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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 11, 2009 9:59:28 GMT -5
“Yeah…” “Cloud…I did it because I wanted too! And we were friends, that’s what you do for your friends!” “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!” Cloud smiled through it all he smiled......Zack was right about that......
“Cloud…?!” "Bring it ON!" “Cloud? Cloud!” “Cloud?!” Cloud snapped out if when he heard his name....His eyes turned back to normal.....His pain went away.....A lot of things were going through Clouds mind too. What if this turned bad? But luckily he was able to control it again. Like he did with Tifa the last time.....But what if one time he could not control it...? Cloud released his arms from his stomach as he looked up at his friend...."Zack...I should've told you....Right when I saw you....Hojo did more to me than he did you....Zack, I have "S" inside me....That's why Sephiroth can not die fully.....As long as I'm alive....And now I think the darkness of him in me is trying to escape and find his master....It's going to happen....And I'm afraid for you and Tifa and Aerith...Just....stay away from me....You'll be better off...." Cloud got up and walked a few feet away from Zack....As he leaned his head on a pillar that was still standing.....He breathed heavily....As he grabbed his chest....Cloud knew what this was in a way....But he was still just as confused when it happened the first time....Cloud could not fight Zack...He just couldn't...And that was why he was warning Zack now....."I don't know how strong it's getting.....I....I don't want to hurt you...."
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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 11, 2009 10:53:14 GMT -5
Zack Fair
Zack leaned back on his heels when Cloud came back to normal. He looked away when Cloud told him what he did. He nodded, then looked down at his hand, tightening it into a fist. He sighed, why was life so complicated. And then...he thought about why he might have been given that second chance too life.
He watched Cloud as he spoke, and his eyes changed. He saw him walk away, and dipped his head a little bit. It hurt him to see Cloud like this. He stood up silently, straitening his back. He balled his hand up into a fist again. He ran his hand through his hair before giving a loud sigh. He was frustrated, and he hated not being able to fix it for Cloud. He put his hand on his forehead, before lifting his head once again.
"I...I knew about the S-Cell Cloud..." he had known everything Cloud had told him, but he hadn't ever been able to tell him about it before he had died...but here he was, alive again. He pushed his hair back, then walked toward Cloud, the sword on his back swinging while he walked.
He took his shoulder, and pulled him around a bit roughly. His eyes had changed once again. Zack had been the one with the advice to Cloud when they had been younger, before that had all happened. Well, he was going to do it now, even if Cloud resented it. "Cloud, Your strong, but remember, I'm not exactly a weakling myself!" He looked into his eyes, being taller then Cloud he had to look down a bit. "The only way you can fight this is by BEING around us! your friends!"
He punched at the pillar, "Damnit Cloud, if you keep shoving us out, your never going to get rid of him inside you!" He was getting a little bit angry, and tried to stop himself. It wasn't like him to snap at Cloud, but he knew, gentle words from him weren't going to get through to him. Let Tifa handle the gentle loving words, he, was going to tell Cloud like a man. He turned around, and walked a few paces away from Cloud. He took in a deep breath before turning, his voice a bit softer. "Cloud...I will help you, let me help you!" He cocked his head "I know Sephiroth, maybe better then you, because I spent a lot of time with him...so don't just push me out! If you do, then you will never get rid of him, do you want him to keep coming back?" Zack thought of Sephiroth, and part of him wanted the real Sephiroth back, the good Sephiroth, the SOLDIER Sephiroth! He didn't say that though, he thought it would only upset Cloud more.
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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 11, 2009 12:37:32 GMT -5
"I...I knew about the S-Cell Cloud..." Cloud looked at him as he said he knew...? But Cloud never told him until now....."Cloud, Your strong, but remember, I'm not exactly a weakling myself!" A smile formed on Cloud's lips....."The only way you can fight this is by BEING around us! your friends!" "Damnit Cloud, if you keep shoving us out, your never going to get rid of him inside you!" "Cloud...I will help you, let me help you!" "I know Sephiroth, maybe better then you, because I spent a lot of time with him...so don't just push me out! If you do, then you will never get rid of him, do you want him to keep coming back?" Another smile formed....Zack was rough and aggressive. Where as Tifa was soft and gentle. But Cloud did need this. He was a man. Not a puppy. He was better at handling this now than he was in his past.....
