Author's note: Thank you so much for your review, HiddenXEmotion, and sorry for the delay. As the summary had said, this is set within my headcanon; "Sailor Moon Continuum" which has lots and lots of titles.
The ending of this story will probably come to a shock and confusion to you, if you haven't looked up my Continuum parts one and two yet, which I can understand.
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 hold no rights to Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy VII, Pokemon or Sailor Moon.
CHAPTER 9: Which are Dreams and Reality?
(Cloud's Nightmare)
He didn't know what was going on or why this was happening, but all the young sixteen year old man, blond spiky hair that made people think it was a chocobo, blue eyes, and was wearing an army uniform with his helmet on, could do was stare in sheer horror and sorrow.
Anger was soon added when he was knocked down harshly as the flames in his childhood home burned everywhere. When he looked up, hurt and betrayal formed, as standing calmly and now cruely in the flames, was the man he once worshipped.
Sephiroth, legendary SOLDIER of ShinRa, smiled almost evilly, his long sword in hand, and the flames were strangely not effecting him, stood there. If anything, it was as if the fires weren't there at all, when Sephiroth turned and calmly walked away...leaving the town to be destroyed by the fires and most of the town's population left to die...
Jolting upright in bed and gasping, a young twenty year old man with blond spiky hair, blue eyes, and wearing a gray sweat shirt, black pants, brown gloves, and had leather zipper boots next to the bed, breathed in and out several times, feeling disorientated.
(~Silent Edge-DIRGE OF CERBERUS FINAL FANTASY VII~)
It took him several moments to realise where he was, as the graying room in the hotel he was staying at seemed to be strangely different than when he arrived from his from to Midgar-Edge last night.
"Why does that dream always seem so real?" the young man asked himself.
There was then ringing next to him and it took the young man moments to realise it came from his PHS flip phone on the bedside table. He didn't feel up to answering at the moment, so he left it to go to voicemail. He felt a twinge of guilt rise when a familiar female voice from the speaker spoke.
"Cloud? It's Tifa. How have you been? Are you still having those nightmares? I've been having them too and I think I should come over to Edge to see what's going on. I hope you're okay. I'll call you back later. Be careful-okay?" the girl, Tifa, said before the call was dropped.
Cloud Strife sighed before looking at the window, where he could hear cars and traffic from outside of the obvious morning. When he gazed at the hotel's clock, Cloud found that it was nearing 7:00 AM in the morning.
After another moment, he said to himself, "I guess I'd better call in the Turks to meet up with me."
(~End Silent Edge~)
The next time Zack woke up, he was a now familiar soild ground, though he wasn't as sore as he was a few times during his journey. But that didn't stop him from groaning as he pushed himself up. Thankfully, the Starshard directed him back to where his journey started where he first met Genesis. In fact, now Aerith was part of the situation, even though she wouldn't have any idea as much as to what's going on either.
"Ugh...I really need to learn how to make proper landings while using the StarShard." said Zack to himself, standing up and looked around. Nothing changed since he left. But in truth, he hoped that the others he met-Leon, Aerith, Yuffie, Merlin and even Cid-were unharmed.
"Well, better to and make sure they're okay." Zack decided, before making sure he still had enough potions and ect., to last him before deciding to restock first. Plus, the way the Heartless are, one can't be distracted and not fully prepared.
After meeting up with Cid and restocking, Zack made his way to the 2nd District in hopes of finding his way to the hotel he first met Aerith and the others, even though the 2nd District is where Leon first confronted him in a misunderstanding. Also where Zack first discovered and battled the Heartless. It also made him think about how Heartless were once human, and then he thought back to when he discovered a man having his heart taken out before disappearing, then another heartless appeared, which he began to think was starting to make sense.
(~Verge of Assault-CRISIS CORE FINAL FANTASY VII~)
But when he reached the lower parts of town, Zack froze...as Aerith was spotted, and she was cornered against the wall near the stairs, and surrounded by six heartless that were no doubt attempting to get to her heart. Even from a distance, he could tell she was terrified.
