Author's note: Welcome back, fellow readers to this story. I'll do the best I can in making many changes but I also wanna stay true to my headcanon.
To TerraKH-Thanks for your review, and I will do my best. I think I might make some changes in some of the previous chapters, but other than that, I didn't mean to make the storyline too familiar.
Just a short notice, this chapter will mostly be focused on the "Dream Fragments" but we will hit reality in this chapter too.
In this case, let's continue on, and remember the important notes here:
The Bold is the Author's Notes.
The Italic is both memories and dreams.
The Bold &Italicare the names of the worlds.
The Brackets (-and Bold-) are the BGM(which will never happen, but one can dream, right?).
I do not own anything.
CHAPTER 5: From Bad to Worse.
(Fragments from Zack's dream)
Fragment 12: It's been three weeks since Angeal's disappearance, or as Sephiroth would like to say, Angeal's betrayal and had left with Genesis and the deserted SOLDIERS 2nd and 3rd Class. Zack, without anything else to do, despite wanting to go out and find his mentor, was instead sent on other missions.
Today, he was to pay a visit to Balamb Garden with Kunsel who showed him around the school of SeeDs at many ages, from small children to near adult teenagers around his and Zack's age. As Kunsel was explaining about how SeeDs work and how Balamb Garden survived with power without Mako Reactors, Zack could only think about Angeal.
"Hey, are you listening?" Kunsel's voice brought Zack back to reality.
"Huh, what? Come again?" Zack replied. He really must've been out of it.
Before either SOLDIER could say anything else, just then, they heard a young voice call out, "I said fight, Squall! You'll become a SeeD if you refuse to fight me!" causing both of them to look up a head to see a young blonde-haired and possibly arrogant boy, about thirteen years old, demanding to another boy with brown hair who looked about a year younger than the blonde one.
"Fine. Have it your way, but if we get into trouble, it's your own fault, Seifer." The boy, Squall, replied, getting into a fighting stance.
"That's more like it." Seifer grinned.
"Sounds like a rivally going on there." Kunsel muttered.
Zack, not willing to see a fight between children, especially around in a school, wasn't listening and rushed over, despite Kunsel's protests. "Hey! Knock it, you two." Zack called out as he approached the two boys who paused their mid-attack and glanced at the young SOLDIER who continued to scold, "You shouldn't be fighting like this, let alone when your teachers and superiors did not tell you to. If you do, that will only land you into serious trouble."
"Hoo boy." Kunsel slumped in defeat with a sigh. Only Zack.
"Who asked you, SOLDIER boy?" Seifer rudely demanded. It took a lot of Zack's will power not to tell, despite feeling insulted. "This is SeeD business. Go back to ShinRa!" the thirteen year old continued.
"That's enough, Seifer." A new voice joined in. The four young men turned to see another man approach them. He was a tad tubby, and looked well into his thirties or something, as he gazed at Seifer, "You know you shouldn't abuse vistors, let alone SOLDIER. Also, as the young man said, it's forbidden to fight against another classmate while not in the training field."
Seifer grunted, then stormed off without another word. Squall, in silence, just nodded at Zack before walking of as well, much to the sixteen year old's confusion, while Kunsel joined him.
"I apologise for my students' behavior." The older man, named Headmaster Cid of Balamb Garden, said to Zack. "They both want to become SeeDs, but I'm afraid they have a strong sense of rivally. In Seifer's case, he has a bit of a non-self control issues, and in Squall's, well, I can only assume he cannot ignore him."
"That's okay." Zack shrugged, "I'm sure they both learn when they get older."
Fragment 13: A month after the mission in Wutai, there was still no word on Angeal. Zack, at the SOLDIER Cafeteria after another day of training without his mentor, only just poked at his food of Mash Potatoes and Chicken Snitzel, not having eaten at all. How could Sephiroth say that Angeal deserted like that? Genesis was the deserter who took a bunch of 2nds and 3rds with him. He used copies to attack everyone! Angeal would never condone something like that! He valued his SOLDIER honor more than anyone else!
Zack groaned, dropped his fork onto the counter and held his head. Everything's so messed up these days. "Angeal, just come back, please!" he muttered to himself, just as his PHS rang. Pocketing out of his pockets, Zack answered it at first ring, "Hello?"
"SOLDIER 2nd Class Zack, I assume?" an unfamiliar and strangely familiarized accent tone questioned.