Zack's voice softened....And Cloud looked at his friend....."You know, I need to hear things like this. If I never had it, then, who knows what would happen. But Zack hey....don't...You don't have to worry about me. You're right. I need more friends around me. I think I have you, Tifa and Aerith to thank for that. All three of you have helped in some ways....I'll be okay as long as my light never goes out....Which is Tifa. But hehe...I might have to tell her that she's not the only light in my life now....Now that you're back....Oh man...Tifa....I promised I'd call her....I was here to check on 7TH Heaven for her while I was in Midgar....." Cloud had changed. Thanks to him expressing his feelings finally to Tifa. And letting her know that he was in love with her. Things have been a bit easier since then..."And Tifa knows about my....problem. So, it's not like I've been shutting any one out any more....I know I'm not alone....And no I don't want Sephiroth to come back...That's the last thing I want...You knew him a lot better than me....If he did come back....You could settle an old score with him probably...." Cloud walked over to Zack and pushed his shoulder in a friendly way.....
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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 11, 2009 13:05:29 GMT -5
Zack Fair
Zack listened to Cloud, he seemed to have changed in a matter of seconds. He let the breath out of his chest quickly. He closed his intense blue eyes before nodding a little bit. He didn't exactly know how to respond to Cloud now. Why had he changed so much in a few seconds? Had he found to inner light to push the darkness out? He put his hands on his hips, and turned, his eyebrow cocked.
Tifa. She had changed him. When he told him about her, he knew, he could sense it. Cloud had finally told her that he loved her. He nodded, "Finally, at least you have talked to her now!" He chuckled to himself, remembering the conversation they had in the hotel in Neibellheim. He sighed, then thought about Aerith. He had never told her he loved her either. Was there still time?
Zack moved when Cloud shoved him, his shoulder at least. Feet were planted firmly to the ground. His eyes sparkled, but then he became serious. He spread his hands wide before letting them fall to his sides. "no...I have nothing to Settle with Sephiroth, you do more....for what he has done to you, your family...Tifa's family." He looked away, "He has not done anything to me that makes me hate him, I didn't want to fight him when I did, I had to..." He sighed, "Sephiroth was a good friend of mine before he went psycho!" He shook his head, "I can't take revenge...although if he comes back, I won't hesitate to fight him again. What he is now is wrong, and he should be stopped!"
He looked down, "but...then again, I know a lot about having to fight those I'm close to..." He thought about his fight with Angeal, and Sephiroth. those fights had about killed him, yet, he had been pushed into it. Why did everyone push him into things?! |
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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 11, 2009 19:12:31 GMT -5
"no...I have nothing to Settle with Sephiroth, you do more....for what he has done to you, your family...Tifa's family." He was right when he was right.... "He has not done anything to me that makes me hate him, I didn't want to fight him when I did, I had to..." "Sephiroth was a good friend of mine before he went psycho!" "Sephiroth was a good friend of mine before he went psycho!" "I can't take revenge...although if he comes back, I won't hesitate to fight him again. What he is now is wrong, and he should be stopped!" "but...then again, I know a lot about having to fight those I'm close to..."
"What if it was me...? What if you had to fight me....Would you fight if I demanded it....Or not? Zack....I need an honest answer....If I was destroying this planet would you pick up that sword.....And try and end my life? Because the way things are going it's not gonna end good...." Cloud meant that last part with the whole world....Cloud was not going to be the hero this time....Cloud was glad that Zack was back.....He seemed more faithful than Zack right now....And plus he also meant that things would probably be different if Sephiroth came back....He was scared...But there was some thing special in Cloud that Sephiroth never had.....Love....Oh sure the man had friends.....But he betrayed them all.....
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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 11, 2009 20:57:34 GMT -5
Zack Fair
Zack's head jerked up when Cloud spoke. His mouth opened like he was going to speak, but no words came out. He shook his head slightly, arms where outstretched, eyes on Cloud's. He closed his eyes, trying to think, but not being able to. Could he really do that? His best friend? He had fought Angeal, but that...that had been a different story! He had been like his father, his adviser, but Cloud…no, he couldn’t! He told himself that with spirit. However, he suddenly started thinking. If Cloud, his best friend, was destroying the earth, he wouldn’t be Cloud…he would be…filled with darkness.
He looked away, then held his head in his hands for a moment. He was still thinking. He was always getting pushed into things he didn’t want to do. Fighting Angeal, that had been the last thing he had ever wanted to do…yet, because it needed to be done, he had done it. Sephiroth, he hadn’t wanted to fight him either. He had become Sephiroth’s friend, over time, and he had betrayed him.
