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Post by kalypso on Jun 25, 2010 18:51:16 GMT -5
It was natural that he’d gravitate here, back to this cliff that looked over Midgar.
It seemed like a hundred years ago, he had stood on this very same spot. He could remember the buzzing of SOLDIER helicopters up ahead, that crazed clash of metal against metal, the Buster Sword feeling as light as a feather in his hands then as he swung it through the bodies of his former comrades. People he had worked with, people he had trained… And it had all come to that. And how ironic that he be brought back here, as if destiny had a sense of humor. Zack laughed at it all, stretching his hands up and over his head, turning his back on the dreary landscape, focusing those blue-green eyes on something a lot more interesting.
“So, how was your vacation? Mine was… peaceful.”
The Buster Sword said nothing, but merely stood there, standing erect and upright, like a rookie SOLDIER being quizzed on the proper protocol for a mission. It was almost like a tombstone, marking the very spot where he had looked up at the sky and asked if he had been a hero. Where he had seen feathers dance up ahead, and knew the Lifestream was waiting for him. Fair almost didn’t want to disturb it, but was there any need for a tombstone if he wasn’t dead anymore? Zack took the sword’s handle and pulled it out from the undisturbed earth, slinging it on his back, just like old times. It seemed like his passing in the Lifestream hadn’t made him soft at all. If anything, he was just as strong as he had been on that day… before the battle.
I bet Cloud left it here. He thought to himself, smiling, but wondering if he was really allowed to just… leave. To go back to living, after all that had happened? He hadn’t minded it too much, being dead - at least his spirit had been with Aerith’s then, at least he had peace. But living again… wouldn’t it be great to find that spiky-haired blonde and pick on him again? Wouldn’t it be great to see if he could find all the letters he had written for Aerith and find out whatever had happened to them?
It felt a little weird, to have the Buster Sword back with him again. In a way, the sword grounded him, as if to bind him back to this world; no longer was he part of the Lifestream. Even though a part of him wondered why, the other part was glad to, ecstatic even, to be living. Even though he felt as if he had tied up all the loose ends when he had died, wouldn’t it just be great, to see the looks on their faces? To see everybody again, sneak up on them, and ask, “Did you miss me?”
Well, did they miss him? Of course they did! Who wouldn’t?
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Post by Griever on Jul 8, 2010 23:29:15 GMT -5
Dear Zack,
It's silly, isn't it? It's been so long, almost ten years since the last time I saw you here, but for some reason, this was the first thing I wanted to do. My 90th letter, and this time, I don't even know if you're somewhere it can go. Writing this feels right, though...so I hope you get it.
I don't know why I'm not in the Lifestream anymore. I don't even know if I'm the only one this happened to. But here I am, back in the church in the slums, where I first met both you and Cloud. There isn't much left anymore, but the flowers are still blooming. I wonder if I should take some with me? I could start selling them again, somewhere else. You'd like that, wouldn't you? It was your idea, after all.
Maybe I'll be able to find Cloud while I'm at it. I'd like to see him again. I never asked him about you, you know? All that time we spent together, and I never knew that we were both connected to you. You're a lot alike, did you know that? It really surprised me, when I first met him. It was almost like I was meeting you all over again.
Zack, if you somehow manage to get this...I want to see you again, too. I guess those tiny wishes of mine are still there. But it's okay, isn't it, being a little bit selfish? You never seemed to mind.
I miss you. But this time, if you don't reply, it's okay. I'm sure there's a good reason, whether you're here or not. Just in case, though, I'll keep watching, and I'll keep holding onto those tiny wishes. Just think about me once in a while, okay? That's enough.