The young man's brows furrowed. "That's me. Who is this?" he replied, a bit rudely, not to mention the annoyed tone in his voice didn't help. Apparently, whoever it was he was speaking to either didn't hear his tone of voice or simply ignored it, as well as ignoring his own quesiton.
"Director Lazard is waiting for you in the Briefing Room." the voice continued, then just hung up, despite Zack's protests. Who was that?
Shrugging and finding himself not hungry, Zack stood up and abandoned his lunch all together. He left the cafeteria to meet up with his superior. Maybe Lazard had a lead on Angeal? He somehow doubted, but Zack was hoping that was the case.
Fragment 14: "Any word on Angeal?" Zack asked the moment he stepped into the Briefing Room and found Lazard seated in the same spot he first met him a month ago.
Lazard, who was apparently in deep thought, shook his head, answering, "No answers from his mother, Mrs. Helwey either."
Figures. Zack sighed in disappointment. He then remembered that Lazard did want to see him, so he asked, "So what's this about?"
"I have a new assignment for you." Lazard began, "We're sending you to SOLDIER 1st Class Genesis's hometown."
"Genesis's hometown?"
"Apparently, his parents had no contact with him, but, they can't be trusted." Lazard continued.
"Why?" Zack asked, puzzled.
A pause. Lazard then answered, "They his only family."
Ah. That made sense, Zack thought, as he understood, rubbing the back of his head. It made perfect sense that Genesis's parents would possibly lie about his whereabouts in order to protect him, despite the risk of their own lives. If Zack was ever in trouble, he knew that his parents would go out of their way to help him out. That's what parents would do to their children.
The question is, why was Zack being sent to Genesis's hometown?
"I have dispatched some staff, but we lost contact a day ago." Lazard continued, and on the computer screen, which Zack noticed, were two people he didn't recongise on the screen, which also had a flashing word of 'Lost'. At first he didn't know who they were, but then he noticed the uniforms and then recongised them; The business like suits. Those could only belong to the General Affairs Investigation Department, or as everyone else called them, the Turks.
"So you're being sent there to investigate." Lazard added, glancing around behind Zack, concluding, "He will go with you."
Zack followed his superior's gaze, and was quite surprised that he didn't notice a third person in the room when he came in. The man in question approached them. A Wutaiian, Zack realised, and this Wutaiian was a Turk. This man, possibly six years older than him but still quite young, had long black hair tied up in a tight ponytail, and a tilak on his forehead. He held a stern and keen gaze. He was all business.
"Tseng of the Turks, second in Command." Tseng, the Wutaiian, introduced himself.
Both men looked serious. Zack noticed that there was no handshake. He gazed at Lazard, remarking, "No offence, but this job is looking really gloomy."
Fragment 15: After Zack prepared himself, he returned to the Briefing Room where Tseng was. Lazard had vanished, possibly back in his office. "Are you ready?" Tseng questioned.
"Yeah." Zack replied, "This is a routine job, right? I can handle it."
"I wonder." Tseng muttered to himself about the young 2nd Class's personality. Zack was no where near like a certain someone he took in and was coming close in becoming Third in Command of the Turks. He then said to Zack, "Sephiroth was originally assigned to this mission, so it's a top priority matter."
He then looked Zack in the eye, adding, "Be alert, or you'll fail."
"And Sephiroth?" Zack asked, curiously.
"Apparently, he refused to go." Tseng answered.
Sephiroth, the Legendary SOLDIER, actually refused to go on a mission? That was new to Zack who couldn't help but feel a bit surprise and a bit jealous. ShinRa must've spoiled him way too much, he thought, and this he said to the Wutaiian.
Hearing this made Tseng smirk a little in amusementm though he did try to hide it. "Why don't you say that to his face?" he suggested.
Zack actually paled at the thought and quickly became scared. By remembering the frown back in Wutai, he hated to admit it, but that scared him. Sheepishly, he placed his hands together and replied, shakily, "Uh, n-no thanks!"
(~Wandering a Sunny Afternoon-CC FFVII~)
Fragment 16: The SOLDIER 2nd Class and the Turk Second in Command dissembled the chopper that brought them to the hometown of Genesis. Zack looked around and noted the country side feeling to it. Not to mention the greenary. 'I guess Genesis is a country boy like me and Angeal.' he thought to himself as he followed Tseng, walking under a row of strangely bend and shaped trees that looked like giant rib cages of a skeletion of a dinosaur or something.