He thought of the people In the world. The people from Neibelheim. They had all died because of Sephiroth! He thought of Aerith, would Cloud, if he was destroying the world, seek to destroy her as well? He reached back to touch his sword. Could he use that sword, to kill Cloud? Could he even lift it against him? He shook his head before taking in a deep breath. His chest expanded, and he wondered once again. He rubbed the back of his neck, a sure sign he was distressed.
He turned, his face revealing every emotion he was feeling. He wasn’t ashamed of them. “Cloud…I…” He looked away, what would he say to him? His parents…they would be in danger if Cloud was ripping the world apart, Tifa…Aerith, everyone, they would be in danger. He hated having to think about it, but then again…who else would stop him? Its not going to end good…Cloud’s words rang in his ears. Would Sephiroth…after all they had done to stop him, prevail? He couldn’t let that happen, but could he kill Cloud? Could he pick up his sword and kill him? It was a good question…one better left unanswered in Zack’s opinion. But, Cloud wanted an honest answer. “Cloud, you wanted an honest opinion!” He closed his eyes, “I hope…so badly, that life never has to come to this…”
His eyes looked into Cloud’s once again, more determined this time though. “Cloud, I have had to do more things that I haven’t wanted to do, then anyone I know! First, I had to kill Angeal, my mentor, and Battling Sephiroth! The man is insane, but then…then he was my friend!” He clenched his jaw, “My destiny…seems to be doing things no one else wants to do…and even though I don’t want to do it, it has to be done…I just can’t seem to say no, no to innocent people that are in danger! No, to those I love that can’t do it! Its my destiny…” After he spoke that, he nodded, “Cloud…I would have to fight you if that were to happen, and god knows I hope that day never comes!” He gulped, then cleared his throat, wondering what Cloud would say. Zack, had always had to decide. He had never had the luxury of having someone else decide for him. He had lived Life the hard way in SOLDIER. He had made mistakes, more then he had cared to admit. Something though, that people could never say, was that Zack couldn’t make up his mind. He could, it was one of his strong qualities.
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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 11, 2009 21:34:53 GMT -5
“Cloud…I…” Cloud stood there & waited. Cloud knew that this would be hard to answer. “Cloud, you wanted an honest opinion!” “I hope…so badly, that life never has to come to this…” Cloud tried not to get all choked up from this.... “Cloud, I have had to do more things that I haven’t wanted to do, then anyone I know! First, I had to kill Angeal, my mentor, and Battling Sephiroth! The man is insane, but then…then he was my friend!” “My destiny…seems to be doing things no one else wants to do…and even though I don’t want to do it, it has to be done…I just can’t seem to say no, no to innocent people that are in danger! No, to those I love that can’t do it! Its my destiny…” “Cloud…I would have to fight you if that were to happen, and god knows I hope that day never comes!”
Cloud swallowed hard as he received his answer. By the way Zack presented himself, Cloud knew his friend was telling him the truth.
"The truth hurts like hell...." Cloud admitted.
"You might be able to do that, but me.....Probably not. I'm not as strong as you might think. Zack...." He stopped talking for a minute as he turned away from facing Zack....And laughed a bit....But it was more of a like sarcastic laugh.
"....I...I have to have Light in my heart to keep me from doing some thing stupid....You've always carried Light in your heart. Because you have a good strong heart....Mine is not like yours. I can break at any moment....I've tried to control this darkness I have. But, if things go as they are said, then you will have to have no choice but to fight me...That's all I wanted to know from you, if you could....And I need you to make a promise for me this time....If any thing happens to me, take care of Tifa for me....She does know about it. But, she does not know how deep this is...." Cloud swallowed again....."Don't, show any sign of mercy or remorse if you have to fight me. If you have no choice then that means that Sephiroth has taken complete control over me....You're my best friend...I want it to stay like that....You think I want this to happen? I don't.....That's why I prayed for your return from the Life Stream....You might get to be that hero again....." Cloud walked a few ways a way from his friend. Zack would see how hard this was for Cloud. And sighed as he looked down....This was what was keeping him from asking Tifa to marry him....Because he knew this was going to happen....He just hasn't told anyone yet.....Being a part of Sephiroth sucked.....Knowing what was to come sucked.....