From the corner of her eye, Aerith turned her head and she spotted Zack and cried out his name. She wasn't that good in fighting just yet and she had no idea what to do.
"Hang on!" Zack called out, unsheathing his sword and holding a tight grip. He then shouted at the Heartless, "Hey, Heartless! Over here!" which, just as he wanted, the Heartless heard his voice and turned to him.
Seeing a swordsman with light as well as darkness within his heart, the Heartless decided that his heart was worth more than a flower girl's heart. So they scampered straight towards him. But the heartless, acting on instinct, failed to realise that they were tricked, as Zack readied himself, then with a powerful thrust, his sword sliced through all six of them in a single hit, which caused them to vanish instantly.
But then the three tubby Heartless appeared, which proved a bit more of a challenge for Zack, but he refused to surrender and rolled out of the way before one of them could punch him and he took it out in no time flat. The other two suffered the similiar fate.
Knowing that more will most likely appear, Zack quickly puts his weapon away and rushed over to Aerith, saying, "Let's get outta here!" and with her nod in agreement, she followed him as he led the way back to the 1st District, while he took out more Heartless along the way as well as keeping Aerith safe.
Finally, they reached the other District and stopped to catch a breather.
(~End Verge of Assault~)
Wiping non-existant sweat from his forehead, Zack turned to the slightly pale Aerith and asked, "You okay?"
"I'm fine." The flower girl replied, smiling a little after recovering slightly, "Thank you, Zack." for she was surprised that the swordsman had come back to Traverse Town. She then asked, "Did you find any answers yet?"
"Sort of." Zack shrugged, a bit caught off-guard by the question, wondering if he should tell her or not. He then realised that he should inform Leon as well, but then again, he didn't want to cause any more problems to add on Leon's plate, as the Heartless were enough problems as they were. But then, who knew what Genesis might come up next.
In the end, Zack hesitatedly asked, rubbing the back of his neck, "Um, can I, talk to you for a moment?"
Aerith blinked for a moment, but then she looked closely at his face, and nodded, saying, "There's something wrong. I can tell."
So when Zack and Aerith arrived at the resturant and sat at a two chair table, the former told the latter about everything he found out so far, about how he discovered his friend Angeal siding with Genesis who kept on saying things that didn't make any sense, and how Zack recently found out that, for a strange reason, that he might be connected to his dream counterpart.
Once he was finished, Aerith was concerned as she said, "That is very strange." thinking about what Zack has told her. While it was weird that even she was possibly connected to the situation, Aerith could tell that even Zack had doubts. Not to mention that Genesis may know something that none of them do. So she suggested, "Maybe Genesis might have the answers."
"That's what I'm hoping." Zack shrugged a little. "Everything's so messed up lately." for he wanted to really know what was going on and wished the Genesis would quit with the random words that even made his head hurt just trying to piece the pieces of the puzzle together, only to end up with more pieces, and the puzzle seems to grow bigger. Problem is, even Angeal is brought into it. It made him think that maybe Yen Sid might be right. But then...how could that be?
Seeing the growing hopelessness on the young man's face, Aerith gently smiled and placed her hand onto Zack's gloved right one, startling him a little as he looked up to her, and she told him in comfort, "You'll find it. I know you will."
Remembering how Aerith's dreamcounterpart in Zack's dream gave his dreamcounterpart comfort, and how both were exactly the same, Zack couldn't help but feel comforted, and smiled, "Thank you, Aerith." and suddenly he wanted to do more to thank her, but didn't know what to do at the moment, until one memory from the dream sparked in his mind. He pictured a pink ribbon in Aerith's hair, just like the Aerith in his dreams.
That's it!
"Hey," Zack began, his face liting up, "To show my gratitude for that "hell-lloo" that woke me up... I'll buy you something."
"Oh, you don't have to." Aerith replied.
"Think of it as a friendship gift."
The young woman was a bit surprised by the kind gesture the young man was giving her. In the short time she'd known him, Zack's been brave, sweet and kind, and while a bit childish, he was actually a person Aerith discovered she'd want to hang out with.
