The unspoken Truth

Final battle

Zack didn't want to leave. Truthfully he never wanted to leave. The feeling of Aerith brushing against his chest, her warmth, and her sweet fragrance that smelled like lilies and honey. He could almost hear her calling his name in her mellow voice. Drats, this won't do for the day. Tsk, she can be such an alluringly distraction sometimes. He had to blink away those dangerous thoughts.

The field was clear and so was his mind. Yup, clear as mud. He knew he had to wait for the signal like a loyal bloodhound before fetching the freshly killed game. However this was not a hunting test. He had to be patient and he had to wait. There was no use wagging his tail around without a purpose.

This was war.

Zack tightened his grip around the buster sword as his nails dug into the hilt. Angeal, wherever you are…He prayed… Watch my back okay?

Feeling the Adrenaline pumping and the pleasure of war reviving, his other hand ran through the smooth black hair his mom used to call bird nest. Well, this big bad bird was about to take flight.

Honestly Zack always loved a good fight. He was never the type that would sit around adorned by books and his sleeping mat, he loved outdoors and he loved adventure. As a young boy he'd swing his mother's beloved broomstick around, fencing off scarecrow villains and claiming gorgeous damsels in distress. It was a daily habit to receive a good scolding on destroying the house before his father laughs him off. Then the next day he would be back to his old self again even if he promised to be extra good. There wasn't a mischievous deed he hasn't done or at the very least, attempted. He was a lion cub that couldn't be tamed by anything. Well…Now maybe except thoughts of her.

He looked back his shoulder at Cloud who sat like a delicate doll. Looks like his would have fetched a good price in Midgar, and if not, then good girls. Zack forced on a smile. The toxic Mako in Cloud hopefully won't last too long or it would be the ruining of a perfectly good man.

"When we get back, I need to get Aerith to introduce some nice girls for you." He remarked in a taunting tone. "But just wait until you meet her. She's perfect. Oh but you can't have her…she's my woman. Well alright really, I meant she's gonna be mine."

Laughing to himself, Zack double checked the note was still there in his left pocket. When he first saw the writing, he couldn't believe how much he missed her. She was his angel and his alone and he miss holding her with his arms as if she was the most fragile treasure in the world, her innocence brittle against his brutal force. There was nothing he wouldn't give just to see her face again and hear the fair angel's voice.

I want to get back to her.

That was the newest and also final mission of Zack Fair, SOLDIER First Class.

The signal came.

It was nothing like what he experienced at Wutai. One lonely low-class soldier emerged from the distance and because of his Mako enhanced eyesight, Zack could tell he was carrying the latest model of the Shinra machine gun. "Great, sending a shrimp like those to finish me off."

Then he realized he was too quick to make a statement. Another one of those army men emerged. Then a third…a forth…and then he saw the rest. They were approaching him in a rapid pace. Those Shinra trained killing machines.

"Cloud, looks like I've got some skills sharpening to do," Zack joked. A nerve jolted down his spine and the hairs on his neck stiffened. Whether it was pure fear or excitement he couldn't tell the difference. This was the pleasure of war. The urge to fight and to kill have been integrated into his blood, his body yearned for it. There was something telling him on the inside to run, flee and be gone with it. Although a vegetable friend might cause some difficulties, it was still possible. But SOLDIERs never run. Not from a fight. Ever.

"Are you ready Cloud?" He asked in a voice too calm to be his own. Truly he felt as if he was on an altitude of a thousand feet looking down at the misty realm below.

Even though with contaminated brain fluids, he knew Cloud could hear him. Grinning, Zack ruffled the blond's anti-gravity hair. "Hmph."

Flexing his shoulder muscles, Zack did a brief warm up before noticing the entire pack of them were enclosing him, each man wore a cold, sullen expression that spelled business. It appears thar Shinra's serious this time. Last time they underestimated the true strength of a first class SOLDIER and sent the patches of merely experienced recruits to their demise. Well this time, they definitely took their precautions.

"A thousand against one," he scanned his surroundings with his sharp eyes. "That wouldn't be very fair would it?"

Recalling the final words Angeal had left in his memory, Zack picked up his sword.

Hold on to your dreams. Never forget your honor.

Before because of his weakness, he dyed his hands with the very blood of the mentor he wished to save. Now there were people he wished to protect no matter the consequences. If it was for them, he'd now bet his life on the front line.

Aerith, he whispered her name. Wait for me.

Somewhere behind him, Zack imagined a vivid scream.