The Future
Zack
"Can you hear me?"
The question roused Zack from the middle of the lifestream. He slowly became self aware again, no longer part of the greater stream of consciousness.
'Cloud,' he thought slowly, savouring the name and the memories which returned to him. 'Are you...here?'
"I wanted to talk to you, but It's hard to know if you're listening. Zack...It's been so long since I heard your voice. That one time, after the Geostigma incident, was so brief I sometimes doubt it really was you. I guess I just have to hope you can hear this."
Zack opened his eyes and looked around, but all he could make out was the ever-present green of the walls. If he concentrated, he could see the image of a blonde-haired man, standing in front of a sword near the church.
"I'm right here," he said, even though he knew Cloud couldn't hear him.
"I have a son, now. It sounds strange to hear myself say those words. I never had a father, so I'm not quite sure what to do. I think I did an okay job with Denzel, though, so maybe I can do this, too."
'A son,' Zack thought to himself in shock. He could remember, vaguely, discovering that Tifa was pregnant. Cloud's shock had awoken him and he had panicked, thinking that the Planet was under attack again. He had been relieved at first and then (though he didn't like to admit it to himself) a little bit jealous. He had worried that his plan to have Cloud move on had worked a little too well.
'It would be his right to move on, if that's what was best for him,' Zack thought. 'But where would that leave me?'
"His name is Angeal...I thought it would be a good legacy to give him. After all, I know just how much he meant to you."
Zack stared at Cloud for a while, shocked and pleased at that announcement.
'So, after all this time, you still remembered?' he thought. 'I'm glad. It's selfish, I know, but I can't help but be happy you remembered after all this time.'
"I watch him and wonder what his life is going to be like. After everything that's happened, it seems impossible that everything could finally be peaceful."
"You, worried? I would have never guessed," Zack said, shaking his head lightly. Cloud might have gotten happier during the years that they had been separated, but he hadn't quite managed to lighten up.
Cloud laughed softly.
"You'd be telling me off for being pessimistic by now, I'm sure," he said. "And you'd probably be right."
"Of course I'm right," Zack replied, wondering if the words might reach Cloud's subconscious somehow. "I always am!"
"I'm trying to do everything right. Trying to live up to my promise to you, too. It's...not always easy."
It was torment for Zack, to hear the sadness in Cloud's voice and not be able to help him. He longed to reach through the walls of the lifestream, to hold Cloud for a second, to tell him it was all going to be okay.
'He has Tifa for that,' he reminded himself. The thought was not entirely comforting.
"But I'm grateful to you, anyway, for making me try. If not for the promise I made you, I probably would have never tried to reach out to the people around me." Cloud began to pace slightly and Zack could just make out a wry smile on his face. "I think, maybe, you know me a little too well, Zack."
"Cloud-watching is one of my many hobbies, you know," Zack said. He kind of hoped Cloud didn't hear that unfortunate comment. If Zack wasn't already dead, Cloud probably would have sent him to the lifestream for the stupid pun.
Cloud stopped in front of the buster sword, placing his hands reverently on the hilt.
'You'd better remember that you promised me something, too,' he said solemnly. 'I've got a lot of things to say to you, you know and questions I want you to answer, so you had better be waiting for me.'
Zack couldn't help but smile. Of course he would be there. He wished he had a way of making Cloud see that.
In an effort to make his words audible to Cloud, he tried to lean through the walls of the lifestream. The attempt made him feel dizzy, a mock-vertigo sensation which he would have thought impossible. He was only just able to get the words out before he was returned to the main part of the lifestream.
"A hero always keeps their promises, Cloud."
Author's Note : Which brings us all to the end of In Your Shadow. I hope you all enjoyed it, because I know I enjoyed writing it. I would like to thank everyone for their comments and support, I know I say (write?) this all the time, but it really does mean a lot to me, so thank you.
I know the epilogue was a bit sparse, which I apologize for, but going into details about the other characters felt strange in the context of that 'discussion'...I mostly just wanted to show everyone how Zack was feeling, because he can be a bit deceptive, I think...What he says is not exactly how he's feeling, so to speak.