Chapter 9
Two weeks pass by as Zack, Kunsel, and Zen kept training and going on missions. Ever since that full moon night, the teenagers have been working even harder to become stronger. But at the end of each and every day, they continuously wonder if their efforts would really make much of a difference. With each SOLDIER member they're assigned to, more and more doubts bubble up within the back of their minds. Could hard work truly be enough to match the strength and power of a member of SOLDIER? Is all their training just for naught when their abilities are compared to the might of a member of SOLDIER?
The Wutai War was not going to last forever, nor will the three of them will retain their youthfulness for long. They couldn't keep going like this if nothing comes of it in the end. What was the point? They might as well return to their hometowns and forget about the whole thing.
But that wasn't an option. Not for Zack, who dreams of becoming a First Class SOLDIER and besting the best of them all: Sephiroth. Despite getting stronger, the sword he wielded got heavier. It wasn't the sword that was weighing him down, but his own pessimism. When he watches Zen train, he could see that she had something that he didn't have. It wasn't appearance and gender that differentiated them, nor was it social status. It was something else and it's been bothering Zack for some time now.
While Zen and Kunsel were off in another mission, Zack decides to wander around Junon on his own. Dressed in his regular clothes of a grey t-shirt, a pair of jean pants, and hiking boots, he traps himself within his own little world of what-ifs and can-Is. So occupied he was in his thoughts that he failed to avoid running right into someone absentmindedly.
"Oof, sorry about that!" he quips immediately as he snapped back to reality.
Zack soon discovers that the person he ran into wasn't a civilian that had haphazardly wandered into Junon's upper plate from the seashore below, nor was it even another fellow infantryman. As Zack's eyes slowly made their way upwards, he soon realizes that this was the last person he wanted to run into so clumsily.
Because it was someone he knew.
"Hello, Zack," greeted Angeal with one eyebrow raised in curiosity. "Any particular reason you decided to walk right into me?"
"Angeal!" the boy nearly shrieks and quickly composes himself before the older man. "I-I didn't see you there."
The First Class SOLDIER crosses his arms and looks at the young man curiously. "I'm the only thing around and in plain sight."
"Indeed you were," agrees Zack, chuckling uncomfortably. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go jump off the nearest bridge out of sheer embarrassment."
"No need to do that now," responds Angeal with a smile as he watches Zack actually attempt to walk towards the railing. "Especially not someone who's got what it takes to get into SOLDIER."
Zack stops in his tracks and turns slowly with a look of utter disbelief all over his face.
"W-what?" he stutters. "S-seriously? You think so?"
"Are you calling me a liar?" quips Angeal.
"No, no, no, not at all!" Zack slurs altogether as he waves his hands in front of him. "I just didn't… expect…"
Angeal chuckles and walks over to the boy to lay a hand on his shoulder. "You're SOLDIER material, Zack. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
"Heh," sighs Zack as he walks over to the railing overlooking the sea and stares out at the open waters. "Someone once told me something to that effect."
Angeal joins him and the two gaze out at the glistening surface of the ocean. "That someone is very wise." He turns to look at the young man. "You're pretty close to your friends, aren't you?" he wonders.
"They're like the siblings I never had," articulated Zack, his gaze still locked on the ocean. He shakes his head. "No, they are the siblings I never had."
"It's good to have someone you can depend on," says Angeal.
"You've got friends, too?" asks Zack, turning to face the SOLDIER member. It was hard to believe someone as stoic as Angeal would depend on anyone else, let alone have close friends of his own.
"Of course," answers the man. "I've known my best friend since we were kids. And my other friend… heh, let's just say he's sort of a celebrity in his own right."
"Sounds like someone needs to get off his high horse," chuckles Zack, not realizing who Angeal was talking about.
"Oh, you have no idea," Angeal laughs alongside him as images of Sephiroth came up in his mind.
"You know, Angeal. You're pretty cool for a member of SOLDIER," asserts Zack.
"You're not bad yourself," points out Angeal. Then he adds with a smile. "For a Shin-Ra grunt."
"Thanks for reminding me," responds Zack with a pout.
"Hey, everyone has to start somewhere, right?" says Angeal. "If you want, I can help you train."
"Really?" Zack's eyes lit up like holiday lights. "You mean it?"
"Sure, you've got what it takes," asserts Angeal. "You just need to refine your skills a little more."
"Gee, thanks, Angeal!" says Zack as he wraps his hands behind his head. "That'd be awesome!"
