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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 9, 2009 19:19:30 GMT -5
Zack Fair
Zack felt an odd sensation...like he was moving, at a fast pace. Aerith...she had gone...back, to live again in a world he had been away from for some time. He closed his eyes. It felt like he had a headache, pressure was on his head.
He landed somewhere hard with suddenness. He opened his eyes, a little dizzy. "well, that was a fine, howdoyado!" He grumbled to himself. He opened his eyes before raising himself on his forearms. He looked around. Midgar...? He looked around, then shook his head. Was he back? He jumped to his feet, looking around with interest. It looked so different now, Midgar did. He shook his head, laying his hand against his brow. Was this real? Was he real? What...? How...?
He took a few steps. That had hurt, getting back, but how had it happened? He raised his brown, then shrugged. He raised a fist in the air, before whooping. He was BACK! He immediately checked his back for his sword. His brows furrowed before he remembered. He had given it to Cloud...before he had died. He felt naked without it. He had never been without the Buster Sword, and he hated it.
He wondered where he should go. Then he remembered the bar. He turned around, trudging foreword. He had to find Cloud, and...especially Aerith. He wanted to talk to her, to be with her, to touch her. Did she still have to bow he had given her? He suddenly stopped. He scrounged in his pocket. Sure enough, he still had her letter, the last one she had written to him. His jaw hardened, He loved her, he always had, even though his job had kept him away. He wondered if she had been able to look at the sky without getting scared. He longed to be with her once again, had she waited for him? "wait for me Aerith..." he whispered before continuing to walk, still as cocky as ever, but his heart beat fast. After this time, would he be able to see her? or his best friend? He didn't know what had all happened while he was away, but Midgar didn't look the greatest. Something had happened, something bad, he was sure of it.
He was still in his SOLDIER clothes. He would have to change sometimes. He looked around, then continued walking. He had no idea where the bar might be, but he hoped he was close....
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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 9, 2009 20:25:53 GMT -5
Cloud was being extra cautious as he entered the streets of Midgar on his bike for now on. It was being demolished by the Darkness...Things seemed slow today for the bad guys. Things sure have changed. The streets were almost deserted. He remembers the last time he came back home. It was being attacked. And people were evacuating....The screams of the innocent never left Cloud's mind. He closed his eyes as he was parked on a deserted street....Trying to black out all the madness.
Everyone that lived in this town their lives were destroyed because the Darkness completely destroyed what Shin-Ra worked so hard to keep together. There was even talk in the radio about blaming Shin-Ra again....Cloud opened his eyes again. Nothing but turned over vehicles. And destroyed buildings were left....Cloud sighed....It was over. Cloud rode over to the next street and thought he was seeing things now...A familiar figure stood not far from him.... "It can't be...." Cloud said that to himself....As he looked at the man that looked much like Zack.....But he was dead...Wasn't he?
It was a possibility that Zack was back. Aerith was. Cloud had more faith than others about his best friend returning from the Life Stream....And was this it? Cloud rode his bike closer....He looked like Zack...."Zack?" He asked out loud now so the man would hear him plainly....Cloud never forgot the last conversation the two had in the back of that truck.....
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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 9, 2009 21:00:54 GMT -5
Zack
Zack stood still when he caught site of more of the city. Midgar...destroyed? He looked around, destroyed buildings, cars tipped upside down. "What happened here...?" He asked himself. Putting his hands on his hips, he looked both ways. He realized all the more how much he wanted his sword. "Gotta get that back soon...with the way things look I'll need it..." he looked down at his hands. He realized he still had the letter, clutched in his hand.
He smoothed it out, then folding it, put it in his pocket. His sharp eyes glanced around. What had happened to Midgar? Why was it destroyed? He wished he could find someone with answers. "If only I could find Cloud!" He hit his palm with his hand. His best friend would know what had happened here!
Piercing blue eyes searched for clues. He didn't see anything familiar, but he didn't think he should. How long had it been since he was here? "A long time!" He told himself. Shaking his head, he cocked his brows, since when did he talk to himself? He smiled, probably since Cloud and he's grand escape. With no one to talk to but the unconscious Cloud, he had talked a lot, basically to himself.
He heard the sound of a bike behind him. He whirled around at a voice, his right had reaching back for his sword. Only to find it missing. Damnit he thought to himself. He had crouched down a bit. He would have to try to fight off whatever it was without his sword. Then he froze. straitening up, his eyes looked at a blonde man riding a black bike...Cloud? He relaxed with a grin when he recognized his friend. "Cloud!" He spoke loudly, before running a hand through black spiky hair.