Seeing that he was also serious, she finally smiled and nodded, standing up with him, and told him, "Okay...I know a store where they sell things."
A little later...
"How's that?" Zack asked, as he stepped away after he tied the newly bought pink ribbon from the accessories store next to Cid's shop from helpful Moogles, and was actually proud of his handy work. It fitted nicely in Aerith's hair on the top.
Aerith tested her new ribbon and once she was positive that Zack had actually done it right and that it will stay on, she beamed a smile and turned to face him, saying happily, "Thank you, Zack! I'll always wear it from now on!" and two smiled at each other.
While Zack had been making sure that Genesis wasn't back in Traverse Town, he actually hanged out with Aerith for almost two hours before taking her back to the hotel where Leon and Yuffie were, the latter two relieved that Aerith was alright, and even they admitted that she looked beautiful with her new pink ribbon in her hair. Once Aerith told them that Zack had saved her from the Heartless, Leon actually thanked him and wished him luck on his journey.
After saying goodbyes and that he'll come back for another visit as soon as he is able, Zack then returned to the First District, thinking about his time hanging out with Aerith, and couldn't help but think that their time together was somewhat like a date.
He even blushed when he recalled how Aerith actually kissed him gently on the cheek.
The young swordsman stopped, which, through out the date, he even thought about the other woman he had a crush on, whom he hasn't seen in eight years...and was now currently stuck in the 'Realm of Darkness'. Whatever that was. Zack was feeling a bit guilty for not realising what happened to Aqua or the others, from what Yen Sid told him.
Maybe Zack was a bit of an idiot and hadn't been paying attention on what Aqua said about their possible date once he became a hero. Maybe she knew that their date wasn't even possible, then thought about when she wanted to find Terra. Maybe those two were more than just friends. Zack thought back of the last time he'd seen Aqua, as well as...Serenity, who had, as Yen Sid had told him, disguised herself as 'Sailor Moon'.
(Flash-Back: During the events of Sailor Moon: Birth By Sleep)
(~Destiny's Union-KH: BBS~)
A fourteen year old Zack was walking out of the coliseum gates with both Aqua and 'Sailor Moon' after the latter two had defeated Hades and his 'Snow Cone' monster in the final round of the games, for the young man was grunting in anger at the Lord of the Dead, "Stupid Hades... Next time, I'll put him in his place."
The trio then paused when Zack remembered the two women's victory, or really, Aqua's victory and told her with an excited smile, "Oh yeah! Aqua! You're the champ-we gotta celebrate!"
"That won't really be necessary." Aqua shook her head with a smile of her own, while 'Sailor Moon' wondered about celebrating, probably haven't celebrated much, Zack figured.
The young man then thought of another idea on how to celebrate, and held up a finger, suggesting with a charming smile, "Hey, how about one date?" for he couldn't resist two beautiful women who could fight and defend themselves and their friends.
Both women blushed heavily in realistion, though Aqua's face reddened darker, before she quickly and stutteredly said, "Huh!? Oh! You mean- No... I have to leave right away... Besides, I still have so much training to do..." obviously shocked about such gesture. No one asked her on a date before.
Zack half understood and replied, "Fair enough. And I'm still a work in progress, after all." before coming up with another idea and asked, "Well, how 'bout this-I become a hero, then we go on a date."
Though in his excitement, Zack didn't really understand when Aqua told him gently, "I...I can't make any promises."
"Yes!" Zack grinned, squating a little, before saying, "Great, it's settled. Hero-hood, here I come!" before taking off to train harder.
(End Flash-Back)
But it seemed that it wasn't meant to be, he realised. What had happened to Terra, Ven and Aqua? Who caused them to have such horrible fates? Mickey was fine. Jason and Grovyle, and 'Sailor Moon' all went back to where they came from. Zack then frowned in concern. What if Genesis was actually plotting to make Zack and Angeal to both disappear as well, like whoever had caused problems eight years ago to all of the worlds to ruin the lives of the three Keyblade wielders?
