Disclaimer: Square Enix owns Final Fantasy and EVERYTHING connected to it. I just own the plot (with help from Kender20) and my OC Lena!

Chapter 5: The Gift of the Goddess & Zack

"Angeal! What's going on?", the young boy looked at a kneeling Genesis and Sephiroth, a small crowd surrounded them, all villagers from Banora with their heads bowed or tears streaming down their faces.

"I don't know but we-", Angeal's words died in his throat as he approached closer, finally seeing the person Genesis was cradling in his arms.

"Lena!", Angeal sped towards them, falling to his knees as he took Lena from Genesis' hands and gently shook her, noticing the profusely bleeding stomach wound she suffered. He shot a glare at Genesis and Sephiroth, his blue eyes glinting:" What the hell are you doing?! Where is the doctor? Why didn't you try to stop her bleeding?! Lena!", Angeal pressed his hands tightly against her stomach.

Blood was trickling from her slightly open mouth, she was pale, her eyes were closed but…she was smiling? She must be alive! That's it! That's why she was smiling.

But he knew the truth the minute he had laid eyes on her beaten form. Even for a skilled fighter as Lena this wound was…

No! He shook his head frantically, his voice rose as he said:" Lena! Lena! Open your eyes, you hear me woman? Don't you dare do this to me! Not after everything we have been through! You're stronger than this, a lot stronger! You're stronger than me Lena! I-I can't….not again…I can't…", after a moment of trembling, Angeal released a cry of anguish as and with tears flowing from his eyes he held her close, his strong arms wrapped around her lifeless form. His grip only tightened when he felt Genesis' hand on his friend's shoulder, his face sad with sorrow with tear marks on his cheeks.

"I'm sorry Angeal…there was nothing we could do to save her...she's gone…I…I'm sorry…", Genesis bit his lip, his gloved hand clenching into a tight fist as he released the sobs he had been trying to hold back.

"It's not true…! Genesis…tell me it's not true!", Angeal shouted, his body trembling from trying to control his cries but failing. The redheaded SOLDIER's eyes blinked back fresh tears as he squeezed Angeal's shoulder in comfort.

He hung his head down as he whispered:" My friend…the fates are cruel. There is no breath within her lungs…not a heartbeat remains within her…the soul of your goddesses' body has left her to descend towards the skies and watch from above…", his gaze lifted towards the skies as he smiled a small, painful smile and whispered:" If it is of any comfort to you, Angeal, she expressed her undying love for you with her final breath… She will always love you…even from within the Lifestream…", he closed his eyes and let the tears fall.

Angeal's body slowly calmed, but his iron grip remained. He buried his face in her hair, sobbing.

"Angeal…", the voice of Zack reached him as Sephiroth made room for Zack to fall on his knees beside his mentor.

Angeal slowly, reluctantly lowered Lena's body to the ground again. He kissed her forehead affectionately whispering:" I love you my Goddess…", to her before he grit his teeth tightly and watched her body dissipate, her soul traveling to the Lifestream.

Angeal's eyes widened a fraction as he saw a silver necklace was in the place where Lena's body once had been, he slowly, carefully picked it up. He opened it gently and his heart clenched and warmed at the same time when he saw what was inside.

A picture. It was a picture of him and her they had made before he left for SOLDIER. Zack looked at the pendant, a small smile grazing his lips as he saw the picture. His eyes were dry again, after crying when he saw his mentor broke down into tears.

She had kept it all along. A sign she never forgot about him.

"And never will.", as if Zack had read his thoughts he answered with a nod as he continued:" She will never forget you Angeal, she will wait for you in the Lifestream. She's fine now where she is, trust me.", Zack placed a hand on his mentor's shoulder trying to comfort him.

Zack's eyes widened a fraction before they softened as Angeal hugged him tightly, he could feel the light tremors going through Angeal's body but he only hugged him back and both mourned the death of a woman who was his mentor's first and last love. The only woman whom made it possible for Zack to witness a side of Angeal he never saw before.

And through that hardship, it brought mentor and student a lot closer. Throughout the years they have trained and fought together, comforted each-other when needed, cried and laughed together, healed each-other's wounds when old scars would be reopened and the past came back to haunt them…

Zack and Angeal were like a father and son. Their relationship had evolved into something far closer than mentor and student or even best friends. They would give their lives for one another in a heartbeat.

Angeal has guided Zack's path towards the light, he taught him to believe in his dreams and honor, to follow them regardless of what other people said or did.

Because that was what it took to be a hero.

And Zack finally understood the full meaning of his mentor's words when Angeal died with a smile in his arms as he handed him the Buster sword and Zack became his living legacy.

The END to this story dear readers! I sincerely hope everyone enjoyed it! This was a (good might I add) story prompt from my friend Kender20! (thumbs up)