It would've been too if it weren't the fact that they had bark wood and leaves growing. "Weird looking trees." Zack commented. He also noticed strangely blue-purple apples hanging as well.
Realising that Zack had never seen these trees before, Tseng explained to him, "These are Banora Trees. Otherwise known as Dumbapples."
Zack's eyes widened slighty. If these were Dumbapples, then that meant... "Wait a minute. That means we're in Banora-Angeal's hometown." then asked, "So, Genesis came from Banora too?"
"That's correct." Tseng nodded, "Genesis and Angeal had known each other for a long time."
"More like knowing each other probably since they were kids." Zack muttered in realization.
(~Wandering the Sunny Afternoon~)
Fragment 17: Suddenly being forced to fight against more Copies and coming to realization that the town was overtaken, not to mention that Genesis had stolen a large arsenal of weapons with him. Zack, being told by Tseng that the President wants the weapons either found or destroyed. Zack had a feeling that the destroying part was more likely and when he arrived at a resident house, only to fight off more copies and a giant spider-like machine, which Zack had managed to slice the single missile in half in once hit.
(~Organization XIII-KH: Birth by Sleep~)
Once Zack destroyed the machine, he took off the helmets of the dead copies, and as he grimly knew, they held the faces of Genesis. "Genesis copies." Zack muttered.
Tseng, who had arrived and was admittedly impressed with Zack's skills, questioned, "Where did you hear that name?"
"Sephiroth found out and mentioned." Zack answered, before asking the Wutaiian, "So, why did Genesis steal these machines, and how did he manage to make clones of himself?"
"The technology blueprints were stolen from our scientests." Tseng grimly replied as he observed the machines and the dead bodies of the copies as well, being a Turk and all. At Zack's shock and confusion at this, Tseng continued, "Genesis apparently found a way to transplant his abilities and traits to SOLDIER members...and monsters, by using those blueprints."
Zack was stunned, as he gazed at the dead bodies again. While he was shocked and confused on how SOLDIERs and Monsters could be the same, he then realised that he hasn't even encountered the missing bunch of 2nd and 3rd Class...or rather, he didn't even recongise them. Did that mean Genesis...used the deserted 2nd and 3rd Class SOLDIERs and turned them into clones of himself?
(~End Organization XIII~)
"Ow..." Zack groaned, as he awoke from unconsciousness. He was lying on his back, flat out. Sitting up, groaning, he grumbled to himself, "Ugh...Merlin didn't mention anything about crash landings." noting the stiffness in his body and made a mental note in taking lessons in how to land safely after using the Starshard, which he noticed was still in his hand. At least he didn't lose it.
He then thought back of when he fell into unconsciousness. Zack realised he passed out as he was passing through an amazing tunnel and sea of stars, which, he had to admit, was very beautiful.
Standing up, Zack looked around in the new surroundings in the new world he landed himself into. It was a field of dirt, green grass, and paths that held a fork in the road. One led into a distance, and another led up a hill with a forest of Bamboo.
World: Land of the Dragons.
"This place kinda reminds me of Banora Village and Wutai in my dreams combined." Zack muttered to himself, as he placed his Starshard into his pockets. He thought about his dreams, and, the very thought of Genesis being able to turn other people into clones of himself gave him the shivers. But then his thoughts to the Angeal he knew and briefly wondered if he was here in this world.
(~Fields of Honor-KH 2~)
Just then, he heard screaming, alarming him. Zack quickly looked for the source and found a man in a blue robe and about in his fifties running away from Heartless, screaming, strangely squealing like a girl. Before Zack to couldn't think on how or why that man was screaming like a damsel in distress, he also noticed another man, about in his forties, apparently a warrior, fighting off the Heartless, but was struggling as he was getting tired, not even his sword to last much longer.
Zack didn't hesitate to jump in, as he called out to the other men, "Hold on! I'm a-comin'!" rushing over while drawing out his own sword, and instantly slashed at two armor-like Heartless, standing in between more Heartless and the two men who was shocked at his sudden appearence.
The young swordsman, not using his new magic abilities, did what he did best with his sword and slashed at every single Heartless, getting some injuries but he refused to back down. Besides, he figured that if he used his other skills, that would show signs of him being from another world, and he promised Merlin not to reveal the knowlage of other worlds to anyone else. Zack leaped into the air and slashed one of those 'fat' Heartless on the back, destroying it instantly.