If that's the case, then Zack refused to allow Genesis to do that. If only he could just...go into his dreams without falling asleep into Midgar. Suddenly an idea hit him, and Zack pulled out his Starshard, deep in thought. While it seemed like a crazy idea, maybe he can go to Midgar himself.
(~End Destiny's Union~)
"It's worth a try." Zack decided, nodding to himself with determination. He was going to get answers out of Genesis and hopefully save Angeal from the darkness. Concentrating hard, Zack wished with all of his might to find the place from his dreams.
Granting his wish, the Starshard wisked him away into light towards his next destination. To find Midgar.
Surely that place in his dreams hold the clues to the answers he needs.
(~Broken Reality-KH: Dream Drop Distance~)
(Fragments from Zack's dreams)
Fragment 34: It's been a couple days since the Genesis invasion attack, and yet again, both Genesis and Angeal disappeared. To had to Zack's insult of injury, he couldn't get hold of Sephiroth either. He was on the SOLDIER floor, trying again and again on his PHS, but he got no answer.
One SOLDIER 3rd Class noticed Zack's frustration and couldn't help but ask, "Who are you trying to call?"
Sighing and giving up, Zack puts away his phone while answering to apparently the newbie of the SOLDIER program, "Sephiroth. I haven't been able to reach him in ages."
This came to a surprise, as the young 3rd Class muttered, before pointing out, "Haven't you heard? Mr. Sephiroth has shut himself iside the data room and hasn't come out. Handsets are prohibited in the data room, so there's not much you can do."
Data room? Zack allowed the 3rd Class to continue, learning that Sephiroth was looking up on the history of the ShinRa Company's Science Department. When Zack had found Sephiroth shortly after the aftermath of the invasion, he noticed the Legendary SOLDIER's glare at Professor Hojo and even whispered to him not to trust the professor. Zack then realised that even Sephiroth hated the scientest, and, upon from what he learned about Jenova, he clearly understood why.
Fragment 35: Zack had gotten a call from Aerith about the flower wagon he'd promised to help her with, so he immediately set out to meet her at the Church in Sector 5. On his way, he noticed something was amiss at Sector 8 and quickly went to investigate.
To his shock, it was Cissnei who was facing apparently men who were not Genesis Clones, but men who wore different uniforms, and were apparently not happy that she was a Turk.
"Uh oh! Not good!" Zack gulped, before unsheathing his sword and rushed over to fight the group of five men, only to skid a stop when the two other Turks, Reno and Rude quickly appeared, and to the SOLDER's shock and disappointment, the two Turks quickly took out the uniformed men.
Reno taking two out with his speed and agility with his EMR smacking them with lighting strikes which was added on with a Lightning Materia, and Rude taking out another two with his powerful strength with massive punches that loud and sickening cracks were heard, before the two finished off the last one with ease.
Zack sighed as he puts away his sword, disappointed to have missed out the action. Reno on the other hand, pleased with himself and his partner, smirked at the youngerish man, saying, "All's well that ends well. So sorry, Slick."
"You were a bit too late." Rude added, though he continued to hold the same stern expression.
Cissnei, healing herself with a cure materia, smiled at her two co-workers and told Zack, "Pretty good teamwork, huh?"
"Yeah, no kidding." Zack admitted with a shrug. He heard rumors that Reno and Rude were nearly unstoppable as a team, but he never thought it was to be true. Now that he'd seen it in action, the two Turks were a pretty good team.
Fragment 36: After the Turks left, Zack went back on his way to Sector 5, though he was cleary surprised when Angeal, still with his white single wing, flew in and landed on the ground in front of him.
"Where have you been, Angeal!?" Zack demanded.
"Sorry. I've been busy." Angeal apologuised.
Zack rolled his eyes at his mentor, grumbling, "Yeah, well, not only I haven't heard from you, but even Sephiroth was busy himself."
"How so?"
"He's been hold up in the data room, looking up old reports and things like that." The younger SOLDIER 1st Class explained with a shrug. He then asked, a bit supiciously, "So what brings you here? These days, you're confusing me."
