A/N: Ah, it seems I've made a mistake in my chronology of canon events. In a previous chapter, I noted that Zack met Aerith as a Second Class due to my apparently muddled memory of the game. (It's been a while since I finished Crisis Core.) Thanks to a brief review of Crisis Core cutscenes, it turns out that he indeed didn't meet Aerith until after he became a First Class. My apologies!
That only means it'll be even LONGER before Aerith appears in this story. *sinister laughter* Oh, don't pout! This is a SOLDIER story, after all. :3
And I just realized that this month marks the first anniversary of this fic since I started writing it last year! *tosses confetti into the air* Wow, hard to believe I've been working on this fic for a whole year and still going. Here's to another year of writing!
Chapter 22
The sun was peeking over the horizon when Kunsel sleepily reached the helipad on top of the Shin-Ra headquarters. Zack had managed to convince Angeal to charter a helicopter for them to get to the Eastern Continent where the Ancient Forest was located. The First Class SOLDIER member understood how important this was to his protégé and made the necessary arrangements to get the helicopter, which surprised Kunsel somewhat.
He spies the eager Zack waiting for him next to the helicopter, the blades already spinning dizzily. Putting his arm over his face to protect his eyes from the pulsating wind coming from above, Kunsel steps into the helicopter alongside Zack. As the helicopter takes off, Zack looks out the window down at Angeal, who gives him a thumbs-up for luck.
The sight of Midgar shrinking steadily behind them, Zack looks to Kunsel, who was already staring out a window in thought.
"…How'd you figure she'd be in the Ancient Forest?"
Zack was taken aback as Kunsel turns to look at him. "I remember she told me one time… That her favorite place in the world was the Ancient Forest."
Kunsel tilts his head curiously. "Why? It's hot, humid, and there's not a lot of clear-cut pathways there."
"She says it's the only place for her to feel at peace with herself," continues Zack, rolling his hands into fists. "Remember the time when I found out that her family was dead?"
"Yeah…" Kunsel replies uncomfortably. "Was that where she went when she disappeared around that time?"
Zack nods in response. "If she's in trouble or anything, that'd be the only place she'd be."
"And no one would be the wiser," adds Kunsel. "Her hometown would be the first place Shin-Ra would look and we both know they'd never find her there."
Zack takes a deep breath but clenches his fists harder.
"… Do you think… she's still alive…?" he wonders hesitantly.
"She's alive," affirms Kunsel with steadfast Mako eyes.
"How can you be so sure?" asks Zack.
"I believe she's still alive," Kunsel utters meekly. "I believe in it with everything I have."
He looks Zack in the eye. "We'll find her, Zack. I… I just know we will."
It took them three days to reach the Ancient Forest, located on a mountain range in the Cosmo Area of the eastern continent. The canopies of the trees were so thick and dense the helicopter could only land in a clearing outside of the forest about a mile away. For a normal person, it would be a long hike to the forest, but for two seasoned SOLDIER operatives, it was a short walk.
The two of them didn't sleep very well the night before, when they landed at Cosmo Canyon to refresh themselves for the journey ahead. Remembering that night when the three of them slept under the stars together and made plans for the future, Zack and Kunsel blaze through with high hopes in their hearts.
They did not realize the gravity of what laid ahead of them until they reach the edge of the forest. There was no way they would be able to comb through the dense foliage with just the two of them. Their only choice was to split up and hope Gaia would bless them with the best of luck.
Taking out his SOLDIER-issued sword, Zack begins hacking and slashing through vines and shrubs, shouting out Zen's name all the while. It was hard to imagine how the Second Class SOLDIER member would hear him through the sounds of birds and other forest inhabitants scurrying in the underbrush. He somehow manages to find his way to a path and starts following it deeper into the forest.
Suddenly, he spots something unusual on the long leaf of a plant. He rushes towards it to find that it was a pure-white feather. He feels compelled to pick it up and sees something was stuck to the bottom end. Thankful that both of his hands were gloved, he proceeds to touch what looks to be a blackish substance that reminded him of blood.
Maybe it's from a monster Zen fought, thought Zack as he rubs the substance between his index finger and thumb.
Thinking he was on the right track, Zack drops the feather and hurries through the pathway until he comes across a clearing void of tall trees. He sees another feather on the ground before him and walks over to it only to suddenly jump back and draw his sword.
A huge dragon-like lizard comes bursting through the forest and glares at him with yellow serpentine eyes. It growls fiercely, showing sharp, silvery teeth the size of daggers. It makes a swipe at Zack, who quickly dodge-rolls out of the way with ease. Zack counters with his sword, cleaving a sizable cut across the side of the reptilian. The monster roars angrily and swings its massive tail. In the blink of an eye, Zack was sent flying back through clusters of trees and lands painfully near the edge of a cliff.
I'm going to be feeling that for a while, thought Zack as he struggles to get to his feet.
As soon as he stood on his feet, the monster was already on him, forcing him back towards the cliff's edge. Zack had no chance to react as he loses his footing and falls.
He could feel the air pressure change as he fell, certain that his time was near as his breaths became shorter and short. Looking up at the sun overhead, Zack thought he saw something flying towards him. The last thing he remembers before passing out was the feeling of arms wrapping around his waist.
The sun overhead was beaming its light into Zack's face as he slowly came to. Groaning, he instinctively puts his arm over his face to shade his eyes when he realizes that he wasn't dead.
He sits up quickly, causing his head to throb from the sudden movement. Bringing a hand to his head, he scans his surroundings to find that he was still in the Ancient Forest, sitting in the midst of a small clearing. He hears a sound and turns to see the back of someone sitting a few feet away in the shadows of the trees. But what widens his eyes in surprise more was the sight of a full pair of wings folded up on the person's backside. He tries to get up, but falls back due to his still-throbbing head.
"Relax, you're safe here," says the person.
Zack could feel his throat become heavy as he struggles to say what immediately came to mind upon hearing that person's voice.
"…Z…Z…Zen…?" he stutters as he finds his voice again.
Zen turns to see him, her entire left side still hidden in shadow.
"Hey, Porcupine," she greets with a meek smile.
A/N: Wow, that was quick! Good job, Zack! You should fall down long distances more often. Oh wait…
Just want to let you guys know that I've got a job now so I don't have as much time to work on this fanfic as I would like. Nonetheless, I will be trying my hardest to keep up monthly updates at the very least so feel free to let this fanfic idle in your favorites for a while. ^^;