The last Post-Climax chapter, my dears. Expect the unexpected.
Full marks for you, you had guessed out who she is.
Disclaimer: Nah, I do mot own the Compilation. Only my OCs.
Zack asked. "But how we will get to Banora?"
Mekazu facepalmed. "Ah, snap. I forgot."
A Shinra chopper appeared. Mekazu prepared for the battle stance. "Who are you?!" he asked.
It landed down, and the chopper opened the door. "It's me." said Cissnei.
Mekazu disarmed his weapon, and he asked. "Hmm... if by chance can you take these two to Banora?"
Zack said in relief. "..Sweet! I can go there!" Cloud said. "I'm going, too."
"Sure. I was going there, too, to investigate the sightings." Cissnei replied.
Mekazu said. "Thanks. I gotta go to Great Cavern of Wonders myself."
Her eyes widened. "The Great Cavern of Wonders?!"
Mekazu replied. "Yeah, the one with an odd energy source which made the machines go berserk, powerful monsters and some leftover contaminated Wutai and Genesis copies."
Cissnei frowned. "Aww... its materia reaction was even beyond measure.. are you sure you gotta go?"
Mekazu replied. "Of course. The Great Cavern of Wonders has missions which only a few would go deeper and deeper."
Cissnei asked. "But how will you get there? Its too far away."
Mekazu snaps his fingers, a pair of hawk's wings emerged- the edges were colored in red.
"This, is the answer." he said.
Cissnei, instead of being shocked, she was just surprised. "Alright, I'll take these two. Until we meet again."
As Zack and Cloud board the chopper, Mekazu yelled. "Zack! Cloud!"
They asked in unison. "Hmm?"
Mekazu smirked. "Don't you two dare die on me, or else those two ladies waiting for you won't forgive you!"
Zack and Cloud blushed. "Fine! Let's go!" said Zack. "Alright, alright." said Cloud.
The chopper flew to the opposite direction- Mekazu extended his wings and flew at supersonic speeds northwards.
Mekazu's thoughts ran up through his mind. 'Minerva...'
Aresia appeared, and took physical form. He had a white trench coat, but black metal-clad boots. His inner attire is black but his fingerless gloves are white. Aresia's hair is the same as Mekazu's. His eyes were golden, with white wings.
Mekazu asked. "Aresia. How's Minerva?"
Aresia replied. "Quite bad. Jenova's infection was advancing bit by bit even if I slowed it down by time."
Mekazu said. "I guess I have to be quicker." he sped up.
Aresia said. "By the way, there is a boon found in Banora."
Mekazu said. "I knew it. Something was very odd there. The Goddess Materia which Minerva supplies the power within..."
Aresia continued. "So this person named Genesis is trying to stop his degradation by using the materia."
Mekazu said. "If we don't act quickly, the materia would be dangerous for Genesis to take in. It would be corrupted by Jenova."
Aresia said. "So you mean, Minerva is symbiotic to the materia?"
Mekazu said. "Yes. The boon, is nurturing the Planet itself. If it's gone, the Planet's core will be the alternative source. Minerva, directly created and summoned from the Lifestream, is using her power to supply the Materia."
Aresia asked. "So, you mean your friends have to fight the materia while you cut off the source?"
Mekazu said. "Yeah, the climax is coming near. Afterwards we should be able to return safely."
Aresia said. "Sorry to break it, but... my vision says someone will die."
Mekazu, looking worried, asked. "Can I use Phoenix to revive him/her?"
Aresia replied. "If you have found the body, that is."
Mekazu found a big cave. "That must be it."
Aresia said. "Good luck."
Aresia disappeared as Mekazu lands down to the entrance of the cave.
Meanwhile, the chopper landed at the ruins of Banora.
A figure revealed to be Angeal appeared with a wing. He is seen in white.
"That must be him." said Cissnei.
The three came out from the chopper.
"Angeal?" asked Zack.
"No... its me.. Lazard." said Lazard, who was now an Angeal Copy.
Zack said. "What are you doing here?"
"To be honest, I do not really know. I just went with Hollander to exact my revenge but... once I became like this, the feeling for vengeance was gone." replied Lazard.
"I see." said Zack.
"I need your help. I want to save the world, and save Genesis as well." said Lazard.
"Save Genesis? What do you mean?" asked Cloud.
"Degradation. And I believe the odd energy down there, is corrupted." said a voice coming out from the shadows.
"Who's there?" said Zack, agitated.
"Sorry for not introducing myself." it came out as a man with a white lab coat opened. It was Professor Alexander. "I'm Professor Alexander, and please do not tell Mekazu about this."
"About what?" asked Lazard.
"I'm his father." replied Alex, with a worried look.
Everyone's eyes widened as they heard him.
"I did not have the chance to tell him- Where is he?" asked Alex.
"In the Great Cavern of Wonders." replied Cissnei.
Alex replied. "I see. He now knows his race."
Zack said. "I gotta go now down. I believe Professor needs some bodyguards, eh?"
"I gotta return to the Turks." said Cissnei.
"I'll try to protect Him." said Cloud.
"So am I." said Lazard.
"Thanks guys. I gotta hide while researching." said Alex, who hid in his base camp.
Zack jumped down to the outskirts- to see a base of operations led by Shinra years ago, with a hidden cave that looks like natural.
"He must be there." said Zack.
Zack entered the cave entitled Depths of Judgment at the same time Mekazu enters Great Cavern of Wonders, as the final battle is approaching near.
Minerva had stalled Jenova for three years, and recently Jenova caused an infection against Minerva; trying to corrupt her.
Decided not to bold-en the words of Minerva and Aresia.
Anyways, the next chapter would be seriously long; I'm planning the final battle
Zack vs. Genesis Avatar/Mekazu vs. Corrupted Minerva at the next chapter, there must be confrontations first. After the fight, you might see an exhausted Cloud.
Zack's Final Stand will still happen... or will he survive? Or Mekazu tries to save him before the army advances further? Find out in the next chapters.
Rate and Review, or Follow and Fav my dears.
Riku Kazyru, The LifeStream of Time, trans-out.