Angeal paused for a few moments, before answering, with the same authority look he used to wear before he vanished with Genesis, "Genesis and Hollander are in Modeoheim. I've already informed Lazard as well."
Zack blinked in surprise, before asking, "You came here to tell me that? Are you...on an assignment?"
"I suppose I'm SOLDIER at heart. That hasn't changed." Angeal replied with a small shrug. "Those going to Modeohiem will pick you up for the mission." and before Zack could say anything else, the older man took off into the sky once again.
Seeing how he needed to hurry for his, apparently, next assignment, Zack then raced towards the church the meet with Aerith.
Fragment 37: Zack arrived and was just walking up the stairs to the Church when he sensed movement behind him. For the past few months in knowing Tseng, the Wutaiian's silent appearence hardly fazed him. Since Tseng was here, Zack realised that the Turk was going to Modeohiem as well. Well, the Turks were payed to go investigate as well.
"Zack." Tseng spoke up, knowing that the young SOLDIER knew he was there, "We are to leave for Modeohiem."
"I know." Zack paused, explaining, "I just need a minute."
But what he heard next made him quickly supicious, as Tseng informed him, "Aerith's not there right now."
Zack turned around, wondering how the Turks even knew the young woman, asking, "How do you know Aerith?"
For a moment, Tseng looked a bit uncomfortable, as he looked away slightly, replying, "It's a complicated matter."
"Oh really?" Zack mocked. "She didn't mention anything about knowing you."
Somewhat relieved, Tseng then told him, "If that's the case, then I won't either." just as a ShinRa chopper landed behind him, ready to take passengers. The Turks then turned and headed inside the chopper.
Seeing how he wasn't getting out of this without meeting up with Aerith, Zack sighed, then decided to get his mission over with, saying sarcastically, "Yeah, well, whatever I suppose." though none of them were aware that a white single feather was on the top step of the church before it was blown away in the wind by the chopper.
Zack would worry about Aerith's connection with Tseng later.
(~End Broken Reality~)
After five hours of searching the ruins in Midgar, the Turks decided to come up with another investigation on their enemy to the New ShinRa. When their President and Elena had awoken, Tseng had suggested that Rufus would return to HQ, which the latter agreed, before ordering them to continue the investigation. Elena was to accompany Rufus back for his protection, which she did as she was told, before Tseng, Reno and Rude continued to look around the ruined city.
Just then, a strange light zipped above them in the sky before zooming past them deep into the heart of the forest-covered ruins. The three men were stunned and confused at this strange sight.
"What the hell was that?" Reno asked, dumbfounded. "A shooting star?" though while the light looked just like a shooting star, he somehow doubted that was the case. Sure it was pretty, but it was weird at the same time.
"No." Rude spoke. "Shooting stars don't come out during the day." which he was right, though the sun was getting pretty close in setting.
"I'm afraid he's right." Tseng agreed, supicious on this. "Even more strange, it's headed straight into the ruins of Midgar."
"Well, it sure ain't whatever the enemy's up to, that's the sure." Reno pointed out. Now that he knew about the files he and his co-workers had found, and from what Tseng had theoried, the next step was to figure out why this was happening. But it looked like that would have to wait for a little bit. The light itself seemed harmless, but it was better to make sure, just in case.
"We must investigate that light. Let's go." Tseng commanded.
"You got it." Reno nodded.
"Yes, sir." Rude nodded.
Soon, the three men went to find out, unaware that they were to meet someone who was also somewhat part of their own situation.
While Zack was aware that he passed out again during his flight from Traverse Town, he found himself lying on the hard, pebbled ground that was covered in fern and moss from the years of growth.
Groaning while getting up, he grumbled, "Next time I'm in Traverse Town, I'm getting landing lessons from Merlin." making a mental note to remind himself on that.
When Zack stood up, at first he didn't know where he was, but when he noticed a old water fountain that was covered in the years of greenary, everything being in a complete wreck as if a meteor had hit it or something, and the broken and shockingly familiar building in a short distance, he gasped in shock to the point of doing a double-take.