He walked closer, hoping it really was Cloud. "Cloud, what took you so long?!" the smile widened on his face. "Man, you look good, at least, better then this sorry City, what the heck happened here?!" He spoke like his old self, upbeat and a cocky, he was super friendly, and a little emotional. He hadn't forgotten the last time he had spoken with his friend, when he lay dying. He was close to him, but Cloud hadn't gotten off his bike yet. "What's the matter? A little shocked to see me?" He suddenly grabbed his friend in the biggest hug ever, then drew back. "look at you man, lookin sharp!"
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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 9, 2009 21:18:20 GMT -5
"Cloud!" "Cloud, what took you so long?!" "Man, you look good, at least, better then this sorry City, what the heck happened here?!" "What's the matter? A little shocked to see me?" "look at you man, lookin sharp!" For once, Cloud was speechless as if he saw a ghost...And was surprised with the hug. Had his prayers been listened to and answered? They must've been. His bast friend was alive. "You're a sight for sore eyes man..." Cloud managed to say. The hug was warm and welcoming. Just like Zack to be like his ol' self.....Zack would see that Cloud was not as enthused as his friend was. Cloud then swallowed hard. "You're....alive....." Unless you are Cloud you would not understand what this meant to him....Aside from Tifa. Zack was the only one that saw Cloud as a some body not a nobody....Cloud even felt his heart miss a few beats. As he was hugged by a friend that was supposed to be dead...
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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 9, 2009 21:45:54 GMT -5
Zack
Zack laughed, then ruffled Cloud's spiky hair. "dude, of course I'm a sight for sore eyes!" He couldn't stop grinning. He stepped away, then took in a deep breath. His chest expanded, then he let it all out. He looked at the bike. It was pretty cool, maybe Cloud liked bikes because he somehow remembered the riding they had done in Cissnei's bike. His smile dimmed a little bit at Cloud's expression. He sure had an odd expression on his face.
He nodded then, putting his hands on his waist again, he stretched before doing a few squats. He cocked his head, then became serious for a second. "You bet I'm alive...don't ask me how or why, but I think I am alive!" He contemplated on why he might be alive. Personally, he thought it might be to have a second chance at life.
He reached out, and his hand fell on Cloud's shoulder. His blue eyes looked into Cloud's equally bright blue eyes. "Cloud...is everything alright?" He spoke with no teasing in his voice, just dead seriousness. Sure, he was alive, when he shouldn't be, but he didn't quite know if that what was getting Cloud so choked up.
He sighed. He wondered about a lot of things, but didn't want to overwhelm his friend. It had been too long since he had seen him last. "Man, its been way to long!" He nodded, his spiky hair moving. "I see Sephy didn't get ya, so you must be pretty dang tough now!" He didn't speak with jealousy at all. Cloud had grown up a lot. From the boy he had known before, to the man he was today. Zack had always known Cloud was going to do big things, he had just had this feeling about him. He slapped his shoulder, eyes happy. "I just know it's good to see you again Cloud!"
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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 9, 2009 22:06:54 GMT -5
"dude, of course I'm a sight for sore eyes!" "You bet I'm alive...don't ask me how or why, but I think I am alive!" Cloud then let out a laugh! A laugh pretty much as he did when he and Zack met....It has been a while since Cloud laughed like that...."Cloud...is everything alright?" Cloud's smile faded again.....As he looked down.... "Man, its been way to long!" "I see Sephy didn't get ya, so you must be pretty dang tough now!" "Thanks to you...." Cloud clearly remembered what happened that awful fight he had last he'd seen Sephiroth....Sephiroth basically turned Cloud into sushi....But then Zack helped him carry on....."I just know it's good to see you again Cloud!" "I just...can't believe you are here....My life changed when you died....And a lot of things have happened since then....Alot of things!" There had been a lot of things happen....Cloud was even had a mistaken identity crisis. But he was recovered from it thanks to Tifa......That was just a one of the many things that happened.....
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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 9, 2009 22:23:13 GMT -5
Zack Fair
Zack shook his head. "No, Cloud, it was all you! don't be giving me credit!" He smiled, Cloud...it was awesome to finally be talking to him once more. His gaze took him all in. He didn't have the SOLDIER outfit on...of course not. He sighed, then looked down at his own SOLDIER garb. He rotated his shoulders, he had to ditch this outfit. Personally, he didn't think SOLDIER even existed anymore.
He sighed, "I can tell things have changed...even you, you've changed a ton Cloud!" he cocked his brow, not sure he was liking everything that had changed. He smiled, "Personally, I couldn't believe I was here myself for awhile..." He shrugged, "But I guess I am, because I'm here talkin to you aren't I!"
