Author's note: Sorry for the delay. Writers block again and all. Thought I'd introduce some more familiar characters since there was a bit of lack of KH characters, so hopefully this will make up for it.
Okay, let's move on and please remember the important notes here:
The Bold is the Author's Notes.
The Italic is both memories, thoughts and dreams.
The Bold & Italic are 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 8: Hearts and Wings.
(~Axel and Saix-KH1.5 HD ReMix~)
In a large white floating fortress deep within the Realm of Darkness, lies a group known as Organization XIII, a group of mysterious beings which, so far, eight of them take forms of human. They lacked Hearts due to the lost of them when they were human. The Organization is led by Xemnas.
In one of the cell-like bedrooms of the Castle, a red-haired man in a black coat, who resembled to Reno, but with different spikes of hair, emerald green eyes, and teardrop marks underneath his eyes, leaned against the wall next to his bed, arms crossed, staring out at the endless dark black sky. He was in thought, when the door opened, getting his attention as he also sensed someone.
Coming into the room was a blue-haired man about his age, amber eyes that were once green themselves, and a large scar that formed an X on his face. He held a cold expression, and was recently promoted as Second in Command of the Organization.
"Sheesh, a couple of knocks would surffice instead of just barging him, ya' know." said the red-haired man in a voice that was also like the red-haired Turk's in the Realm of Light.
"Hmph." The blue-haired man thought, then, ignoring the fellow member's tone, stated, "Lord Xemnas has discovered somethingg that may be the key of why those reborn within Midgar are reborn and why they are gaining their memories of their past lives."
"Oh, so Lord Xemnas figured that out, huh?" The red-haired man scoffed, then looked away and muttered, "Took him long enough-six years by now."
"And not just those in Midgar's Ruins, for the Turks and Rufus ShinRa had learned of their true idenities by searching clues on their enemy's angendas." The blue-haired man continued.
"So, who else?" The red-head quired, "Surely there shouldn't be anyone else in other worlds who would be getting their memories back."
"Even though it may or may not be related, a human from Olympus Coliseum has left his world and has begun search countless others, in search for two men who know more than he."
The redhead gasped softly in shock at this new piece of information as he stared at the blue-haired man who continued, "A man in crimson, the Superior believes he may be a threat to our goals in search of a Keybearer to begin our quest for hearts of our own. This man has brought the human from Olympus who may also be one of those of Midgar."
Once regaining his cold attitude, the redhead stood up straight and correctly quired, "So I trust that Lord Xemnas would want someone to investigate if this guy is either a Heartless or a Nobody rather than being that like in the legend." he goes up close to the other man and continued, "Since I'm the only guy for the job, I'll have to test him."
"If he is a Heartless, find him and dispose of him. If he is a Nobody, bring him in, for he could be a use for Organization XIII." The blue-haired man nodded to confirm his ally's words. "If not either and he is confused like those in Midgar, leave him be and return to report." before disappearing via teleportation, leaving the redhead alone again.
(~End Axel and Saix~)
The pryo stood in silence, before muttering himself, "Like that red-head Turk guy who looks just like me, huh?" then sighed almost dramatically, "Why do I always get stuck with the icky jobs?"
With that, he stretched out his hand, and summoned a corridor of darkness, before stepping in to begin his new assignment.
(Fragments from Zack's dreams)
(~The Mako-Controlling Organization-CRISIS CORE: FINAL FANTASY VII~)
Fragment 28: Zack finds Sephiroth in Mako Reactor 5, and after taking out the monsters that lived here, they find one of them having a face that was like Angeal's and come to a conclusion that even Angeal can make clones of himself, except that he was cloning himself in Monsters rather than SOLDIERS like Genesis, before Sephiroth admitted a few things about his friendship with the two rouge SOLDIERS, how all three of them would sneak into the simulation training room just for fun, how one day, during a match, Genesis over did it, and not only wrecked the training room, but also injured himself in the progress.
