I do not own Final Fantasy Crisis Core or any of the characters. I own all things previously stated.

Final Recruits

"How much farther?" Yuffie groaned.

"Not much," Zack said.

"So, tell me again where we're going," Tifa said.

"To the original SOLDIER HQ which was abandoned," Zack said. "I think that it may actually be in use, and if it is, we'll clear it out then borrow it."

"Why borrow it?" Cloud asked.

"Because our new team needs training before they can take anything out," Zack said.

Tifa nodded and they kept walking. They eventually came to a cliff face and Zack began feeling the wall. After a moment, he found the switch he was looking for and pressed it and the wall slid open revealing a tunnel into the cliff. They all went inside and searched the base. It was completely deserted.

"So," Tifa said. "What kind of training did you have in mind?"

"We'll be against the entire Shinra army," Zack said. "So I have the perfect training simulation. We need to see how long we can last."

He led them to the training room and started the same training program he had used to blow off steam. When the soldiers started appearing, Zack began shredding his way through the troops. Cloud and Cissnei did the same while Yuffie and Tifa did their best not to get shot. They were both able to kill a few enemies but nowhere near as many as the others. Finally Tifa and Yuffie were overwhelmed but the others kept fighting. After a few more minutes, Cloud went down, then Cissnei and Zack at the same time. The simulation ended and Zack checked the time. They had lasted for exactly an hour.

"Not bad," Zack said. "You two need a weapon."

"I prefer throwing things," Yuffie said.

"Yeah, you're good at it," Zack said rubbing a spot she had hit him with a rock once. "Feel like teaching her to use a Shuriken?"

"Sure," Cissnei said.

"So Cloud," Zack said. "You're the one over compensating, feel like teaching her to use a sword?"

"Oh trust me," Tifa said. "He's not overcompensating."

"Still feel like teaching her?" Zack asked.

"What about you?" Cloud asked.

"I'm going to train myself," Zack said.

"Do it Cloud," Cissnei said. "Trust me."

Cloud nodded and they all left except Zack. Zack started a training program he had only done one other time and had failed at. The training simulation was him against all of his friends. He was able to fight all of his friends but had not been able to finish Cissnei. Now he knew why.

"Here we go," Zack said as Luxiere appeared.

They fought and Zack won and Kunsel appeared. The fight had a similar result. Next came Tseng who Zack finished fairly easily albeit not happily. Finally Zack reached Angeal.

Angeal swung at Zack and Zack blocked it then kicked Angeal in the side of the head. Angeal stumbled back and attacked Zack. Zack dodged the attack and let Angeal impale himself on his sword. After him was Aerith. Zack wasn't excited about the fight but killed her none the less.

Finally Cissnei appeared. She threw her Shuriken at Zack and Zack blocked it. It flew into the air and Cissnei kicked off of Zack's sword and caught her Shuriken and landed behind her then swung at his neck. He caught her arm and flipped her over his shoulder. She wrapped her legs around his neck and flipped him onto his back then swung around to straddle his waist and tried to stab him. He grabbed her arms and held it away then noticed that the spike opposite the one aimed at him, was aimed at her throat. He closed his eyes and pulled Cissnei down onto the spike. Cissnei fell limp and disappeared along with her Shuriken. Zack stood and picked up his sword. Then Sephiroth appeared.

"Looks like I'm almost done my training," Zack said.

He charged at Sephiroth and Sephiroth held his masamune out to stab him. Zack swept the masamune out of the way then swung the back side of his sword at Sephiroth's neck. Sephiroth caught Zack's blade in his bare hand and Zack pulled it away. Sephiroth spun and swung at Zack but Zack leapt over his masamune then removed Sephiroth's head. He was about to end the training sequence when a beautiful woman with gold armor and a white cape appeared. She had a huge white and gold shield and a long golden staff.

"Oh you have got to be joking," Zack said. "Minerva?"

Minerva lifted her staff then swung it and nearly took Zack's head off. He managed to duck under it then swung at her. She blocked the attack with her shield then smashed him sideways with her staff and he smashed into the wall. He stood and charged and Minerva bashed him with her shield. He did a back flip and landed on his feet then dove sideways as Minerva smashed her staff through the wall. He jumped up behind her and slashed at her back but Genesis appeared and blocked his slash.

"What?" Zack said before Minerva shield bashed him again.

"I will not let you hurt Minerva," Genesis said.

Zack stood and wiped some blood from the corner of his mouth. It was real blood but he couldn't be killed from the fight because it was just a simulation. Zack charged and dodged Minerva's staff then blocked Genesis' sword and beheaded him. Minerva instantly dropped to her knees in shock before bursting into tears. Zack stood dumbfounded for a moment then decided to end the simulation. He removed Minerva's head and everything shimmered before the light faded and Genesis and Minerva's bodies were gone.

He left the room and found Cloud and Cissnei to talk.

"I just finished for the first time ever but it was weird," Zack said.

"How so?" Cissnei asked.

"The last fight was against Minerva," Zack said. "But when I was about to win, Genesis appeared and defended her. When I killed Genesis, Minerva broke down into tears. It almost seemed like-"

"Like they were in love," Cissnei finished. "Weird. Maybe they were but Genesis is dead now."