He stretched the muscles in his arms. Looking around, his gaze took in everything again. "Midgar is pretty much destroyed huh?" He nodded, "Cloud...I gave you my Sword all that time ago...and now, well, I can tell things are a little bit on edge, would you mind taking me to my sword? I just don't feel right without it! And we can talk there, while you fill me in about whats been happening here for the last couple of years!" he wanted so badly to talk to Aerith, "And Cloud...Aerith...is she...here?"
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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 9, 2009 23:38:54 GMT -5
"No, Cloud, it was all you! don't be giving me credit!" "I can tell things have changed...even you, you've changed a ton Cloud!" Another smile appeared on Cloud's face...."Yeah...I'm not the same country boy you knew...." "Personally, I couldn't believe I was here myself for awhile..." Another laugh...."But I guess I am, because I'm here talkin to you aren't I!" Cloud couldn't contain himself. He even hid his lips with his hand....As he chuckled...."Cloud...I gave you my Sword all that time ago...and now, well, I can tell things are a little bit on edge, would you mind taking me to my sword? I just don't feel right without it! And we can talk there, while you fill me in about whats been happening here for the last couple of years!" Oh, I know exactly where that is....It's inside Aerith's church...I polish it every day....I was amazed that that building was the only thing left standing....Well it's far from standing....But it is still there...." "And Cloud...Aerith...is she...here?" "Yes Aerith is back...But apparently no longer here in Midgar....She's with Tifa. We've kept her safe for you though.....So come on....Feel like a bike ride and recapture some memories?"
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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 9, 2009 23:57:24 GMT -5
Zack Fair
Zack crossed his arms, appraising Cloud. "no, not the same Country boy, but whats wrong with being the country boy? I still am!" He smiled. Yes, Cloud had changed in some ways, but he was still the very same in many other ways. He head-locked Cloud for a second when he laughed, "Finally, that smile had better have come pretty soon!"
He let go of Cloud, then smiled, his eyes warm. His eyes looked at Cloud's, glad he had cared for his sword. He hadn't wanted to have to polish it for a year before it shone once more. He nodded, "Good, At least I will have my sword back...from the way things look here, I guess I'll be needing it..." He thought about Aerith's church. So much had happened to him there, it would be good to see it again.
He glanced quickly at Cloud. What had he meant, they had kept her safe for him? Could it be...? Had she waited for him? He gulped, but tried not to think about it too much. He slapped him on the shoulder. "Would I ever Cloud! Although this time at least I don't have to drag you around, unconscious all the time!" He had quite the teasing voice, as he looked at Cloud, his eyes sharp with humor. "I guess we should go, I hate being without a weapon!"
He had survived only because of that sword most of his life. Sure, the army had killed him, but how many hundreds of them had it taken? He grinned at the thought, at least he had gone out with a fight!
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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 10, 2009 0:10:44 GMT -5
"no, not the same Country boy, but whats wrong with being the country boy? I still am!" "Finally, that smile had better have come pretty soon!" Cloud smiled bigger that time....As he heard Zack say that...."Good, At least I will have my sword back...from the way things look here, I guess I'll be needing it..." "Would I ever Cloud! Although this time at least I don't have to drag you around, unconscious all the time!" "Good one...." "I guess we should go, I hate being without a weapon!" "I know how that is....You feel naked right now with that thing huh?" Cloud jumped back on his bike and revved her up...As he waited for his friend to get on...."Oh one more thing I forgot to tell you.....Uh...What was bothering me....Is that we think Sephiroth is back....We've seen a number of Shadow Creatures come out of no where....So just keep a sharp eye out....." Cloud had no idea that he was the one to summon the shadow creatures.....So it would be no surprise that they would see one or two.....And no....Cloud had no idea that was what was making him sick all the time....He has not mentioned this to any one not even Tifa.....
((About the Shadow Creatures I just added that^^ Spice up the thread^^ XD))
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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 10, 2009 11:42:42 GMT -5
Zack Fair
Zack smiled, "Ah, it wasn't bad haulin you around! at least I had someone to talk to!" His bright blue eyes twinkled thinking about dragging his friend around. Yes, he had wished he could move faster, he might have been able to see Aerith one last time. However, he had never truly regretted the decision to stay with Cloud. Sometimes in the moment, but not enough to resent it.
He now looked at his friend. He had sure grown up. A shadowy smile was on his face. (like when he watched Cloud run away in the SOLDIER building right before the Neibelheim mission) "yeah, I hate being without my sword, I feel exposed!" He walked toward the bike, then stopped. He turned around, his hands out. "What?! Sephiroth...is alive??"