But...how could this be? Zack had been certain that the city itself was nothing more than just a dream he kept on dreaming about since before his journey.
World: Midgar-Edge.
"No way! It's...It's Midgar!" Zack exclaimed aloud to himself. He couldn't believe it. He was actually in Midgar. But, something wasn't right. He was certain that he'd end up in his dreams. But instead, the Starshard landed him in a Midgar where it was abandoned for who knows how long. With ferns, trees, vines and moss growing all over the place, it was easy to not recongise this city at first.
Maybe Zack was going completely crazy, for now he was having a little trouble if he was still dreaming or not. If he was, then this was one crazy dream. He walked around a little, for the more he looked, the more he realised that at some point, this real Midgar had been badly damaged to the point of being abandoned, and clearly, it's been empty for like several years. It still looked modern like in his dreams, but he just didn't understand what was going on.
Little did Zack know, three men arounded a corner before quickly hiding, before watching him walk off into the direction of the Sector 8 train station. Tseng, Reno and Rude were shocked to see a familiar young man, with raven spiky hair, a long sword, the SOLDIER 1st Class Uniform.
"It can't be...!" Tseng whispered, shocked for the first time, and his normal cool demeanor briefly lost from his expression.
"No way...no way in hell that's him!" Reno stuttered, sharing a shocked glance with Rude who's eyes widened behind his sunglasses. Turning back to the direction Zack walked off into, Reno asked, "What the hell is he doing here?"
It then snapped in Tseng's mind, as he was the first to figure it out. "Perhaps he in a similiar situation as we are." he said. He turned to his two Turks and said, "We're going to confront him peacefully and question on what he knows."
The two younger men, while not understanding their superior's intentions, nodded.
As if by memory, Zack found himself at the Sector 8 train section, or what was left of it, and sighed. This was where the dream had always started before he left the Coliseum. Where his dream-self would fight Wutai troops disguised as ShinRa troops. For a moment, Zack could see a clear image of his dream-self fighting the soldiers and moss and stuff not there, before returning to reality.
Finally, after pinching himself and cringing slightly at the pain, Zack finally accepted that he was very awake, and yes, he was here, the heart of where everything began.
So Genesis and Yen Sid were right. Midgar really does exist. Though it still begs the question on what's going on. Zack looked around again, asking himself, "But...why is everything all covered in trees and stuff? Where is everyone?"
"Midgar's been abandoned and ruined for 8,000 years." a new, yet shockingly familiar voice spoke behind him, as if answering his question.
(~The Clandestine Dark Suits/Turks-CRISIS CORE FINAL FANTASY VII~)
Startled, Zack whipped around, and his eyes widened in more shock and confusion, doing another double-take. There stood three men who stopped just a few paces in front of him. These guys...Zack recongised him, though like himself, they were slightly older than in his dreams. But no doubt it was them, and maybe, like Aerith and Yuffie, and Angeal and Zack himself, these guys had the same names as the Turks in his dreams.
Tseng looked about the same, except he looked a bit older. Rude looked the same, except that he had a goatee that was small. Reno...he looked exactly the same, but even from a bit of a distance, the redhead's hair has grown long at the back and tied up in a ponytail. But either way, no doubt, Zack felt that it was them. Even they were real.
"The Turks?" Zack blurted out.
As though expecting, Reno was the first to speak and smirked as trademark smirk, greeting with a casual wave of his hand, "Long time no see, Zack. You don't look any different, man."
Now he was even more confused. Zack again thought he was dreaming, and couldn't help but ask, "Huh? You uh...know me?"
Now it was the Turks' turn to look surprised, as Reno blinked, "What do you mean "Know" you? Seriously, don't you recongise us?" before admitting, "Even if my head's still a bit foggy." which it was. He still couldn't remember straight about his own 'past'.
"Wait a minute...if you guys are real...then..." Zack trailled off, now even more lost. This was really making his head hurt, though it was a little clear that maybe these guys were confused by Genesis too, but at least they were not on the crimson man's side. Still, Zack felt lost. Reno and Rude on the other hand, puzzled that Zack was obviously thinking that this was a dream, looked at each other in confusion.
