Zack's Final Mission

Chapter 3: Farewell my friend

I slowly opened my eyes and saw a sky full of grey clouds gathering. I tried to move my legs but they felt so heavy just like my arms were.

Gunshots…

I can hear them so close… but… where am I? The last thing I remember was… his eyes… like fire… The fire in Nibelheim.

I sat down abruptly taken aback by the images in my mind and leaned my back against the solid rock behind me to look around, trying to locate myself. The sudden strain made my stomach hurt and my head spin. I raised my hand to touch my forehead, it was burning. I have to take it easy.

Sephiroth… he stabbed me but I was able to be stronger than him, I know I did something to him.

The effort I was making to fix the memories in my head made it hurt even more. They're all so faint, so distant… Have I dreamed it?

Wait…How was I able to do something to Sephiroth?! I'm just a rookie… I'm still learning and Zack said he was going to help me be better… Everything was silent now, the sky getting darker by the minute. The air was also colder, harder to breathe… Or was it that just me, tired, sore.

"Zack? Zack…" I called his name, more like whispered it. What happened to me that I just don't have the strength? I had to crawl out of that place and search for him around. My muscles moved in a constant sharpened twinge as I gradually started my way down the rocky path.

I finally turned to a clearing and I could not believe what my eyes were seeing. The picture was just too painful, too unbearable.

No…

"Zack!" I called again, this time louder, my emotions were causing my pulse to thump rapidly in my ears, and my blood was starting to run faster. Zack stood lying on the floor looking up at the sky with arms stretched to each side.

I could have thought he was just resting as he remained so quiet, so peacefully breathing, only if it wasn't for the fact that he was covered with his own blood descending gently from his stomach and chest to the floor around him. His arms were covered in wounds and scratches and there was a string of blood coming down from his forehead to his neck. He was so badly hurt…

His uniform had been ragged with gun holes and soaked by blood.

A piercing pain worse than what my body was feeling hit my heart like a stabbing knife going all the way through it while I watched him like that.

Reaching for Zack I looked down at him incredulously. He was dying…

There was no way this was going to be the end of Zack. I saw him fight, I saw him give his all. He was without any doubt the greatest soldier I've ever met. This must not be happening.

He was the only one inside Shinra who believed in me. A rookie who got sick when he flied and a clumsy swordsman with great aiming though. He had said to me once, I had the potential to be the greatest soldier there ever was, after him of course. He saw that in me when no one else did. But by no means would I believe that.

I have so much to thank Zack for all he has done for me. He gave me a course to follow. And I'll never forget his words.

Embrace your dreams and whatever happens protect your honour.

"Zack… Don't do this to me man…" My throat felt dry.

There had to be something I could do but I just didn't know if I should touch him, I was afraid I'd make it worse. I finally placed one hand at the back of his head to hold it up and tried to lift his arm to my neck, but he didn't want to get up.

"Don't strain yourself… Cloud. There's no use." He laid back down again. "It's alright. And you look worst than me." He laughed with a hand on his stomach to hold the pain. I smiled but those words made tears start falling heavily down my face. I looked at him in shock.

"Cloud… could you… do me a favour?" He struggled to say.

"Zack..." I just didn't want to believe he was dying. "Of course." I felt more tears falling.

"Would you tell Aerith… I was a hero?" I nodded, of course I would do that as soon as I found the girl with that name. It was the very least I could do for him.

His blue eyes were open but looked so tired. They were starting to focus on something in the sky. Staring at something above. His life was fading away little by little.

Soon enough the rain was pouring down blending in with his warm dark red blood and I could see it in his eyes that its refreshing touch was soothing his pain. He smiled and lifted his sword to me so I could take it. It was getting harder for him to breathe I noticed.

"That looks so liberating." He said.

He was smiling until the very end.

Zack closed his eyes, letting go. My hands turned into trembling fists, that could not be happening.

I screamed as loud as I could to set free some of the rage I was feeling towards that cruel world for taking my friend away. The only true friend I've ever had.

But I knew who the culprit was and I'd make him pay.

Thank you Zack…

Goodnight.

"You're going to live for the both of us."

I dragged my sword down the deserted valley I was walking on, towards Midgar ahead. I could feel my body recovering. I could feel it getting stronger by the second. Each step I took was each step I could lift the heavy sword higher, easily without straining myself.

"You'll be my living legacy…"

As I approached the dark city I could feel my mind hazy. I couldn't remember the how and why I got there but I knew who I was and what my mission consisted in. My memory was a big pile of incoherent images of places I've been and people I've met. But there was one image that stood out from all of the others. One person I could remember almost clearly.

Sephiroth.

That was my mission.

"My name is Cloud Strife. SOLDIER 1st class".

Note: Man… this was very sad to write and all the way I felt like telling Cloud: "Oh for God's sake just give him an elixir!"

Cloud: "Hey! I'm trying to work here!" So I had to shut up…. u_u

Well, this was the last POV! Next chapter we'll know what happens to Zack!

Thank you for the lovely reviews! :D