More kept coming, though, and it was getting on his nerve. None the less, Zack did not give in. Finally, after something like what seemed like half an hour, Zack eliminated the last of the Heartless for now, the last one being a Chinese looking one. (~End Fields of Honor~)
"Phew." Zack sighed, wiping sweat from his forehead as he stealthed his sword back onto his back. Boy, the Heartless were such a work out. Almost as bad as the blue things from eight years ago. He suddenly froze in thought at that. Considering how the blue monsters appeared out of nowhere and then just never shown up again about long after he met Ven, Terra, Grovyle, Aqua, 'Sailor Moon', Jason and Mickey. Did those things cause problems to other worlds too?
(~The Home of Dragons-KH2~)
He returned to reality as he heard the two men, the warrior named General Li, and the one in the blue and looking very lanky, named Chi-Fu, approached him. "You. What is your name, young man?" General Li inquired.
Caught off guard a bit, Zack then replied, "I'm Zack." before asking, "Are you guys alright?"
"Yes, we are fine." General Li replied.
Chi-Fu, the assistant of the Emperor of China, gazed at Zack supiciously, and asked, "Where are you from, outsider?" knowing that Zack wasn't Chinese. On the other hand, he didn't look like Hun either.
Again, caught off-guard, Zack replied, a bit nervously, "Uh...from a town pretty far away." which wasn't a complete lie. After all, he is a country boy.
"You're not with the enemy of China, are you?" General Li questioned.
China, huh? Well, at least Zack knew the name of this world. After a moment, he replied, "No, I'm not. Don't worry. Actually, I'm looking for someone." he then asked, "Have any of you seen a guy around here? Kinda like me but different." gesturing at his clothes.
Both Chinese men glanced at each other for a moment, both deep in thought, then turned back to Zack, and, seeing how he saved them and how polite the young man was, not really Hun material, and seemed quite friendly, Chi-Fu answered, "I think I know who you might be talking about. He went off to a small village where an old mansion is nearby. Just follow this road." gesturing at the path leading into the Bamboo forest.
"Thanks." Zack nodded, before asking, "So um, do those monsters usually attack, or did they just appear out of nowhere recently?"
"They appeared quite recently, actually." Gerenal Li replied, before cautioning, "Zack, I suggest you be on your guard, and again, thank you for helping us."
Zack grinned cheerfully, "I'm glad I could help."
After saying their goodbyes, General Li and Chi-Fu left to the road leading into the distance, while Zack gazed up at the path where the Bamboo trees were, wondering what he will find. He hoped that Angeal was here.
(~End the Home of Dragons~)
It was getting late by the time Zack exited the Bamboo forest, the sun beginning to set. He knew he should rest for the next, but camping out was too risky. For all he knew, there could be Heartless looming in the middle of the night, and if he wasn't careful, he could end up losing his heart in his sleep.
Finally, he noticed an old looking hut just up ahead. Thinking, Zack then shrugged and approached it, while cautious and alert for any signs of danger of Heartless. Once he was close, he noticed that the place looked so old, it was slowly fall apart, and it seemed to be abandoned. Slowly sliding the door open(once he realised that the doors in this world slide sideways open rather than pushed open), he looked around, and was immediately hit by the faint smell of dust.
Other than that, as he checked around, the place was empty. At least he didn't have to ask people to let a stranger spend a night in their home. Zack was too uncomfortable with the thought. So, after going out again to find some rocks, dried up grass, firewood and two rocks to make a campfire within the place without burning it down, Zack then went out to find food to make himself dinner as he realised he was starving.
Good thing he used to go camping with his father before leaving home to train to become a hero, and Zack remembered how to do so at heart. Thankfully, he picked out fruit and was extra careful on which was safe and which was not, before returning to his campsite and started the campfire, having his meal of surprisingly delicious bananas, before lying down on his back, placing his hands behind his head as he gazed up the ceiling, which had a hole that looked large enough to fit a small child, and he could see the tail signs of stars blinking into existance, as the sky turns twilight.
(~Successor-Theme of CRISIS CORE-FFVII~)
He thought about his recent dreams, and came to a startling discovery that the boy Squall in the dream looked so much like a younger version of Leon. Not to mention that back in Traverse Town Yuffie called Leon, Squall before the man corrected her. Was Leon connected too? Zack then thought about Banora and the rest of his recent dreams.