The two of them then found a secret room that looked like a lab, and began searching for clues, discovering more cloning pods, though it was for the Angeal clones rather than the Genesis clones like back in the ruins of Banora, discovering notes of an "Ancient" and how the scientests, including Hollander were implanting the Ancient's cells into a human fetus for the child to have the Ancient's abilities.
But that was Hollander's experiment which failed. This was known as Project G, and Sephiroth then remembered how Genesis's wounds from that training weren't recovering and the man treating him was Hollander, how Genesis needed a transfusion from a blood, but had stated that Sephiroth wasn't viable and picked Angeal instead.
Zack and Sephiroth then concluded that Hollander was the one who created Genesis and possibly Angeal for whatever reasons, but Genesis was showing signs of change, that he was degrading-in other words, this slow degrading will eventually kill him.
When Hollander then appeared in the room, and made up excuses that he's the only one who can reverse the degradation, Genesis appeared to prevent the others from capturing Hollander who then makes his escape. Following Sephiroth's orders, Zack chases after Hollander, losing him at first and briefly bumping into Cissnei who was also looking for him, before the SOLDIER boy and Turk girl once again parted to continue the search.
Fragment 29: Zack was just about to catch Hollander when the Buster Sword suddenly appeared out of nowhere, stopping him in his tracks. Though he didn't even need to see who was holding it, because Angeal was standing on the other side of the large metal piller in parts of the place they were now in, outside of the reactor and above Sector 5.
"Could you please tell me why you're working for Hollander now and what is it that you're doing?" Zack quired, the betrayl still within his heart, and yet, he couldn't bring himself to fight his former mentor who had taught him everything he knew in being SOLDIER.
"I see you've been promoted to 1st Class." Angeal instead instead.
Zack glared at him as Angeal stepped a few paces forward, not facing the younger man. "Don't change the subject."
Angeal sighed, "Fine. Then the reason for this is because...of revenge."
"For what?"
"For this." Angeal stated, stretching out his right arm and like with Genesis earlier, a single wing sprouted out, but instead of black, this one was white, like an actual angel's wing. Once again, Zack was stunned. "I was created as a monster. For this, the only thing monsters single goals are either world domination or revenge."
Zack shook his head, as Cissnei's words echoed in his mind, "Wings Symbolise Freedom for people who don't have any. For an angel's wings, they're not monsters, unless they're treated in the wrong way."
"Those wings are that of an angel, not monsters, Angeal." Zack told him. He wanted to do something, anything, to snap his friend back to his senses.
(~End The Mako-Controlling Organization~)
Apparently words wouldn't cut it, though Angeal did hold a slight sympathetic expression, then it turned bitter as he grunted, "If that's the case, then perhaps angels can only dream for one thing...and you know what that is, Zack?"
"Angeal..." Zack muttered.
"It's to be human!" And unexpectedly, Angeal just casted a spell from his materia and while Zack should've dodged, he didn't. Instead, he was hit in the stomach, causing him to be flown backwards and crashed onto the metal floor, rolling until the floor underneath them breaks and he begins falling down into the darkness below...
Snapping his eyes open with a gasp, Zack blinks in confusion at first on where he was, staring at the orangey pink sky above him that looked like in the middle of mid-afternoon. With a groan, Zack pulls himself up and looks around. He must've lost consciousness during his flight through many worlds after leaving Yen Sid's tower and must've been knocked out for quite sometime.
He sees that he is in a town, that looked similiar to Traverse Town, except that it looked similiar to...Midgar, maybe? There was tram leading further down into town, as a beautiful sunset was seen shining through out the entire town. This would be a nice place to live. There was a hole in a wall which, on the other side of the wall, there was a forest which didn't seem so bad, if you didn't include Heartless.
World: Twilight Town.
Looking around again, and, so far, not seeing any sign of Genesis or Angeal, and still not understanding the dreams, despite what Yen Sid told him, Zack sighed as he placed his hands on his hips.