-Aerith A little smile tugged at the flower girl's lips as she clasped the letter in her hand, folded neatly up in the same way she'd folded eighty-nine of them before, so long ago. There was no letter-carrier for her this time, no pair of beautiful white wings to bear the note to its destination. But that was okay. This time, she didn't feel like she needed it. Drawing in a deep breath and closing her eyes, she held the paper high over her head, then just as a pleasant breeze sprung up, let go. Her eyes opened abruptly, and she watched as the paper flew through the air, until it disappeared from her sight. There. She'd done it. The chances Zack would get it were tiny, too tiny to imagine, but they were still there. That was enough. It wasn't just Zack that was in her thoughts, though, as she returned to the familiar patch of flowers. Cloud. What was he doing now? Where was he? She missed him just as much, she realized, remembering the last time she'd seen the blonde. She had been so happy when she realized he had come for her...none of what happened after mattered. Oh, how would he react when he saw her again? She laughed as she imagined the look on his face, plucking a flower from the ground. And then she paused, staring at the yellow petals. She really was alive. It was such a strange, wonderful sensation. She really could see Cloud again. She could see everyone again, Tifa, Barret, even little Marlene - and Reeve, she would finally be able to meet the man behind the mechanical cat that had done so much for them! Elated by the thoughts, she continued collecting flowers until she had filled the basket that had remained in the church to capacity. A gil a piece, like before? Or maybe ten, like Zack had tried? It didn't matter, really, as long as she had enough for whatever transportation she would need. A wandering flower girl, traveling the world over in search of her former companions, what an image! Or maybe they were still in Edge, and she wouldn't have to travel at all. Either way was fine, as long as she could see them. Aerith spun around in place as she stood, trying to imagine what she would say, what they would do. It seemed like there were endless possibilities, all of them exciting. But she'd never get anywhere on imagination alone. Basket swaying from side to side with her steps, she walked out of the church, out of Midgar, and toward the new city. Even if they weren't there, it was the right place to start. She'd have to think of a good greeting on the way.
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Post by Kupo on Oct 29, 2010 5:08:28 GMT -5
A smile played on his lips at the thought of the look on Cloud's face when he did finally sneak up on him. The more he toyed with the idea the more he knew he was going to have to make in an elaborate ambush for his living legacy. Maybe even lure him into a fight to test his strength before revealing himself. All he needed to do now was find him. The urge to find his other friends too was strong but the prevailing instinct was to find Aerith. He needed to complete the journey he'd begun after finding that letter. A sigh escaped him as he turned away from the cliff.
She could be anywhere in the whole world and it would take a long time to search for everyone he cared for. He'd need to seek out Angeal too and it was hard to know where to begin. Part of him told him he ought to begin in Midgar and this new city, Edge. It was right there over the dustly flats after all. In contrast though a part of him didn't want to see Midgar in ruins. He didn't want to see the extent of the damage ShinRa had caused. He had so wholey devoted himself to being the best SOLDIER he could and their betrayal, although no great surprise, still stung at him. Yes, it was better to leave this place alone for now. Wait until that wound didn't feel so raw before returning.
He took the first couple of steps in the opposite direction, the gentle breeze tugging at his hair, when something hit the back of his head. The touch was light but sudden and instantly he was on gaurd. He spun round, buster sword at the ready in preperation. he had no idea what had hit him since behind him there was only the cliff but after what had happened the last time he was here it was no wonder he was on edge. The fast motion of his turn must have loosed the letter back onto the breeze as now that he looked for whatever had struck him he saw it's white envelope being lifted in an updraught.
His eyes lit up with excitement, this wasn't the first letter he'd had delivered by unexplainable forces. First the Angeal copy, the faithful guardian that he had been and now the wind, it seemed. He leaped upwards and snatched the letter from the sky with an expression of pure joy. He almost tore the letter free and read it with the expression of a starving man faced with a banquet. The church! She was in the church, or at least she had been when she'd written this. To hell with ShinRa. He'd gladly rub salt in his raw wound if it would bring him back to Aerith. He started running.
Clutching the letter in hand and swinging the buster sword into the holster on his back he started running like his life depended on it. It was a long way to Midgar and it was a tiring run but Zack had always loved exercise. This was his first test to see if his body was in the same condition it had been before he'd died. After 10 minutes of running flat out he concluded that it was but even he would have to slow the pace a little if he wanted to get there at all. When he did eventually reach the ruined city and the new one that was reclaiming the land like lichen on a rock face he was oblivious to everything. He just ran to his destination. He didn't look round even once to view his surroundings. Not until he got to the church in the slums. He didn't even notice the familiar face of the flower girl, carrying her basket into the city as he tore passed like a bat out of hell.
He reached the church at last, swinging the door open some what violently as he entered. At first glance nothing. Everything was silent here except for his heavy panting. He stopped for a moment, placing his hands on his thighs and bending over as he gulped in air to regain his breath. When at last he could breathe he stood upright and walked slowly up the aisle. His breathing was still heavy but not as irratic and as his footsteps joined the sound he wondered how long ago she had written that letter. That paper was so crisp and clean he hadn't thought it was so far in the past but now he doubted himself. He knelt down by the glorious yellow flowers, lost in his thoughts as he ran his fingertips over the petals. He didn't quite notice the short stems that indicated flowers had recently been picked. He was to absorbed with pondering the answer to the question that siezed his mind.
Just where the hell was she?
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