"Angeal..." Zack whispered, as if he was talking to his mentor. "Where are you? How did all this happen?" in a hint of sadness.
Closing his eyes to think, before Zack knew it, he was fast asleep. (~End Successor~)
(Fragments from Zack's dream)
Fragment 18: After inspecting the robot, Zack and Tseng both continued up the path through and gate-less gate and both found a slightly larger house, looking like a mansion, with another Banora white tree, apparently the largest Zack had seen, next to it.
"This is Genesis's home. His parents are wealthy landowners." Tseng explained to Zack.
(~Under the Apple Tree-CRISIS CORE FFVII~)
Zack half-listened, as he remembered what Angeal told him; "But I never stole from that tree, because the wealthy man's son was my friend."
"So, how did Angeal and Genesis know each other then?" Zack shrugged, though he expected he half-knew the answer.
"The reason for that is because they were best friends, because they grew up together." Tseng answered.
The thoughts of what Sephiroth told him a month back was beginning to make sense, but still, Zack still didn't want to believe it, so he had to make sure. "So Genesis deserts, and then manages to get Angeal to join him?" he theoried.
"Sephiroth believes that's the case." Tseng agreed, then he and Zack noticed a large pile of dirt and rock near another tree next to the path leading down to more houses. The Wutaiian's brows furrowed, as he recongised this. "Hmm...a gravestone. It's still new." he muttered, before telling his current partner, "Zack, find and investigate Angeal's house. I'll investigate the grave." making his way to it.
The thought of checking other people's graves made Zack slightly sick in the stomach. Not to mention that the other thought of seeing dead people's bodies was pretty much disgusting and it would give even Angeal nightmares.
"Blegh..." Zack groaned as he followed Tseng who didn't seem fazed. "So Turks do this all the time?" he asked, mentally asking if checking graves was part of the Turks' job.
"Someone has to do it." Tseng replied.
Zack paused in his steps, saying in slight sympathy, "I bet it's really rough."
"Don't worry." Tseng began, with a slight smirk, "We get much better pay than you."
"What!?" Zack exclaimed, shocked, "No way!" before mentally groaning. The things he learns about the Company he's working with, and it seems like he still hasn't learned a thing. On the other hand, as Zack decided he didn't want to stick around to see the dead people's bodies(and also mentally hoped there wasn't gonna be a Zombie Apoclypse), he went to find the house of his mentor, but as he reached the bottom where the houses were, he realised another problem.
(~End Under the Apple Tree~)
He had no idea which one it was. On top of that, there weren't any villagers around either. Zack didn't like this one bit. He checked around for any signs of enemies, while checking in each house, finding the buildings empty, save for family photos. Sighing, he tried out the last one which was closer to another path leading to a gate to somewhere.
He was half successful, as he checked inside, and found an elderly woman sitting in a chair by a table. Zack noted that she had black hair which resembled to Angeal's. He wondered if she was his mother.
"Can I help you, young man?" The elderly woman asked, kindly.
"Uh, um, I'm sorry to intrude, ma'am, but, are you, Angeal's mother?" Zack replied. When the woman didn't answer, he added, "My name's Zack, SOLDIER 2nd Class."
The woman, without a doubt Angeal's mother, paused a moment, then, in slight surprise and recollection, she gazed up at the young man again, asking, "Are you...Zack the Puppy?"
"Excuse me?" Zack asked, caught off-guard and blinked in slight confusion and feeling dumbfounded. Who called him 'Zack the Puppy' anyway? He never heard of that before.
Apparently, Angeal's mother did, because she smiled, saying, "My son, Angeal as you mentioned, wrote to me once about you. "Zero attention span, restless and energetic like a little puppy"." she then giggled at the memory.
(~Aqua's Theme-KH: BBS~)
"Ugh." Zack groaned in dismay and embarrassment. Did Angeal really think of him like that? "Thanks a lot, Angeal." he grumbled. Great, now he was treated like a puppy? That was just as bad as being treated like a kid, and he was a teenager, and a SOLDIER 2nd Class! Then again, at least Angeal wasn't open about calling him a puppy. Zack was grateful for that part.
Deciding to lecture(Ha ha, lecture a mentor, huh? Strong hint of sarcasm here, people) Angeal later, Zack then asked, "Um, what happened to everyone else in town? I haven't seen anyone since coming here."
