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

Loss

Zack silently walked around the wall of the church and slipped inside while the guard was facing away. Then he sneaked up behind Aerith and lifted her in a hug while covering her mouth. She looked behind her and smiled then spun around and hugged him.

"It's been so long," Aerith said. "Where were you?"

"I was being used as a test experiment then I was stuck in the SOLDIER HQ," Zack said. "Cissnei saved my life when the military attacked."

"Are you two together?" Aerith asked.

Zack smiled. Aerith was as perceptive as ever. That, or he was just as easy to read as a book.

"Yes," Zack said.

Aerith smiled and hugged him then pulled away.

"Good for you," Aerith said. "I'm sure you'll be happy with-"

She stopped when the entire roof of the church was ripped upward and Sephiroth floated down on a new black-feathered wing.

"Nice wing," Zack said unfurling his. "It's almost as cool as mine."

Suddenly Sephiroth sprouted seven more and dropped to the floor as all of them wrapped around masamune grips and lifted them with ease.

"Okay fine," Zack said. "It's a lot cooler than mine."

Sephiroth charged at Zack and Zack grabbed Aerith then flew out through the roof. Sephiroth followed by dropping on masamune into his empty hand and quickly caught up with Zack.

"GIVE ME A BREAK WILL YA'!?" Zack yelled.

Aerith flipped around and clung to Zack's back and Zack flipped over and began to fight Sephiroth. Sephiroth was using so many masamunes that every time Zack blocked one, seven more cut him. None of the injuries were life threatening but after fifteen minutes, he was beginning to feel light headed from blood loss.

"Fuck off Sephiroth," Zack said.

He put his feet against Sephiroth's chest and kicked him away. Then he turned around and flew higher where the rest of his group was waiting. He landed, and just as Sephiroth flew up through the opening, Cloud and Genesis cut him in half. They all sighed in relief and dropped their guard. Aerith hugged Zack from behind and a half second later a masamune blade sprouted from Zack's chest after going through Aerith's heart and his left lung. Another Sephiroth was standing behind them and was grinning.

"NO!" Cissnei screamed.

She darted forward before Sephiroth even realized she had moved and removed his head. Then she pulled the masamune out of Aerith and Zack. She healed Zack and started to heal Aerith but Aerith stopped her.

"No," Aerith said. "The Cetra have existed long enough. Please let me return to my people."

"But-" Cissnei began.

"Cissnei," Zack said. "She wants to be with her friends and family."

"But we're her friends," Cissnei said.

"Cissnei," Zack said. "Let her go."

Cissnei stared at him for a moment then nodded and put her materia away. Aerith smiled then closed her eyes and sighed. Cissnei lay her head on Zack's shoulder but was able to keep from crying. Zack stood and pulled her up with him then threw her back just as a rocket hit at his feet. He landed next to Cissnei and wasn't badly injured but his left leg was mangled. There were thirty Shinra troops marching toward them and all of them had either sniper rifles or bazookas.

"Run," Zack said.

"Not without you," Cissnei said.

Cloud hit her in the back of the head then handed Zack a gun. Then he threw Cissnei over his shoulder and everyone retreated.

"Okay Shinra," Zack said. "Now you get to finish what you started."

Zack sat up to shoot and one of the snipers pulled their trigger. The bullet tore through Zack's abdomen leaving precious little intact. Zack gritted his teeth, aimed, and pulled his own trigger. He made sweeping movements with the gun and hit every soldier the gun passed in front of. The method was good for buying time since none of the soldiers were able to shoot fast enough but Zack killed about one per minute. He was shocked that the gun hadn't run out of ammo yet, but the moment that thought crossed his mind, the gun stopped shooting. All of the snipers aimed directly at Zack's heart and he closed his eyes.

"Heads up Heaven," Zack said. "Here I come."

He quickly prayed for forgiveness for all of his sins then heard all of the guns go off. Miles away, Cloud and the others also heard the guns go off as they ran and the sound snapped Cissnei to awareness.

At the same time, a Bahamut Fury summon appeared in front of them and Genesis summoned his own to fight it. The only problem was that a Bahamut SIN summon appeared at the same time and killed both of them.

"Oh you must be joking," Cissnei said. "I can't even have five minutes to mourn my loss? Fine, I'll mourn Zack after I kill this thing."

"Should we tell her that she can revive Zack with a Phoenix Down?" Minerva asked.

"Why would we tell her that?" Genesis asked. "If she isn't smart enough to know that, why rock the boat? Besides, with him gone, I can finally assume command."

THE END

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