"Somehow, I don't think I'm getting anywhere." He said to himself.
"You seem pretty lost. Maybe I can help?" a voice that sounded almost like Reno's spoke up, causing Zack to quickly become vigilant and looked around. He didn't have to look for long, because on the other side of him, was another man leaning casually against the wall, like he's been there for the entire time, his arms crossed.
(~Disquieting-KH: Chain of Memories~)
At first, Zack thought he was looking at Reno, but then realised that it was not the Turk from his dreams. Instead, this redhead, who looked and sounded just like the Turk, had a slightly different hair-style leaned back but still spiky, emerald eyes instead of aqua-blue, tear-drop tattoos underneath his eyes, and a black coat, which seemed a bit too fight for him despite his skinny figure.
There was also some kind of dangerous aura Zack sensed and he didn't like it one bit. Maybe he was starting to sense darkness within others, which was creepy. Not liking this guy, who looked a year older than him, Zack asked, "Who're you?"
The red-haired man smirked, standing up from the wall, and answered, "Name's Axel." before tapping the side of his head, adding, "Got it memorized?"
"Uh, yeah." Zack answered back. At least he knew this guy's name.
"Great, but just so you know, better make sure." Axel nodded, then questioned in a slight serious voice, "What brings you here?"
Wondering if Axel thought Zack came from another town and hoped that this guy didn't know about other worlds, the black-haired man explained, "I'm looking for two guys. One of them has a large sword and another has redish hair and a red sword.
(~End Disquieting~)
Axel thought about what the blue-haired man told him earlier, but didn't know about any guy with a large sword, then realised that Zack still had a heart for he could sense it, though that didn't mean it convinced him about the other alternative, which meant there was only one thing to do. "Nope, not a heartless then." he said instead.
"What? What's that supposed to mean?" Zack asked, suspiciously, while mentallying grumbling that Axel changed the subject.
This made the red-head smirk as he said, "Looks like I'm gonna have to make you a Heartless and get your Nobody to join in."
The swordsman was shocked that Axel did know about Heartless, but Zack didn't understand what a Nobody was. "What are you talking about?"
"You'll see, if you're ready." Axel grinned, then stretched out his arms and fire flared out from his hands, forming crimsion hilt and sharp bladed Chakrams as he holds a tight grip on the leather hilts in the middle, and gazes at the soldier again.
(~13th Struggle-KH2~)
While Zack was stunned and shocked that this guy could use magic, or rather, the power of darkness and had summoned weapons instead of magic as he expected, he then glares at him, and draws out his sword, and holds it tightly in his grip, standing in a fighting stance, knowing that he has no choice but to fight. One red-haired enemy was bad enough, but this was just beyond ridiculous!
Seeing this as a challenge made Axel's grin slightly wider and said, "Good. This is what I'm expecting!"
Without replying, Zack charged forward and gave a powerful slash at the redhead, but Axel was ready for him and blocked the attacks with the chakrams, which the two, or rather, three weapons clashed with a clang, and the two struggled against each other, before Zack was forced to jump out of the way before Axel could overpower him. Axel then raised his chakram and blasted a fire spell at him. Zack rolled out of the way.
"Take that!" Zack yelled, summoning his own magic and formed an ice spell, hoping that it would work.
Axel saw this coming and leaped out of the way, missing the chunk of ice which shattered once it fell and crashed into the ground, and smirked, "Oh, so you can use magic too, huh?" before drawing his arms back and threw his weapons like frisbees towards Zack who ducked and dodged out of the way, though one blade did manage to scrape him on his left arm, but it left just a little scratch which began to bleed a little, while the weapons returned to the redhead who caught them one by one sharply and skillfully.