"Damnit! why can't he just stay dead!?" He hit the palm of his hand with his fist. He sighed then. Sephiroth was his friend...why had he gone crazy? "Sephiroth..." He whispered under his breath. When he had gone insane, Zack hadn't wanted to face him. Sephiroth was one of his good friends...then. Now, he wouldn't hesitate to battle him now, knowing what he did, but it would be odd to see him again.
He jumped on the bike, but his eyes were focused on the roads to the sides and ahead. "Thanks for the advice bro, I'lll keep an eye out!" If worse came to worse, he would use Materia that he still amazingly had to fight them off.
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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 10, 2009 13:18:06 GMT -5
"Ah, it wasn't bad haulin you around! at least I had someone to talk to!" "yeah, I hate being without my sword, I feel exposed!" "What?! Sephiroth...is alive??" "We're not 100 percent sure on that.....But the shadow creatures were one of his most favorite power after you died....." Cloud explained...."Sephiroth..." Cloud knew how his friend felt. Cloud hated Sephiroth more. Because he just destroyed everything Cloud held dear near to him with out mercy or remorse....What itched that man to be so mean....? Cloud knew.....But still that was no excuse.....Cloud even knew why the man had a special hate for him self.....The thought of Sephiroth alive really scared Cloud....Would he be able to to defeat the man again if it came to that? Sure Tifa would be there cheering him on....But some thing in Cloud's mind told him that if he had to fight him again this would be the end.....For him....Finally they arrived at the church.....Amazingly it was still standing...."Thanks for the advice bro, I'll keep an eye out!" Cloud too kept an eye out as they got off the bike.....He took a piece of his sword in hand ready just in case....The wind blew some of the old swings in the play ground area.....It was awfully quiet.....Too quiet......"I never wanted to see this place like this....."
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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 10, 2009 17:58:15 GMT -5
Zack Fair
Zack got on the bike, his thoughts going in high gear. Since he had died, that had become Sephiroth's favorite weapon? He shook his head. When he had been around Sephiroth, he had been able to have many various attacks and magic's to use against those he was fighting against. Zack sighed, when he had worked with Sephiroth, he had gotten to know him a little bit better. He had even become friends with the famous war hero.
He had felt empty, well, at least where his parents were concerned. Zack remembered Genesis telling Sephiroth about Jenova. It hurt him to think about that. If Genesis had kept his mouth shut, none of this might have happened. His thoughts turned to that one line he remembered Sephiroth telling him once. i may abandon shinra, but until I do, I will remain loyal to SOLDIER...
He wondered where that thought had gone. He wished Sepiroth had never been told about Jenova. When they made it to the church, Zack felt a little bit in a daze. It was a lot different from when he had last seen it. He got off the bike, hardly with thinking he had done so. He heard Cloud speak, but it was in the distance. He walked toward the church, still in a daze. His gaze swept from one end to the other.
As he walked up the crumbling steps, his heart pounded. He wished he could see Aerith, but from what Cloud had said, she wasn't here. He opened the doors. Amazingly, they were still almost in tact. One was halfway off its hinges, but oddly enough, they still looked in really good shape, at least better then everything around them. The muscles in his arms bulged as he shoved at the doors. Destroyed cement and wood was in the way of a smooth opening.
At last, he stood gazing into the church that held so many memories. he had met Aerith here, had spend a lot of his time. He wished he could see her, bending over the flowers she loved so much. He walked toward the middle of the opposite side of the church. Broken Pews lay, more scattered, but still there. He saw the flowers. They were still as beautiful as ever.
He stooped to pick one of the flowers. He was careful not to step on any flowers. He had gotten yelled at enough to know that wasn't right for him to do. He saw his sword, propped up against a piece of wood. It shone like the day he had given it to Cloud. He had really taken care of the big sword.
Thoughts of Angeal, Genesis, Sephiroth, Aerith and Cloud clouded his mind. He grasped the handle with his right hand. Picking it up easily, he was surprised how good it felt in his hands once again. "To be a hero...you have to have pride...and honor!" "use brings about wear, tear and rust, and that would be a real waste" "This sword, represents my honor!" "he had that sword made for him when he joined SOLDIER." "That sword, represents our families honor..." All those thoughts were in his head. He glanced up and down, smiling a little bit. He rubbed it lovingly before sweeping it over his shoulder.
