I do not own anything nor do I make any money from this story. All rights apply.
[A/N I ended up writing this chapter in a moment of inspiration – but I feel I should explain it a little. I like it and it sums up Zack's journey for me. Everyone knows what happens in the end of Crisis Core but this story has been about Zack's journey and so it will end with Zack. Strangely, chapter 14 The Mako City was much harder to write than this one – I think because I had written this one first and really knew what was coming.]
The Price of Freedom – The Price of Freedom
He could hear Zack's voice again. It had taken him a long time to realise what it was. It had taken him longer to realise it was Zack he saw. But it was strange… Sometimes he couldn't see Zack at all, he just heard his voice in the darkness. He didn't know what the darkness was but it made him feel lost. In the beginning he didn't know the darkness was there. That was until he started to hear sounds, then the sounds became a voice. He liked the voice but he also didn't like it – it made him realise there was the darkness.
But the voice never left him, he had though once that it had but it had returned. He couldn't actually remember when he started to understand what he was seeing, and sometimes he still didn't. Just like sometimes he was in the darkness.
Right now though, he knew Zack was talking.
"I'm just joking. I'd never abandon you. We're friends right?"
He wanted to say 'right' but was distracted by something he was looking at. The more he looked at it the more he began to think it was himself. Thinking about it, he had seen it a lot – almost every time he wasn't in the darkness. And always from the same angle. Zack changed, he could see all of him sometimes, or only some of him. But what he was looking at now was always the same.
Legs
He was looking at legs. Legs that belonged to…?
His gaze drifted to his hands – his hands. He tried to move his fingers, and he could. Easily, in fact. The thought had barely been processed and his fingers were moving. And he was doing it. For some reason it made him feel excited.
But suddenly he was pushed to the side and Zack was shouting his name. There was something about it that scared him – for a moment the darkness was a refuge from something scary. The relief was quickly replaced the feeling of being lost. Then he heard Zack's voice. He could see him. But he was… walking away... leaving…?
He tried to reach out but he was too slow – why? Why did he move so slowly? Where was he now? Sand and rocks? Was this a city? Midgar?
XxX
"Honestly" muttered Zack as he scanned the huge amount of men before him, "freedom sure is pricey."
With practiced ease and combat calm, he readied his sword.
"Never lose your dreams. Also, no matter the situation never let go of your pride as a SOLDIER!"
His eyes snapped to attention
"Let's go!"
XxX
The sky is blue. This is the sky he wanted to show Aerith. But as he watched the sky began to darken as clouds rolled in. Show this sky to Aerith? – not so much. But it may be a good start before he showed her the wide blue sky. That is until the rain started to fall and he decided that clear blue sky would definitely be better.
A sound caught his attention. He'd thought the infantrymen had left. Gunned him down and gone. But it was Cloud. Moving by himself, in a slow and uncoordinated way, but you know, moving by himself.
"Zack."
Zack couldn't believe he was finally hearing his friend's voice.
"Both of us…" he started.
"Both of us?" asked Cloud. Zack isn't sure Could understood the words he was saying.
"That's right," he said his breathing hitching, "you're gonna…"
"You're gonna…" echoed Cloud.
Zack reached up and grabbed the back of Cloud's head. He wanted to ruffle his crazy hair but couldn't. Instead he pulled Cloud's head down to his chest.
"…live," finished Zack. "You'll be my living legacy."
The effort became too much and Zack let his arm fall to the ground. He knew he was dying, he wasn't going to pretend. He had one last thing he had to do – it would be the last thing he did, but it was important. He summoned the will and pulled his Buster Sword off the sodden ground.
"My honour, my dreams – they're yours now," he said as he pushed his sword toward Cloud. He could see Cloud recognised it as he took it.
"I'm your living legacy..." Cloud's voice trailed a little.
Zack could see understanding of what he was saying coming into Cloud's expression.
The last thing Zack saw was the dawning realisation of what was happening in Cloud's eyes – the anguish. It was obvious in his clear mako blue eyes. It was an emotion he never wanted to see on his friend's face but it was an emotion. After so long…
What would Aerith think…?
END
The Agony
The agony of obscurity
Your broken chain of memories
Are you… who you think you are?
The agony of insecurity
Your broken chain of memories
Or are you… just a puppet?
The agony of finality
Your broken chain of memories
You are… in your memories
Thank you and goodbye.