"No," Zack said. "We left him alive in Banora."

"Maybe he and Minerva are not only alive, but also together," Cloud said.

"If they are, we could use their help," Zack said.

"Do you trust him enough to join us?" Cissnei asked.

"No," Zack said. "But I do trust Minerva enough to see that we are just doing what we see is right."

"True," Cloud said.

"I don't like it," Cissnei said.

"I don't either," Zack said. "But Sephiroth was dead and yet they found a way to bring him back. If we're going to have any chance of surviving this war, we need their help."

"He's right," Cloud said. "We should take a vote."

"Agreed," Zack said. "Go get Tifa and Yuffie."

Cloud left so Zack took a deep breath then turned to Cissnei.

"What aren't you saying?" Zack asked.

"When I was getting Cloud's cells, Rufus caught me," Cissnei said. "He ordered me to go with you wherever you went and report everything you did back to him. That was how they found us so quickly. I had a tracking device on me when we reached the base. I left it at the base hoping they would think I was dead. So far it seems that it worked."

"Why would you do that?" Zack asked.

"I didn't want to," Cissnei said. "Rufus threatened to do horrible things to you if I didn't."

"I could handle Rufus easily," Zack said.

"No, you couldn't," Cissnei said. "Rufus once fought Minerva and won. He would tear you apart if you fought him."

"What did he threaten to do to me?" Zack asked.

"He threatened to torture you for three years," Cissnei said. "I've been tortured by him multiple times. All of them were for helping you. You have no idea how skilled he is at it."

She then fell to her knees sobbing. Zack knelt in front of her and hugged her. She hugged him back and sobbed into his shoulder.

"It's okay," Zack said. "I won't let him hurt you again."

"I-I'm s-sorry I b-betrayed you," Cissnei said pulling away.

"I don't care about that," Zack said honestly. "You did it to protect me. Thank you."

Cissnei smiled and hugged him again. Tifa, Yuffie, and Cloud all walked in a moment later and Zack helped Cissnei up.

"I assume Cloud filled you guys in," Zack said.

"Yes," Tifa said. "I think we need their help."

"If they don't fall in line, I'll handle Genesis," Yuffie said.

"Okay," Zack said. "Time to go."

They all got anything they thought they would need then they left for Banora. They found a helicopter in the hanger and Cloud flew them to Banora.

"You know," Zack said to Cissnei. "You never told me your real name."

"I'll tell you someday," Cissnei said. "Truthfully Cissnei is starting to grow on me."

"If I guess it will you tell me?" Zack asked.

"Sure," Cissnei said.

"Angel," Zack said.

"No," Cissnei said.

"We're here," Cloud said.

They all climbed out and Zack said, "Gwendoline."

"No," Cissnei said.

"Shut up Zack," Cloud said. "We should at least get there quietly."

They all agreed and silently walked walked through the Banora Underground until they reached the area where Zack had fought Genesis the last time.

"Welcome back Zack," Genesis said. "It's good to see you again. Cloud, good to see you walking."

"I got an upgrade," Zack said unfurling his wings.

"Impressive," Genesis said. "You've got the angel variant."

"So do I," Cissnei said unfurling hers.

Genesis whistled and Minerva appeared.

"Welcome Zack, Cloud, Tifa, Yuffie," Minerva said then flew at Cissnei aiming the pointed part of her staff at Cissnei's heart.

Just before she impaled Cissnei, Zack appeared in front of her and took the hit himself. He sighed in relief and Minerva pulled her staff out of his heart then flew back to Genesis' side. Zack stumbled back and Cissnei caught him as he fell.

"Zack!" Cissnei said.

Zack smiled and everyone fought mixed feelings of shock and confusion, even Minerva. She had attacked Cissnei because she had seen that Cissnei had betrayed her friends. Now that she searched the rest of Cissnei's history, meaning the last two days, she saw that she had admitted to it and had been forgiven.

Zack's eyes began to glaze over as he said, "Hope."

"No," Cissnei said smiling as tears spilled from her eyes.

Zack was dying and was using the last of his time to try to guess her name. He was determined, that was one of the reasons she fell in love with him.

"Darn," Zack said smiling then went limp.

Cissnei bowed her head and sobbed and Minerva stared in shock then snapped back into focus. She closed her eyes and created a sphere of light. It solidified into a materia and she pushed it forward. It floated over Zack then floated down and fused with him. His wound healed and his eyes opened glowing then the light faded.

"What happened?" Zack asked. "How am I alive?"

"I have used my immortality to free you from the Lifestream," Minerva said.

"You're mortal now?" Zack asked.

"Yes," Minerva said. "I am still as powerful as I was though."

"Thank you," Zack said. "I am eternally grateful."

"You're welcome," Minerva said.

"Why are you guys here?" Genesis asked.

"We need your help to take down Shinra," Cloud said.

"You've got stones," Genesis said. "It's not Shinra you need to take out, though. The only ones that are the problem are Dr. Hojo, Rufus Shinra, and the true Sephiroth. He lives in the SOLDIER HQ science lab."

"Great," Zack said. "Is he strong?"

"Impossibly," Genesis said. "So, shall we go?"

"Yes," Zack said.

With that, they all began heading out. They headed directly toward Midgar and their likely executions.

THE END

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