Zack then quickly stood up and charged again, this time twisting and dodging out the way as Axel attempted to stab or slice at him again, but the two then clashed against each other. The swordsman then made another slash which just missed the red-head's stomach by an inch as he quickly jumped back to avoid in even getting his coat ripped for he needed this thing or he's in serious trouble because of this. Seeing that Axel was distracted, Zack then felt yet another new spell strangely form inside him, and the familiarlity coming from it. Stretching out his arm, sparks of lightning appeared and actually hit Axel in the chest, causing the redhead to be flown backwards.
Axel quickly flipped backwards and then landed in his feet with a bit a skid before stopping, and twitched uncomfortably as he was a bit paralyzed due to the thunder spell Zack casted on him. He had to admit it, he didn't see that coming. But now it was time to get really serious. He wasn't known as the Flurry of the Dancing Flames or a very well trained assassin for nothing.
"Burn, baby!" Axel laughed and slammed his hands onto the ground, causing a burst of fire to erupt around him and then race outward towards Zack who couldn't dodge this time and was knocked back and slammed onto the ground. But Zack quickly recovered and leaped himself back onto his feet, determined not to lose to this guy.
The black-haired man charged again and then swinged high and low with his blade, each strike parried and blocked by Axel's expert handling with his chakrams effortlessly, being able to spin the weapons whenever they needed to be, deftly handling each twirl of his fingers and flick of wrist. Zack then swings low, but Axel jumps and then lands a kick to the former's head, causing him to tumble.
"C'mere, I'll make it stop!" Axel taunted with a grin.
Zack turned around and charged again, but this time, he knew where he realised where he wasn't going right. He needed to have his blade catch Axel's weapons instead of knocking it. So he instead made a stab move, which wasn't aimed at Axel, but at his weapons. Catching the complicated handles of the weapons, Zack twisted around and snatched one of the chakrams out of Axel's grasp and sent it flying into a building where one of the blades struck and sticked to the brick wall.
Without giving Axel even a second to register on what just happened, like back in Neverland, Zack stabbed his sword into the ground and lifted himself into the air, but instead of spinning, he somersaulted and landed a hard kick into Axel's face, which the impact caused the redhead to be flown backwards right into the wall ten feet away, crashing into it, creating a wall crater within it. Axel then slumped onto his butt, his head lowered, and letting the grip on his remaining chakram loosen and drop gently onto the ground, exhausted and defeated.
(~End 13th Struggle~)
Landing back on his feet, Zack stood up and walked up towards Axel, stopping at a few feet, making sure that nothing else unexpected happens. Thankfully, the red-haired man was too exhausted to continue fighting, and was actually smiling a little.
"Okay!...So you're good." Axel admitted. It has been a while since he faced a skilled opponent.
(~"With Pride"-CRISIS CORE-FFVII~)
Zack ignored this compliment, and instead asked the questions he'd been meaning to since before the fight, "How do you know about the Heartless? And what is a Nobody?"
Seeing that this guy was human afterall, Axel slowly stood up, while desummoning both his discared weapons which both disappeared, and, still not quite understanding it himself, shrugged and admitted, "To be honest, Nobodies aren't meant to exist. Empty shells of those who had turned into a Heartless."
The swordsman didn't get it. Nobodies...empty shells of those who turned into a Heartless? Did that mean...Nobodies were human too? Zack didn't understand.
Seeing the youngerish man's confusion, Axel concluded with a frown, "To you...we're monsters." and then decided that his mission was complete and he shouldn't interfere anymore. He then disappeared via teleportation of darkness and vanished before Zack could catch him.
"Wait! Axel!" Zack cried out, but he was too late as the red-haired man was gone. Before he could even ponder on this, suddenly, the Buster Sword appeared in front of him, as if to block him from following Axel, though this seemed he wasn't gonna find the redhead anyway. Instead, his gazed turn to the man now standing next to him as Angeal also appeared out of nowhere.
"Deja vu, right?" Zack muttered in half sarcasm.
Angeal lowered his weapon from his former pupil and questioned, "What was your first clue?"
The younger man turned fully at him and said, "I haven't seen you in eight years and all of the sudden you're teaming up with Genesis to cause problems?"