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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 11, 2009 22:33:29 GMT -5
Zack Fair
Zack nodded when Cloud spoke, "yeah, Hell, that sums it up pretty damn well!" they were both being brutally honest here. Zack couldn't lie to Cloud, he had never been able to. Telling Cloud things had been easier then telling anyone else. He remembered telling Cloud things he had never told anyone else. Like the time in the Neilbelheim inn. He had told Cloud he was sick of just having to know who the enemy was, and how to track them down.
Zack cringed at his laugh. He knew Cloud, and that laugh wasn't real, it was completely sarcastic. He wished they could take this conversation back. He hadn't wanted to discuss this with Cloud, he never had, but...in a sense, he was glad they were being open about it. Cloud's words hurt Zack, but he knew that Cloud had to get them out. He nodded, but his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. He cleared his throat, trying to be able to say something without his voice breaking. He felt determination in his mind and heart. If he had to die trying again, he wouldn't let Cloud be filled with darkness.
Cloud was right, Zack had never had to deal with darkness in his heart. He was thankful for that, but at the same time, it made him angry. Because he never had darkness, he had to time and time again, battle those that were close to getting filled with darkness. Angeal...Sephiroth...Genesis, it had happened to them all. Genesis hadn't been his friend, but he was a member of SOLDIER, and that had meant something to Zack. He had remained loyal, and Genesis, being a member of SOLDIER, had been respected by Zack.
Now, in real time, he nodded once again. "Cloud...your stronger then you give yourself credit for...I didn't beat Sephiroth, but you did!" He spoke with earnest, sure, Zack had more training, but Cloud had that S-Cell, and he was born for this, to do this. He was special, like Sephiroth, Angeal, Genesis, and yes, even himself. He wasn't as strong as Sephiroth, he was man enough to admit that, but maybe...maybe he could find the power to beat him, for the right reasons.
"Your right Cloud, I have lightness in my heart, but, I was meant to have that in my heart! You, you struggle against this darkness, but that makes you humans Cloud! Your not a monster, to your credit! You might think your like Sephiroth, but your DEAD wrong! Your not, you, are different from him, but only you, yourself, can find it in your heart to keep yourself different from him. Sure, Tifa, Aerith, Your friends, and I can help you along the way, but ultimatly, in the end, its up to you to find your way! I'm sorry I can't be of more help then that..."
He nodded again though, "I promise, no matter what happens, I will keep Tifa safe, if you can't!" He spoke softly, knowing it pained Cloud to think of that. He walked after him, and putting his hand on his shoulder, stood beside him. "Cloud...No matter what, I will always be your best friend, and if there is ANY way, that instead of fighting you, I can make you yourself again, if that happens, I will do it! I won't fight you if I can help it, and believe me Cloud, I won't rest until I can find a way for that to not happen!" He wondered what Tifa would say if he came to her, and told her he had to fight Cloud. She would hate him, he knew it. Would she be able to ever speak to him again? Could he deal with it himself? A hero? How Zack had wanted to be a hero! He knew, he had accomplished what it really meant to be a hero. Not just beating the bad guy, that didn't make you a hero...no it was much more then that! |
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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 11, 2009 23:06:30 GMT -5
"yeah, Hell, that sums it up pretty damn well!" "Cloud...your stronger then you give yourself credit for...I didn't beat Sephiroth, but you did!" Cloud looked down....He some how still did not believe that.....
"Your right Cloud, I have lightness in my heart, but, I was meant to have that in my heart! You, you struggle against this darkness, but that makes you humans Cloud! Your not a monster, to your credit! You might think your like Sephiroth, but your DEAD wrong! Your not, you, are different from him, but only you, yourself, can find it in your heart to keep yourself different from him. Sure, Tifa, Aerith, Your friends, and I can help you along the way, but ultimatly, in the end, its up to you to find your way! I'm sorry I can't be of more help then that..." "I promise, no matter what happens, I will keep Tifa safe, if you can't!" Cloud then looked up at his friend...."Thanks..." "Cloud...No matter what, I will always be your best friend, and if there is ANY way, that instead of fighting you, I can make you yourself again, if that happens, I will do it! I won't fight you if I can help it, and believe me Cloud, I won't rest until I can find a way for that to not happen!"
"I know you Zack. Probably better than any one else. You've told me things that I'm sure you didn't want any one else to find out. I respect that. That showed me what a friend you really are. I'm glad I had you in my life. You saw me as some one. Not no one. You were actually the second one to see me like that. You would have probably trained me under SOLIDER if the out come was different. I think about that all the time. What could've happened....Well, I guess we need to hold up on that opening that business together then huh? Seeing as we might not have a planet to build it on...." Cloud stopped because he knew what Zack would probably do at this moment, slap Cloud across the face to come out of his misery....But Cloud knew that his misery was caused by one man.....Sephiroth.....The night mare.....Cloud's night mare....