But before either of them could continue, Tseng interrupts, "We'll worry about that later. In the meantime, what brings you here?" he questioned to Zack.
Seeing how this Tseng was like the Tseng in his dreams, Zack rubbed the back of his head, ruffling his own hair, saying a bit awkwardly, "Let's just say...it's kinda complicated." before asking his own question, "You said that Midgar's been abandoned for 8,000 years, right? What happened to it?"
Realising that Zack did not know the history, Tseng explained, "They say that a Calamity destroyed this place and it almost destroyed the world as well. No one knows how it's possible, since the city had the same technology we do today."
"Really..." Zack thought, frowning. So the technology in a town nearby Midgar was the same as Midgar used to have, huh? Even after 8,000 years. Somehow, the Calamity sounded familiar, but he couldn't figure out why.
Deciding to worry about the 'brain-issues' as he would call it, later, Reno then asked, all in business, "You looking for something?" while he was still puzzled about the shooting star earlier, though, for some reason, he had a feeling that it had something to do with Zack's sudden arrival.
"I'm looking for two people; one of them is my friend, and the other...well, he's causing a lot of trouble." Zack replied. Suddenly, now that he mentioned it, somehow, if Midgar was real, then maybe Modeohiem was real too and if Genesis and Angeal were here, then maybe they're both expecting him in that place. Plus, if the Turks existed, then the technology were real as well.
If he could get these guys to help him get there, then it would be less of a headache. "Hey, is there a helicopter or something close by I can hitch a ride on?" Zack asked.
"Why do ya want a helicopter?" Reno asked.
"I want to get Modeohiem."
It didn't take a scientest to figure out why Zack wanted to go to Modeohiem, and, for some reason, the Turks suddenly felt that maybe that was another part of the mystery to their own puzzle.
"There's a helicopter service just outside of Kalm near Midgar. You should find the exit of this place." Rude answered.
"Great. Thanks." Zack nodded.
"Why Modeohiem?" Tseng asked, wanting to make sure.
"I think there's a clue to my problems there."
Suddenly Reno cursed loudly, causing the other men to look at him as he suddenly remembered and mentally kicked himself, "I forgot! The Boss wanted us to head over there for clues too! I think there's another kid who wanted to go there too, and I think I know who he is too." for he remembered Rufus also telling him to investigate Modeohiem earlier, not to mention he got a phone call from, whom Reno had recongised, Cloud Strife who also wanted to go there.
Seeing this as an oppintunity, Tseng then ordered the two Turks, "Then, we'll all go. Rude, you and Elena safe-guard the President."
"Yes, sir." Rude replied.
"You guys coming too?" Zack asked, though he figured that maybe it was safer if someone else drove the helicopter, for Zack had no experience with that kind of technology at all. The most powerful vehicle he rode was Pegasus back at the Coliseum, if you didn't want to count on riding Cerberus the three headed dog in the Underworld to face Hades to rescue Meg's soul.
Reno again grinned and shrugged dismissively, "We're going to the same place, so we might as well get to know each other better." nodding to Tseng who nodded in return, gestuing Zack to follow him, while Rude went into another direction.
Zack hesitated a bit, before groaning, before following the Turks, as if this was an assignment and that he was a SOLDIER 1st Class, grumbling to himself, "Well, whatever, I guess. Whaaatever..."
(~End The Clandestine Dark Suits/Turks~)
While Zack knew he never rode in a helicopter before, he felt somewhat at ease that even this ride was familiar. It was an easy trip from the ruins of Midgar to the service near Kalm. At the helicopter service, Zack, Reno and Tseng met up with a young man with spiky blonde hair, wearing a uniform that looked a bit like Zack's, twenty years old, and for some reason, even Zack felt that this guy was familiar.
None the less, after retrieving the chopper, and after the young man stated that he wanted to go to Modeohiem as well, Zack didn't mind. He found it surprising that Reno was actually talented in flying these things, which he said to the slightly surprised Zack before during take off, "Always loved these babies."