"I've learned who I am recently." Angeal sighed with a bit of saddness and exasperation, then gazed right into Zack's eyes and told him firmly, "You should do the same."
"I know who I am!" Zack snapped. He may be somewhat connected to the other Zack, as Yen Sid had said, but he wasn't the same Genesis knew. He was born in the world of Olympus Coliseum, not Midgar, if that city was real. He remembered his life from the past eight years and before he left his hometown to train to become a hero.
The older man shook his head, then shrugged, "Maybe you'll be lucky that you don't have to rely on darkness." and with a stretch of his left arm, like in Zack's dream, he sprouted out the single white wing, which the white feathers formed all over the place. Zack's eyes widened in awe, though this time, it wasn't fear. Cissnei in his dreams was right. She knew all along. Wings were for angels, not monsters, and Angeal was not a monster.
As if reading Zack's mind, Angeal muttered, "If you think that I am not a monster, and that I'm no angel either, then maybe..." he trailled off a bit.
"Angeal?"
"Maybe I'm the biggest Nobody out." Angeal concluded, before taking off into the sky and flew away, leaving behind a trail of white feathers and once again, leaving Zack behind all by himself.
(~End "With Pride"~)
Sighing, and, thinking that, if Genesis was real, then maybe, just maybe, Hollander was real too and if he was, then that scientest could also travel to worlds and gotten to Angeal and turned him into like this. Or maybe he could use the power of darkness. Zack then realised that Hollander may be the key to this, but the problem was...where is he?
"What did Genesis and Hollander do to you?" He asked to the now gone Angeal.
Approaching a nearby bench and placing his sword against the wall next to it, Zack sat down and leaned back, clampsing his hands behind his head and gazed up at the afternoon sky, trying to think of the answer to all of these questions, but each time he did, it just led to more questions.
After fifteen minutes of thinking, Zack let his eyes close, and before he knew it, he fell asleep.
(Fragments from Zack's dreams)
Fragment 30: Zack didn't know if he was dreaming or not, and when he heard a female voice, he thought he could hear his mother and told her that he wanted to help his friend, but he didn't know how.
Then, a new familiar female voice began calling, "Hell-llooo!"
"Mom?"
(~Aerith's Theme-CRISIS CORE: FINAL FANTASY VII~)
Then, his eyes stirred open, and he was now awake. The first thing Zack saw, was a young girl, a year younger than him, with brown hair tied up in a ponytail, emerald eyes, wearing a blue dress with matching sandles, decorated with patterned flowers.
"Thank goodness, you're awake!" the girl sighed in relief, as she was kneeling next to him.
Zack, almost fully awake, and noticing tale signs of light, asked, "...Am I in Heaven?"
The girl smiled, answering, "Not quite. This is the Church in Sector 5, in the Slums."
The young man sat up, and, getting a better look at the girl, his heart fluttered, and he felt a smile form on his face. Out of all the woman he'd met so far in his life, he'd never seen one much more beautiful until now. This girl looked so gentle and stunning...almost like she came from the heavens herself.
"An angel?" He asked.
The shook her head, answering, "No. I'm Aerith." before standing up, and pointing the newly made hole in the ceiling, explaing, "You fell from the sky and scared me. I'm glad you only had a couple of scratches."
Zack did notice some scratches on his arms, and was thankful that that was all he had in the way of injuries, considering on what happened in Mako Reactor 5. Beyond that, he was surprised that he didn't have any broken bones. Maybe the ceiling broke his fall and he didn't even remember it.
"And you sort of nearly crushed the flowers too." Aerith continued.
"Huh?" Zack asked, puzzled.
"Normally people are more careful with flowers." She added.
Looking to his right and seeing a few flowers an inch close to him, Zack realised that he nearly squashed them flat after landing hard on the ground and lost consciousness. Sheepishly, he stood up and stood back a few paces, and rubbed the back of his neck at Aerith.
