… A dream.
She shook her head. "But you're different." And looks down again "Things are different..."
The entire exterior of the Gold Saucer lit up with fabulous, starry fireworks displays. Aeris continued to speak. The same words that came from her mouth would leave him stunned and confused for the months that followed, not understanding… Not knowing what she was thinking.
"Cloud..."
"I'm searching for you..."
"...?"
"I want to meet you." She whispered firmly.
"But I'm right here." He found himself interjecting softly.
She shook her head smiling mysteriously, knowingly as if to say "I know, I know... what I mean is..." before saying out loud. The one sentence that would haunt him for the months to come.
"I want to meet... you."
With a loud bang, one final, brightest, most stunning yellow flower of fire lit up the night sky. Like a blooming chrysanthemum, the yellow lights radiated from a single point, curling, unfurling like the petals. The magnificent display left Cloud breathless with amazement. He turned his attention towards an even more beautiful sight and shifted quietly over to sit beside her. Gently, he cupped her cheeks in his hands and pulled her close to him. She had smiled against his shoulder and nuzzled against his neck. They stayed that way, lost in time, lost in the warmth of each other's arms and in that brief moment of tenderness there was no sorrow, no pain and not a care in the world… Until the gondola finally came down.
"Aeris…"
"Do you get it now?"
And then everything shifted; outlines disintegrated releasing colors that mingled, blended, blurred and smudged with each other. The girl in Cloud's arms simply melted away into the background as if she was never there, leaving an emptiness in his arms and in his heart. "Aeris…" he choked painfully as another wave of helplessness swept through his being. Just as he tried to reach forward to grab her back into his arms, he dropped down. The seat beneath him vanished and Cloud fell through the void. Colored lights zipped past his eyes, voices, smells… His senses were on overdrive as he delved deeper and deeper into his memories and subconsciousness…HiHis heart pounding so hard his chest actually hurt, the blood rushing so quickly through the organ between his ears, he actually felt disorientated. Then, as suddenly as it began, he stopped, his feet landing on invisible but solid ground. Cloud wobbled on his feet for a while to steady himself from the ride of his life before he began surveying his surroundings. What now?
He was standing before a large gilded mirror with an intricately carved ornate platinum frame. It stood on large vines that twirled and wound throughout the frame, maple and ivy shaped leaves gleamed coldly and large black roses, some in full bloom, that were so lifelike but icy cold to the touch decorated the frame of the mirror. Cloud stepped in front of it and blinked at what he saw. He whirled around, for he had not only seen himself in the mirror but a grinning Zack right beside him. But there was no one beside him or behind him. There was nothing but the air around him.
"Curious isn't it?" Zack's voice came flowing out of the mirror. "Why you see both me and you in your reflection and yet no one beside you."
"Zack?" Cloud asked incredulously, staring wide-eyed into the mirror.
"Bingo!"
"But why?"
"You wanted answers Cloud. But Cloudie… Cloudie, my man… I can't give you the answers straight up. That would be meddling… I'm not allowed to do that. I can only advise and clue you in."
Cloud hung his head, as Zack laid a hand on Cloud's shoulder comfortingly, and yet… Cloud felt nothing but the cool air. "Zack…" he whispered sadly, the pieces slowly falling into place. "The girl you loved… Was it… Her?"
Something passed through Zack's features before he smiled slightly. "You of all people should know…" A wave of guilt threatened to overwhelm Cloud. "… Don't you hate me…?"
"Why should I? You're my best bud."
"I let her die!" Cloud choked out, not daring to look at Zack, the tears filling his eyes.
There was a moment of silence.
"Did you?"
"It was all my fault…"
"Cloud…Not all things are as they seem. What's done is done. Even if they've changed, the root stands firm and deep in the earth. Find your light…But don't let the darkness devour your soul. Faith is stronger than stone…" The brunette recited purposefully, with an expression that Cloud couldn't read. "Believe Cloud… And live."
"Zack... You don't sound like yourself… What are you talking about?"
"Find me Cloud. And you'll find the answers you seek. You'll know what I mean then…" Zack smiled fondly at his friend and gave him a few unfelt pats on his back before he turned to go.