"I've gotta stay positive! Damn....His thoughts are like giving me a splitting head ache right now...I want to fight this....But how? How do you fight a demon living inside yourself?"
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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 12, 2009 0:31:10 GMT -5
Zack Fair
Zack listened to Cloud speak once more. He nodded slightly, "yeah, I told you things I wouldn't have told anyone else...but that's just because you're important to me Cloud!" He spoke with emotion clouding his voice a little bit. He sighed, then ruffled Cloud's bright yellow hair once more. He thought about training Cloud in SOLDIER.
"I would have liked that Cloud, to train you, we would have made some team!" He sighed, ahh, who wouldn't have rathered that then what had happened?! He wet his lips, before glancing at Cloud when he started talking negative again. he would have shook him. He hated talk like that, it made him hate to talk.
He didn't understand. he knew all about fighting outward demons, after all, he had fought off enough of those to know what to do with them. He shrugged after Cloud stopped speaking. "I truly don't know Cloud, I haven't ever had to deal with that kind of demon before..." He nudged his shoulder with his fist, "Guess we'll find out together huh?" He wondered if Cloud would ever be the same as when he had first met him. No. He decided. Cloud wouldn't be the same guy, but that was ok. He sighed, so Cloud thought only two people thought of him as a somebody. Himself, and Tifa, he was sure of it.
"Cloud, you'll get ride of that Damn Sephiroth! I can feel it, don't give up on yourself!!" He spoke with conviction, hoping it would spread to Cloud. |
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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 12, 2009 1:16:05 GMT -5
"yeah, I told you things I wouldn't have told anyone else...but that's just because you're important to me Cloud!" "I would have liked that Cloud, to train you, we would have made some team!" Cloud finally smiled truthfully to that comment...."Nobody could stop us!" He laughed.... "I truly don't know Cloud, I haven't ever had to deal with that kind of demon before..." Cloud's smile turned back into a frown...."Hey....Don't worry your pretty little head over it...." , "Guess we'll find out together huh?" "You got that right!" Cloud's smiled returned on his face.....Zack could always cheer Cloud up....."Cloud, you'll get ride of that Damn Sephiroth! I can feel it, don't give up on yourself!!"
"Thanks man....Come on....Let's get out of here and you back to Aerith....She and Tifa are in Banora right now....You ready to go...?" Man when Cloud wanted to stop talking about some thing he would put a stop to it.....
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Post by Zack Fair on Dec 12, 2009 14:42:46 GMT -5
Zack Fair
Zack smiled, yup, they would have been some team...unbeatable! He shook his head at Cloud's next words. "hey, I might be the handsome one, but I can still kick butt!" He was being himself again. Cloud was relaxed more, not thinking of pitying himself at all because of what he was going through now. When Cloud was like himself, then Zack was as well. He didn't like the pressure of seeing his friend in pain, whether physical or emotional.
He nodded at Cloud's words once again. Banora...he hadn't been there since...well, it had been a long time, that was for sure. He shrugged, "Yeah, I guess I'm ready! Hey, so you've talked to Tifa now at least! That's a good sign!" He kidded around with Cloud, but his heart beat fast.
He turned once more to look at the church he had spent so much time at. He rubbed one of the beams lovingly. Putting his hands behind his head, he turned and walked toward Cloud, letting his arms fall down. "Yeah, sure I'm ready to go!" He tried to hide his emotion that he felt. Slapping him on the shoulder as he skipped past him, turning, he walked backwards. |
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Post by {Cloud Strife} on Dec 12, 2009 19:33:50 GMT -5
"Yeah, I told you things I wouldn't have told anyone else...but that's just because you're important to me Cloud!" "I would have liked that Cloud, to train you, we would have made some team!" "Yeah, sure I'm ready to go!" Cloud sighed as he smiled at how eager his friend was acting. Cloud was thrilled that Zack was back. Beyond thrilled. But still. That heaviness hung over Cloud like a dark gray cloud. Cloud walked out of the church after that. He looked up at the sky it was getting darker. The skies would never be blue again until the heroes defeated the Darkness....Cloud was still struggling with his own inner demon. But as he told Tifa and Zack that he was willing to go the distance to fight this thing....
THE END UNTIL NEXT CHAPTER^^
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