"So you're not where with Genesis?" Angeal's mother asked.
"No, I'm not." Zack shook his head. "Don't worry."
The old woman sighed, before explaining, "Genesis came here a month ago, with an army of cohots, taking the lives of many townspeople." in a hint of sadness. Zack felt a mixture of rage, confusion and sadness inside him, while the mother continued, "Genesis used to be such a good boy when he was younger."
"What about Angeal?" Zack asked.
"He came here, but," The old woman gazed behind her, continuing, "He left his sword and ran off somewhere."
Zack followed her gaze, and his eyes widened, for he saw the Buster Sword, still as good as ever, perched against the wall. He stepped closer to it, wondering why his mentor left it behind. He had to talk sense into his friend.
"That sword represents our family's Honor, on his father's side." The elderly woman continued, "His father passed it down to Angeal before he died."
'That explains why Angeal doesn't wanna use it. He wants to keep it as fresh to remember his old man.' Zack realised. The Buster Sword wasn't just a sword. To Angeal, it was his inheritence from his late father. Zack felt bad for repeatedly commenting to his mentor about this sword now.
Remembering that Genesis may still be here, and that Angeal's mother was in danger, Zack approached and knelt down to her, saying, "I'll take care of Angeal. You should go somewhere to stay safe."
"Don't be concerned." Angeal's mother shook her head, saying, "Genesis cannot harm me. I'll be just fine."
Despite wanting to protest, Zack didn't want to argue with a kind and slightly worried old lady. She reminded him of his own mother. With a hesitated nod, and after gently telling the old woman to be careful, Zack left the house to continue the investigation.
(~End Aqua's Theme~)
The sunrays shining through the ceiling and roof caused Zack to lift a hand to shield his eyes from getting blind. Blinking his eyes open, and slowly waking up from sleep, Zack sat up, noticing that it was morning already in China. Yawning and stretching his arms up, he decided to sleep for another five minutes and flopped back onto his back...
Only to see a young woman's face looming over him, curiously.
"Whoa!" Zack jolted up right in fright, before turning and stood up, taking notice of the girl, who looked around his age, with long black hair and wearing a long blue dress that suited to a farmer's life. She giggled despite herself.
"Uh, hello there." Zack muttered, blinking. He had to admit, this girl was beautiful.
"Hello." The girl replied, "I'm sorry if I startled you."
Zack chuckled in embarrassment, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck, saying, "That's okay. I really must've been out of it."
"My name is Mulan." Mulan, the girl, introduced herself.
"Nice to meetcha. I'm Zack." Zack replied in return. He then asked, "Say, Mulan, how did you find me here?"
The Chinese girl led Zack outside, where her horse, Khan, was waiting, as she explained, "I was on my way to the village, when I heard a noise coming from the old abandoned house. I decided to investigate, and I found you..." she then blushed sheepishly, adding, "...snoring."
This caused Zack to blush himself, saying, "Guess I never knew I was a loud snorer."
"Are you travelling?" Mulan then asked.
Slightly startled again, and, remembering he was supposed to find Angeal and Genesis...the same Genesis from the dreams, Zack replied, "Actually, I'm looking for someone. You've seen a guy with black hair and a huge-looking sword? Or, a guy with red hair and a red coat?"
Mulan was confused at this question, but then she thought about it, thinking, until she remembered and answered, "I think I've seen at least one of them. He went to the old manor up on the hill not to far from here. It's not that far from my house either."
"Thanks, Mulan." Zack nodded, before gently cautioning her, "You be careful, okay? There's monsters around and they're seriously bad news."
"Okay, I will. You be careful too."
The two parted ways as Mulan rode off to the village on Khan, while Zack followed the direction to the old manor in hopes of finding Angeal or demanding answers out of Genesis. He then realised, to his shock, that Angeal's sword he carried with him...is exactly the same as the sword in Zack's dreams!
Nodding to himself, Zack rushed to find the mansion as quickly as possible, and halfway there in the woods, was ambushed by more Heartless which he took town with his sword. He was on a quest and he wasn't going to stop now.
Finally, coming out of the clearing and seeing the old tall mansion as Mulan told him earlier, Zack sighed. "Guess this is the place."
Unfortunately, the same jolting sensation he felt twice in Traverse Town hit him again, and Zack was again losing conscious. "Not again...!" he moaned. Before he knew it, he blacked out once more.