Soon enough, the four were off to Modeohiem, for Zack hopes to locate Angeal and Genesis and actually felt that they were getting closer. During the trip, he actually fell asleep, as did the young blonde-haired man.
(Fragments from Zack's dreams)
Fragment 38: During the trip to Modeohiem, the chopper was unexpectedly attacked and brought down into a crash landing. Fortunately, Zack, Tseng and two inferytmen troopers survived and had landed into the soft but cold snow in the mountains of Modeohiem. While they had no signal at where they were to call for help, Zack was optimisic, pointing that they were in one piece and that they would be okay, shrugging off Tseng's comment in being used to this kind of terrian, for Zack is a country boy.
He led the others towards their destination, unfazed by the cold tempreture, as was a trooper who was keeping up the same pace as him, while Tseng and another trooper were struggling in the cold climate.
Zack and the trooper who sounded two years younger than him, quickly got to know each other, for while Zack mentioned he came from Gongaga, the trooper came from Nibelhiem, how both of them were laughing that both names of their hometowns were backwater. The trooper than introduced himself as Cloud, fifteen years old, and Zack suddenly made another friend.
Fragment 39: The group then found a factory where it was overrun by Genesis copies, which had been abandoned long before Genesis deserted. As Zack went to investigate, he found Genesis threatening Hollander, whom Cloud tried to capture but ended up chasing, while Zack confronted Genesis who was showing more signs of degrading.
In the end, Genesis then committed suicide, saying about how he will accept his fate and take the world with him. Zack, unable to save him, then raced to confront Hollander...
"Aw hell!" Reno's cursed voice awoke Zack and the young man from their sleep, for they suddenly realised that the helicopter jerking.
"What is it?" Tseng asked, concerned over the headset.
"We're out of gas!" Reno grunted, "Gotta make emergancy landing, boss."
Emergancy landing? This sounded supiciously like the dream he just had, Zack realised. He suddenly heard a bit of groaning and turned to the young man next to him, and realised that he actually looked green. "Hey. You doin' okay?" he asked, a bit concerned.
The young man, Cloud, nodded, admitting, "Just a bit queasy. But I'm fine."
Ten minutes later, Reno managed to land the chopper safely near a cliff, and everyone got out, while the redhead checked the fuel-pump to see what happened. What he found made him grumble in sheer annoyance.
"Care to explain, Reno?" Tseng questioned his second in command.
Reno sighed, before standing up and facing his superior, explaining, "Somebody must've sucked up the tank half-dry before we went to the helicopter service. We're pretty stuck, sir."
Zack and Cloud, who were both lingering by, approached the two Turks, before the former said optimisically, "At least we didn't have a crash landing. We'll be alright."
This made Reno grin a little, admitting, "You're pretty optimistic about this." before chuckling, "That's what I like about you."
"Yeah, well, I'm used to this kind of thing." Zack shrugged.
Not wanting to waste anymore time, Tseng then informed to the group, "Alright then, we would've reached Modeohiem by now if we didn't run out of fuel. So, we're going to need to make up for lost time."
Deciding that he would follow the path his dream-self had, Zack told the others, "Right, I think I have a fair idea about this path. Follow me, please!" heading up towards the path, as it continued to snow. Without much else to do, Tseng, Reno and Cloud followed, not minding Zack's request. Plus, he did say please, and well, it was complicated to say when he didn't know any better.
None the less, all four of them were in for a fight that would not go as they would hope.
A/N: Sorry again about this being late. Had a little trouble, but as you can see about Midgar...suprise! More shall be revealed in the later chapters, as you all better brace yourselves for the next chapter, because it will not be pretty.
Again to HiddenXEmotion, thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you like this so far. As for where I came up with involving Sailor Moon into this, well, I had this crossover idea since 2003, back when I started out in mixing Sailor Moon with Pokemon, Cardcaptors, Shrek and Ice Age. You can look up my "Sailor Moon Continuum" parts one and two in my profile story-list(which I'm in the progress of re-writing to make it better).
See you in the next chapter!