"Zack…Wait…" Cloud reached out and touched the surface of the mirror, the icy cold surface rippled like water with a soft musical hum. "Where are you?"
Zack turned round with a sly smile on his face and replied mysteriously. "I thought you would have noticed that by now…I want you to know that... I'll always be with you..." Then a huge grin. "I'll be seeing ya in a bit."
Another flash of light. Cloud found himself sitting in Vincent's library, on the armchair by the fireplace, the ID tag in his hand, ice cold to the touch. A log crackled sharply and rolled over. Ashura was nudging him gently with his great beak. Cloud stood up and catching hold of Ashura's reins, decided that some fresh mountain air would help him clear his head.
The Nibelheim lavenders were in full bloom in the front garden, permeating the air with a soft, relaxing fragrance. Ashura strode over the lavender beds and rubbed himself against the flowers, kwehing contentedly, enjoying the sweet scent. Cloud smiled slightly before frowning. I should have noticed it before? As Cloud walked through the garden deep in thought, he bent down and found himself picking out lavender stalks for a small bouquet. He had heard from Tifa that the scent of lavenders was good for getting some rest and right now, Cloud definitely needed some of THAT. It had been almost a week since he actually slept through the night without dreaming of HER… Of death and loss.
Rest? Wait… That means…!
"Sometimes the answers you seek lie in the most unexpected places."
"You know where Cloud, just look beyond."
Vincent's voice echoed in his mind. Yes… It has to be…
Cloud broke into a full sprint and quickly leapt onto Ashura, inducing an irritated "KWEH!" from the great black bird. Holding the glorious purple lavenders in one hand and yanking sharply on the reins, Cloud sped off into the horizon to his destination.
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Why didn't I see it before? Cloud swung long legs over Ashura and walked reverently towards Zack's grave; to him it was considered haloed ground. He had been there so many times… Almost every alternate day of each week. Sometimes to think, to get away from everything and to talk to Zack, he always thought that he owed Zack that much for all that his friend had done for him. Cloud knelt down and gently laid the fragrant Nibelheim lavenders against the huge buster sword that had become Zack's gravestone, Cloud had carved no words into the blade; none would have been worthy to describe someone as contradictingly goofy yet serious, fearless yet sensitive and loyal to the very end. Why me Zack? Why Aeris? What do you want me to do?
He had so many questions… It didn't help that Zack was forced to speak in riddles. "I'm here… What do you want from me Zack?" Cloud mumbled as Ashura set himself next to him and nudged his head gently, a worried gleam in the proud chocobo's eyes. Despite Ashura's stubbornness, he was really an affectionate bird deep down at heart. Cloud smiled and ruffled the great chocobo's head feathers, producing a contented "Kweh…" as Ashura snuggled up against him. "Ashura… You head home first alright? I'll be here for a while… I need to clear my head."
Ashura gently tugged at a lock of Cloud's hair in response as if to say "I understand", sat up and jogged towards Midgar. In a black blur, he was gone. Cloud closed his eyes and sighed softly. Good thing I sent Ashura home first. In the short moments of silence since he arrived, he had heard ragged breathing, getting closer, stalking him from the dark forest. Soft panting… Whining… Howls in the distance… A feeling of animosity.
Wolves? No… They were different… Same species but… The creatures seemed to slink out from the shadows of the forest. Twice the size of regular wolves, with rough black, silver lined fur, their eyes were red, the colour of dragon's blood and their teeth… Each gleaming, ivory fang a full 2 inches long. Cloud could see their strength carved into the thick ropes of muscles that strained and bulged beneath the fur. Great… Jenova mutated wolves… He sighed tiredly as he noticed another 10 odd more wolves slinking out from the forest… There was more… He could sense them. This is going to be one LONG fight. He thought as he unsheathed Ragnarok, its sharpness glinting like a mirror.
More growls. Followed by a flash of black and silver, it was too fast, even with his heightened senses, Cloud never saw it coming.