(Fragments from Zack's dream)
Fragment 19: Zack met up with Tseng on top of a cliff which loomed over a factory in which the Turk saw a Genesis Copy enter earlier just shortly after Zack left Angeal's house.
"Genesis's parents were in that grave." Tseng told him.
Zack's eyes widened in horror, "Wait, he...he killed his parents? His own family?" he stuttered.
"It seems he's beyond reasoning." Tseng sighed, before questioning, "What about Angeal?"
"He wasn't in the house." Zack sighed, before quickly pleading, "But give me time! If I Angeal, let me talk to him, then maybe I can convince him and maybe they'll snap Genesis out too."
Tseng didn't say anything at first, then nodded, as if agreeing with himself, saying, "I understand now why Sephiroth decided to pick you."
"Huh?"
"Genesis and Angeal were Sephiroth's only friends." Tseng continued, "That's why he refused the mission, because he didn't want to fight him."
"I would've done something similiar, because Angeal's my friend too." Zack replied.
"He's counting on you to bring them both back."
Fragment 20: After the two infiltrated the factory and fought off enemies, Zack and Tseng found a small room where a computer was, before Zack went into another room next door, and found a slightly larger room with a window, crates, a mako tube, and at the end of the room...Genesis himself, reading a book on LOVELESS.
"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess. We seek it thus, and take to the sky. Ripples form on the water's surface. The wandering soul knows no rest." Genesis quoted from the small book, before noticing Zack who was glaring at him and he smirked.
"You should settle down, you know-Zack, the Puppy." Genesis teased.
Zack softly growled, but held himself back, trying not to give into the sheer anger that was threatening to explode. So much for snapping Genesis out his mind instantly.
A minute later, Tseng came in, and he then noticed the mako tube, and inside...was a slowly developed Genesis copy-no doubt another poor victum of a 2nd or 3rd Class SOLDIER. The Wutaiian Turk then turned to Genesis, stating, "We find remains of our missing Turks along with your parents in the Grave." without a doubt having concluded that two of his many co-workers had been murdered and buried.
"It didn't take much to have them send in false reports. Just some mild threats." Genesis smirked, which angered Zack even further, and at this point, angered Tseng as well.
Before the Turk could lose his temper which he kept in check after many years, Zack's voice stopped Tseng from doing anything foolish, as the young SOLDIER pointed out, "They would've done that anyway. Or least your Parents would've if you just listened to them."
(~Shaded Truths-KH: BBS~)
This statement, however, made Genesis frowned, before stood up, remarking, "My Parents had lied to me." he made a hateful quote of the word 'parents', continuing, "They lied and betrayed me from the very beginning."
Fragment 21: Genesis had attacked Tseng, Angeal shoved Zack away, and on top of everything else to add to Zack's dismay, due the ShinRa Company's rules, the airstrike were ordered to neutralize Banora. Zack rushed to try and save Angeal's mother, which Tseng had told the aristrike to hold off the order until Zack accompished his task.
However, when Zack reached the house, he was horrified to discover that he was too late... the old woman was lying on the floor, in a pool of blood. She was dead. Angeal was there, and Zack had punched him in sorrowed, grieving, hurt and betrayal, for his mentor made no sense in his words of not continuing to live, before being forced to fight a Bahamut Summon which Genesis had summoned, while Angeal walked away.
Eventually, after he defeated the Summon and gained it's Materia, Zack glared at Genesis, telling him that Summons are not used for harm. However, to his further confusion and horror, Genesis told him that he and Angeal are monsters, and had actually summoned a single black left wing on his back! Genesis then flew away, much to Zack's horror and awe.
What had happened? How could Genesis do that?
(~End Shaded Truths~)
Gasping and jolting upright, Zack panted, looking around and realised he was still in China world. But still, the new images he saw in his dreams...it was not right.
"Could Genesis...really have a wing?" Zack asked himself. Eyes widening, he suddenly realised that the Angeal he knew was in danger and at the risk of losing it and being tricked into joining Genesis like in the dreams.
Genesis might know something about these dreams Zack keeps having. Why would they feel familiar and so real? For now, he had to find Angeal. Standing up, and determined, Zack raced into the manor in hopes of finding more answers.
Fully unaware of what's in store for him.
A/N: Things are heating up for Zack, and it's about to only get more complicated in the next chapter.
Please continue your reviews, fellow readers and I'll see you in the next chapter.