"We'll start after your next mission," suggests Angeal. "I won't be going back to Midgar for a while anyhow."
"Okay," agrees Zack. He then began to run back to his suite, but after a few steps, he turns to wave back at the First Class SOLDIER one more time. "Thanks again!"
Angeal watches as Zack runs off, silently hoping the young man would be prepared for what was to come. Angeal knew what awaits those that get into SOLDIER and it wasn't something meant for the weak of hearts. Turning around, he heads back to the Junon offices to hear of the final verdict of the Turks' deliberations.
Zen and Kunsel had just come back from their mission when Zack nearly bursts through the sliding door minutes after they had entered the suite. The two stare at the excited young man perplexed as they take off their helmets and lay them on the common room table.
"What's got you all worked up?" asks Zen with a smirk and crosses her arms.
"You'll never guess who I was talking to earlier!" Zack responds with a grin that seemed to stretch from ear to ear.
"… A woman that's actually interested in you?" banters Kunsel.
Zen busts out laughing upon hearing that and gives him a high-five.
"Oh, ha ha," says Zack sarcastically. "For your information, I happen to run into Angeal."
"Did you knock him over?" Zen asks with a smirk.
Now it was Kunsel's turn to snigger. He and Zen give each other another high-five in response as Zack looks despondently on and crosses his arms annoyingly.
"No, he nearly knocked me over," he quietly mutters.
"Sorry, Porcupine, we just needed to let loose. It's been a long day," apologized Zen as she wipes a tear from her eye. "So what's the deal with Angeal?"
"Well, you guys won't believe it, but…" began Zack. "Angeal is going to personally train me."
"Really?" exclaims Zen with eyes wide with surprise. "That's cool."
"Congratulations, Zack," adds Kunsel with a grin. "It's not everyday a member of SOLDIER is willing to help out one of us meager infantrymen."
"You guys aren't upset?" Zack raises a questionable eyebrow.
"No, why would we be?" wonders Zen, equally perplexed.
"I mean, he's going to train only me, after all…" Zack drifts off. He scratches the side of his head with a finger as he looks at his friends meekly. "I thought you guys would be kind of sad about that."
"Zack, we're not going to be able to do everything together, you know," spoke up Kunsel. "It's just impossible, considering the nature of our jobs and all."
"Kunsel's right," agrees Zen. "You should make the best of it. Don't worry about us."
"But, what if I get really strong and you guys aren't…" points out Zack.
"What did I tell you, Porcupine?" Zen sighs and puts her hands on her hips. "We're all going to get strong no matter what, SOLDIER or not."
"It'll be fine, Zack," assures Kunsel, putting a hand on Zack's shoulder. "We'll do what we can. Don't worry."
"How can you guys tell me not to worry?" Zack gently shrugs off Kunsel's hand and walks towards the door so he wouldn't face his friends. "I want to get into SOLDIER so bad. And when Angeal offered to help me train, I was so excited…" He turns to face his friends sadly. "But when I saw you two, I realized that if I go through with this, I won't be able to be with you guys anymore." He lowers his head and clenches his fists as he felt the frustration burning up inside of him. "Stop being so supportive of this. I don't want to get into SOLDIER by myself, I want all of us to get in together!"
For a few minutes, Zen and Kunsel just stood there in their infantryman uniforms, unsure of what to say. Of course they felt the same sentiments and Zack knew it. He didn't like that they were so supportive of him when deep down he knew they were sadden by the news. With a sigh, Zen walks over to him and places her hands on his shoulders.
"Zack…" she began. Zack looks up to peer into Zen's hazel eyes. It was the first time in years she called him by his name since they met. "We all knew from the beginning it wouldn't be possible. The chances of all three of us getting into SOLDIER at the same time are one in a million. It's nothing more than an impossible dream. We have to accept that."
She could feel Zack's body relax a bit under her touch. "Why…" he asks meekly.
"Train with Angeal, Zack," said Kunsel. "Train and get into SOLDIER. Don't let us get in the way."
"We'll catch up to you," assures Zen with as she releases Zack from her hold.
"Promise?" asks Zack.
Smiling, Zen puts out her hand palms down. Understanding the gesture, Kunsel lays his hand on hers. They look to Zack, who reluctantly places his hands on top of theirs.
"It's a promise."
A/N: Don't you just hate it when life doesn't go the way you wish it would?