Sharp teeth pierced through the thick fabric of his black jeans and clamped down tight. Cloud grimaced in pain and swung Ragnarok with a swift precision, decapitating the wretched creature in one fluid motion, spraying blood over the other wolves and himself. The headless body staggered on its 4 feet for a while, not realizing its demise before collapsing onto the muddy ground with a wet splash. The head that remained clamped onto his thigh never lost its vigor and continued clamping on tight, the rivets of blood, human and animal coursed down his jeans. The wretched wolf's eyes were unyielding, the light refusing to die, Cloud glared back and grabbed the head with his left hand and twisted deliberately, feeling its jaw bones crack with a loud "SNAP!" from brute force, the completely mangled head falling slack with a thud against his sword, the eyes finally wide and unseeing.
The wolves retreated slightly growling in fury and leapt towards him. Fuelled by the smell of blood and rage. Cloud parried and countered the attacks easily, effortlessly, but with the wolves' speed and numbers, he didn't have enough time to cast a healing spell on himself. The wound on his leg was bad and would not stop bleeding. I have to make this a quick battle. He thought as he easily sent what must have been the 20th wolf to the fiery depths of hell. Spurts of blood were flying through the air, like vicious ruby snakes that spat their poison on Cloud. Splotches of blood dripped off his eyelids and coursed down his cheeks, Ragnarok was slick with it. Blood… The colour of fear. The colour of death.
Cloud could feel his own lifeblood ebbing away, his vision blurred and shifted and ever so often he found himself stumbling almost drunkenly. He found himself breathing harder as every cell in his body screamed for air, he felt cold… His gloved hands felt clammy against the smooth, worn leather.
He swung the heavy sword almost a full circle to throw off the ambushing wolves and found himself swaying. Dizzy from the lost of blood, he fell to his knees, right gloved hand still clutching onto Ragnarok's handle. He could almost feel the hot stench of the wolves' breath against his face as his vision started to fade. Cloud smiled, he was finally going to die… Wait for me Aeris, I'm going to meet you there…Thank you Zack…
"Get away from him!"
A figure dressed in white stepped out from the shadows, long hair blowing in the wind. The face shrouded by the shadows. The figure was shorter than Cloud by almost an entire head, and slim… Graced with feminine curves. A girl? "Don't touch him." Her voice was louder now, still soft but clear as crystal. "Please go… I don't want to hurt you." Slim hands cupped together and green light crackled to life, glowing as bright as lifestream. "Please…"
The wolves growled in response, drawing back their jaws to reveal ivory fangs as sharp as daggers. Their wild eyes glaring at the intruder in territorial rage and seemed to be smirking with what appeared to be arrogance at her words.
The shadow exhaled a tired sigh as if to say Very well. The green light swirled in her cupped hands, glowing brighter and brighter, a wind had started to gather. The lifestream that floated around the dead corpses were drawn towards her cupped hands, mingling with the light. The colour was changing… Lightening… The shadow opened glowing green eyes; the colour of pure Mako, her hair blew around her head like a halo. Then a soft whisper, "Forgive me Gaia..." Before she screamed out a single word.
"HOLY!"
Instantly, Cloud was blinded. It was as if a supernova was born in her cupped hands. The light shot upwards then outwards in an explosion of light that radiated in all directions, no longer pale green but a dazzling brilliant white and he was bathed in its radiance. Holy? But that means… Cloud tried to open his eyes and was temporarily blinded again. But he heard the wolves' screams, high pitched squeals that sounded like icicles driving into his ears. The octaves just kept rising, until Cloud could no longer track them. His body felt numb… A rushing sound seemed to surround him, like a vortex. And then the sound of trees splintering, finally all was silent, and all that could be heard was the sound of the pouring rain.
Cautiously, he opened his eyes. The light was still glowing though not as brightly as before, rushing backwards, absorbing in on itself and collapsing into a tiny speck that vanished into nothing. Cloud blinked in pain, slowly regaining his eyesight. The wolves were gone, both alive and dead, it seemed as though they had completely… Vaporized. The girl stepped out from the shadows. "Phew… That was close! Are you al…?" She stopped and let out a soft gasp in recognition as her doe eyes stared at him in shock.