"Sorry about that." Zack shrugged sheepishly, "Guess I wasn't looking where was going." but then the real surprise took hold, as he gazed a large patch of flowers in the wooden floor that was broken and it was like someone made a little garden out of these. He had to admit, they were very pretty. White and yellow flowers that looked like dafidles or lillies with patches of green grass, and despite the Mako Reactors within the city, it seemed the flowers were fine. In fact, they looked very healthy.
"Wow." Zack breathed, as he crouched a little, gazed at them while saying to Aerith, "You know, you don't see a lot of flowers in Midgar." then turned to face her and continued, "These are like rare treasures around here."
Aerith smiled with a nod, and explained, "They only grow here." then admitted, "Although, I did take some seeds from some of them and planted them around my house too."
Zack thought it was a very nice idea. If his mother met this young girl, they'd get along so well, as he remembered how his mom loved gardening as well as farming. He then stood up and then, if Aerith's house had flowers, then maybe the rest of Midgar would have flowers too. The image of other houses in Midgar and most of the slums having flower benches was rather a nice touch.
With a mental nod, he then told her, "You know, if I were you, I'd sell them. Midgar would be full of flowers, and your wallet would be full of money." with a smile.
Aerith gazed at him in confusion as he said this, then, she thought deeply about this herself. In her mind, she saw almost the exact same image as him, and it brought a smile on her face. Why didn't she think of that before? This place was always gloomy, and the flowers always brought smiles to her and to her mother. Maybe the same would happen to other people.
"I never thought of it that way." She admitted, "Midgar, full of flowers, wallet, full of money, that's a nice idea."
Zack nodded, then introduced himself, "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Zack."
Fragment 31: Zack thought about leaving to return to the ShinRa building, then realised that he never ventured though the Slums before. Aerith offered to guide him and help him out. He agreed to her help, and the two journeyed together through the slums. The first time he saw the slums, he was reminded of his bedroom.
Though there were some mishaps along the way, like a little boy Aerith knew that stole Zack's wallet, and the two teens quickly tracked the kid down, and realised that the boy's reason was that he wanted to buy medicine for his mother. After helping the kid out, Zack and Aerith then explored a little, then Zack thought of an idea of building a flower wagon for Aerith's flowers, which she thought it was a great idea.
The two then ventured into a store and found a pink ribbon that Aerith instantly grew to love, via Zack's suggestion as gratitude for helping him out. They bought the ribbon and Zack tied it on the top of Aerith hair, which made her more beautiful and she instantly loved it, that she decided she would never part from it.
Zack then suggested one date, and despite Aerith say that it was silly, she decided that maybe it wouldn't hurt to hang out with him for a little longer. Despite them just meeting today, they were quickly becoming friends...maybe a bit more. They both learned a bit quite from each other already, like they've known each other for a week.
(~End Aerith's Theme~)
Fragment 32: Via Aerith's suggestion, the two decided to go to the park on their first date, and ventured there, while children who had been playing then decided to call it a day and returned home, leaving the two alone.
Though there was a thought that seemed to borther Aerith for some time, so, she couldn't help but ask, "Zack...you wouldn't happen to have met any SOLDIER members?"
(~Theme of FFVII-Piano version-FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN COMPLETE~)
Zack was a bit surprised at this question, then replied, "Some of them."
"Do they like what they do?"
"What do you mean?"
The young woman muttered, with a hint of worry, "Children worship them as heroes, and they try to bring peace. But...they're not normal." then she asked while turning to face Zack, "They get some kind of special surgery, don't they?"
"Something like that." Zack replied, relucantedly.
"I think normal is best." Aerith continued, "They're a bit...weird."
"Weird, huh?" Zack began to feel uncomfortable, not because he felt insulted, it was because him being a SOLDIER, maybe it made him weird too. If Aerith felt uncomfortable with SOLDIER, maybe Angeal felt that something was wrong and thought that Hollander would help.