Turning, he caught sight of Cloud watching him. He raised his hand, then let it fall. It felt good to have the weight of his sword on his back once again. He tried to smile. "Sorry man, too many memories..." He walked toward him, the swagger in his walk once again. He felt on top of things now.
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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 10, 2009 19:12:28 GMT -5
Cloud watched his friend in silence with his arms folded across his chest. It must have felt great holding the Buster Sword again. "Sorry man, too many memories..." "That's fine buddy. The feelings mutual...." Cloud had his own memories in his mind at the moment. This man saved his life. If not for him he would've died in that lab possibly never to see Tifa again. "Zack, thanks....I don't think I ever got a chance to thank you for saving my life....." It might seem weird for a grown man to get emotional....But it was not for Cloud. He was always emotional at things....
Cloud then in the pit of his stomach felt a sharp pain hit him as he dropped his arms to his side and grab his stomach with his arm....The pain was so intense that he had to fall to his knees as he has done in the past.....This time it was worse....A lot worse......Cloud had pressed his palm open on the wood on the floor.....And that was when some thing came out of the wall from behind Zack......"No!" Cloud had shouted at that....To command the shadow creature. All Cloud did was raise his hand upwards to make the thing vanish once more before it got to close to his friend.....After it was gone.....Cloud remained knelt on the floor...The pain was still there.....His eyes which were a Mako Blue had turned pitch black.....Great!! Now Zack would know what was really bothering him!!
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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 11, 2009 1:47:38 GMT -5
Zack Fair
Zack nodded when Cloud spoke. “Yeah…” He sighed, turning and placing his hands behind his head. When Cloud spoke the second time Zack turned quickly, eyes on Cloud’s own. Zack remembered when he had been dragging Cloud around, dodging The Shinra Army, the Turks, and even SOLDIER. His own men, the guys he had been around, had been after them. He shrugged, then waved it away. “Cloud…I did it because I wanted too! And we were friends, that’s what you do for your friends!” He spoke firmly, trying not to show the deep emotions that were hiding beneath the surface.
“And Cloud…I never regretted doing it, because I knew, if it were the other way around, you would have tried to keep me safe!” He turned around, swinging his arms, eyes roving about. He heard Cloud groan, and whirling around, saw him on the ground, on his knees, grabbing at his stomach. “Cloud…?!” He ran a few steps toward him before hearing a growling noise behind him. Grabbing for his sword on instinct, he turned quickly on his feet. His legs were spread widely apart, the buster sword firmly in grasp as he faced his opponent. He saw…what must have been a shadow creature. He held the sword with both hands now, "Bring it ON!" He said, his eyes changing since he was going into battle.
When Cloud yelled, Zack didn’t move, but gasped when the Creature disappeared. He turned again, this time running for Cloud. He went to one knee, his hand firmly on Cloud’s shoulder. “Cloud? Cloud!” He didn’t move him at all, but his eyes were a bit frightened for his friend. He stayed there, his hand on his shoulder. He wished he could take whatever was ailing Cloud away from him. He leaned closer, his eyes concerned, and then he saw them. Clouds eyes were…black! His eyes opened wide, but he didn’t draw away. No, nothing his friend did would make him draw away from him.
He was thinking though. Darkness…no one surrounded by light can be filled with darkness…right? Zack thought about when Hojo had given them both Jenova cells. Since he had already been infused with mako and such for SOLDIER, it hadn’t affected him, but cloud had been severely affected. He remembered various conversations he had been through with both Hojo and Genesis. The S-Cell…Cloud had part of Sephiroth in him. He furrowed his brows, but if this was happening to Cloud…what did that mean? Zack knew a lot about what had happened in the past, and why this might be happening to Cloud, but he hoped he was wrong. He knew…Sephiroth had controlled Cloud in previous times…could it be he was doing it again? He watched his friend as he tried to regain his composure. Zack had never been affected with something like this, so he wasn’t sure what his friend felt like.
He stayed there, kneeling beside Cloud, still thinking. What if Cloud went the same way Sephiroth had? He shook his head, not wanting those thoughts in his head. He might be able to fight Sephiroth, but he would never be able to fight Cloud! NEVER! Zack had always been pushed into things he hadn’t wanted to deal with, but somehow, it had always been his destiny! This was something he wasn’t going to get pushed into though. But once again, he tried to rid his mind of such thoughts. Once again, he spoke, with a little more urgency, “Cloud?!” He wanted to pick him up and get out of there. Maybe Tifa would know more about what was going on with Cloud. He needed to know, but didn’t at the same time. What if it was something really bad? What if Sephiroth was once again starting to take control over Cloud’s body? His eyes narrowed, someone had to take that guy down!
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