Cloud was staring in kind. The blood covered Ragnarok fell from his hand and onto the ground with a loud metallic clatter. His sapphire blue eyes staring wide eyed at his savior, completely transfixed. He could recognize that face anywhere. Those large green eyes, that delicate bone structure, the honey brown locks that framed her face. That same face that haunted his every waking moment.
The white fabric that cloaked her clung damply to her skin, showing pale skin beneath. Cloud slowly rose to his feet; his right leg no longer bleeding and completely healed. The power of Holy? It just wasn't possible… It just WASN'T… He had to have gone delirious. Why? Why can't they just let me die in peace? Why save me than show me the person I can never see again?
"Why…?"
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Guess who?
OooOOoOooo, I bet everyone hates me now for giving that cliffhanger just after my LONG 9 months absence (Sorry everyone!) and just when… (Clamps my hand over my mouth) Ha ha ha… Okay, I shall zip my mouth at this point before I accidentally give out any spoilers… XD (Blows a raspberry) Hmmm… Since I'm ALSO done editing with the NEXT chapter, I guess updates will be up soon ne? (Winks)
Anyways…
Sorry everyone... I know I was supposed to launch this new chapter MUCH earlier but I ran into a few… Relationship problems. So… Have not exactly been in the right frame of mind of late… Lost my inspiration to continue for a while so… Ah well… I hope I haven't lost any of my faithful reviewers…
I'll pause occasionally now and then to concentrate on my other fic "Silver & Silent" which is Sephiroth centric! Ha ha ha… It's a Drama/Tragedy/ Angst (seriously lacking in the reviews department… I guess not many people read Drama? That's just me being complacent… :p) and will be 6 chapters long! So I figured, why not? Ha ha ha…I figured that even the villain deserves to have a soft side to him ne? (Winks) So do give it a read and a REVIEW too!
Oh yes! I also started on another fic! A high school FF7 story that I decided to approach from a slightly different angle! Titled "Please Smile at Me", so do give it a read and review too ne?
Okay! Bad news everyone! I got FLAMED for this fic! Yes by a Cloti fan no less… (Shrugs) No surprise there I suppose, Ah well… Whatever rocks her boat! Maybe I should add the "no flames please" line at the start of every chapter you think? Ha ha… But thank you all my loyal reviewers out there for your encouragement! Trust me… It made me feel a LOT better!
Oh! And do e-mail me at gerichung to all the peeps out there who wanna see my cosplay pics or just wanna talk to me ok? But add FF in the subject so I won't think it's junk mail k? Hope to hear from you guys!
Shouts To!
Izzia: Wow! Another new reviewer! A recommendation from icewolf9? (floating heavenwards) XD Hmmm… I didn't manage to receive your e-mail address the last time… Try sending again? But leave a space at both ends of the so I can see it ok:P
kristi: Wow… Seems like I'm getting a lot of new reviewers! YAY! Not that I'm complaining of course!
Kim Hong: Bombastic vocabulary? (scratches head) Hmmm…
Hong: (glomps) You came! You reviewed!
kagome: Hey! Nice to see someone new! Any suggestions for improvement thus far? Help me out! Should heads or tails be happy or sad? For the ending…
LastCetra: Hmm… Good question… What IS it with Vincent and his tea…? Ha ha… I didn't really think about it until you mentioned it! Ha ha… His hobby? From moping around? Maybe I can make him grow tea leaves for a living! XD (Laughing hysterically) I agree that Vincent does kind of sound like Shakespeare, wanted him to sound more… Err… Scholastic? Hmmm… Think I overdid it? (Scribbles down points to improve on) But thanks for your encouragement… It really did make me feel a lot better! Did you watch FF7 AC? COOL!
asga: Ha ha…As you say so! Hmm… Pick heads or tails? XD (Readies the coin)
icewolf9: Man oh man… Did I tell you that I absolutely LOVE getting reviews from you? WOW… If you keep buttering the toast like that I think I might start floating skywards! XD Hey… How's the FFX fic progressing?