Aerith then added, "And scary. They look as though...they enjoy fighting."
After a moment of silence, Zack hesitatedly decided that maybe it was best that he told her the truth. He then said, "Well, actually, I'm with SOLDIER. Recently promoted to 1st Class."
Gasping a bit, then feeling a bit guilty, Aerith mumbled, "I'm sorry."
At that, the two felt awkward, and Zack felt bad about scaring Aerith. He didn't know what to do or how to make up for it. He then heard her say, "They're so pretty."
"Excuse me?" Zack asked, and saw that she was smiling.
"Your eyes."
Smiling a bit, Zack then approached Aerith and said, "Do you like them? Then why not take a closer look?" then explained, "Eyes fused with mako energy-that's the SOLDIER trademark." and the two stared at each other in their eyes, one pair of beautiful eyes staring at the other-Zack's glowing blue eyes and Aerith's emerald glittering eyes.
Aerith then realised what was going on and blushed, then playfully pushed Zack's shoulder, pouting, "Oh you!" and the two shared a laugh, both feeling a bit better already.
"Colour of the sky, right?" Zack asked, as he did remember that he did inherit his mother's blue eyes.
Aerith nodded, then said, "But, they're not scary at all."
They both smiled, then Zack shrugged, and admitted, "Well, I have to admit, things haven't been normal for me lately." then asked, slightly curiously, "How about you, Aerith?"
"Well, I did think today would be like any other day," Aerith began, "Then all of the sudden, you fell out of the sky. But you know what," she turned around and faced Zack again, concluding, "It was a nice event."
"And we both made friends with each other." Zack added, smiling.
The young woman nodded in agreement, then frowned in slight disappointment when Zack's PHS rang. Holding out a hand to silently apologuise and then used the other to answer the phone, Zack held it to his ear, and he could hear someone from the other end.
"Zack, you must return to ShinRa HQ now. Genesis has invaded us." It was Lazard and he sounded strained.
With Genesis attacking again, this time at the Company, Zack immediately knew he had to get back, and so he answered that he was on his way, and hung up, then apologuised to Aerith, "Sorry Aerith, but, duty calls."
She nodded in understanding, and said, "Well, I should head home before my mother worries." then asked, in a soft hint of eager, "Will I see you again?"
"Yeah, of course." Zack nodded.
"I hope your friend will be alright." she said unexpectedly.
Zack blinked in confusion, causing Aerith to blush, as she answered his silent question, "You talked when you were sleeping earlier."
Realising what she meant, he nodded, and, feeling that maybe he can help Angeal, Zack replied, "Yeah, it'll be okay."
(~End Theme of FFVII-Piano version~)
Fragment 33: Zack returned to HQ after Aerith returned home, and then met up with Angeal along the way, as the former SOLDIER decided that he had enough with Genesis's madness, and lifted Zack to the near top of the building where they reuighted with Sephiroth briefly, before Zack was ordered to protect Hojo, the head of the Science Department, and the younger SOLDIER hated to admit, but the old scientest gave him the creeps.
They were then attacked by Genesis, but Zack and Angeal prevented him from harming Hojo, before all three went up to the helipad, where Genesis summoned a Neo-Bahamut this time, and Angeal left Zack to fight it while he fought against Genesis.
While the two SOLDIERS fought, Zack then got an phone call as he had added his PHS number to Aerith's list, and she had rang. "Aerith?" he asked, then apologetically said, "Um, sorry, can I call you back later? I have some company."
She understood and after giving out a last comment before the two hung up, Zack drew out his sword as Neo-Bahamut appeared, leaving Zack in it's electrical realm for a fight, he grinned as he muttered to himself, ""Better not keep your guests waiting," She said."
After the fight, Zack was back on the helipad, on his own. It was silent, and Angeal and Genesis were once again gone. He also couldn't help but feel wary around Hojo. That old man...he had this creepy bad skin crawling aura around him. He had heard some rumors that Reno didn't like him and had called him, "Professor-Creep-Show" and now he understood why.
The way he spoke about Jenova, the Calamity that fell from the sky, it mad Zack worry. He heard that Jenova was an Ancient, but, what if he heard wrong? It didn't make sense.
Nothing made sense.
Awakening from yet more of those dreams, Zack opened his eyes, and saw the signs of the sun setting and the sky turning purple-dark blue, and signs of stars beginning to appear. He stretched out his arms with a yawn, and sat up.
"Must've fallen asleep again." He said to himself. He then thought about his dream, and his eyes slightly widened as he realised something. "Aerith...even she was in my dreams, but...I met her before even dreaming about her. With Yuffie, it's the opposite." He then thought that maybe they're involved and then began to worry.
Genesis could be going after Aerith if he knew she was involved. Maybe that was why he nearly trapped Yuffie back in Traverse Town, because they could've been part of his plot to lure Zack.
Worried for their safety, despite Leon being there, Zack decided that he should go visit them to the place where he first started and then maybe start right from the beginning, only this time, with the clues he had in mind. Standing up, and holding his Starshard out, he said to himself, "I have to make sure Genesis doesn't find them."
With his wish to return to Traverse Town granted, the starshard then took Zack away from Twilight Town and all the way back to Traverse Town.
(~Axel and Saix-KH1.5 HD ReMix~)
Meanwhile, in the Round Room of the Castle that Never Was, Axel was giving out his report to the Superior, along with the blue-haired who is known as Saix, and another member with an eye-patch over his right eye, black and gray hair and a large scar on his left cheek.
"...And that sums it up." Axel concluded, having told them everything that occured in Twilight Town and about Zack's condition.
"Hmm...so this man is human, but knows about the knowlage of the worlds." The superior spoke in a monotone deep voice. "And yet, he knows nothing of Nobodies."
"All he cares about is searching for the two guys I don't even know about. But I think he knows a little bit of the man in crimson." Axel confirmed.
"Troubling news, indeed." Saix thought in the same expression he always had. He turned to the Superior and questioned, "Lord Xemnas, should we dispose of him?"
"Heh, think we'd make the guy join the Organization?" Xigbar, the one-eye patched man laughed, "As if! He's just as useless as the Turks. They're strong in bodies, but their hearts are weak."
"No." Xemnas said, "All of them are strong at heart, for they are among those who were reborn. They share a connection to a certain young girl, who's ties relate to that of the ancient legend of the Earth's Moon within the Solar Universe. However, there is still time before they all realise their true purpose. But I can already tell...the man whom Axel has met, his fate as already been decided. There is no need to interfere."
Axel remained silent as his mind registered the new information. He heard stories of the Ancient 1,000 year old legend, but it never occured to him that it was actually real. Plus, how was Zack, or Midgar's Turks were tied itno a single young girl in the world known as Earth? Why was she important?
"Axel, be ready for your next assignment. Until then, you're dismissed for now. Execellent work today, despite your defeat." Xemnas concluded.
"Understood." Axel replied, then teleported away back to his room, or to the lounge, anywhere he'll be comfortable.
Flying through the Lanes between, Genesis was in his own thoughts, as he flew to a familiar world where he believed Zack would eventually follow him, now that the younger man was getting closer in realising the truth.
"My soul corrupted by vengeance. Hath endured torment, to find the end of the journey in my own salvation and your eternal slumber." He quoted LOVELESS once again, as another world came into view. Flying through the barrier from the darkness, he arrived outside, and paused to hover over the greenery below him...as he gazed at the ruins of Midgar.
This is where the real test would begin.
(~End Axel and Saix~)
A/N: Zack's situation is getting more and more complicated, but it seems that Organization XIII has eyes on the Turks. Who is the mysterious enemy the current ShinRa is fighting? Well, that is another story, which is answered in "Kingdom Hearts: Before Crisis".
Please continue your reviews and I'll see you in the next chapter.