Chapter 5
With this last sentence his eyes meet with mine and I see a small flicker of light reappear within them. “You really think so?”
I had been right. The pain was strong and it was real. I felt like crying. I take another deep breath, fighting the breakdown. I clap him on the shoulder. “I really do, Zack. I mean, come on. What girl in their right mind would choose me over you anyway? I’m crazy, remember?” I smile and give a small chuckle. When his eyes meet mine again, I notice tears gathered along his lower lashes too, waiting to fall. He quickly wipes them away before they have a chance and laughs quietly.
“Thank you, Spike. You’re a good kid, ya know? Best friend a guy could ask for. You were one hell of a living legacy too. You were a bit rough around the edges at times but I wish I could have amounted to half the man you are, Cloud. You make me proud, man. You make me so damn proud!” I am suddenly caught in his vice like grip, his arm around my neck holding me in a headlock while the other fist gives me a noogie. He releases me for a second and then traps me in a tight hug. “I love you, man.”
I hug him back tighter, afraid to let go. “ I love you too, Zack. Thanks for everything.” He releases me from the hug but his hands come to rest on my shoulders, holding me at arms distance; his eyes bore into mine with intensity. Looking into them, my breath catches in my throat.
“No, thank you! Now listen. You completed the mission I assigned you; you lived out the rest of my life for me. You kept my honor and my dreams alive. You kept your promise to me. Now it’s time for you to keep another promise, one that’s much more important. Go be her hero, Cloud; go save Tifa. Go live your life now. It’s as simple as that. Stop worrying about the ‘what ifs’ and the ‘could have beens’ and go get your girl!” He spins me around away from him and nudges my backend with his boot.
My breath catches in my throat and my heart pounds as I start to think. This is it. This is goodbye. This is so much harder that it was with Aerith…It’s like I am losing an actual part of me. Zack had made me who I am today. He had sacrificed his life to save me. He had given me the courage to be a man and save the planet and now I have to say goodbye. I have to let him be happy too. He deserves it more than anyone.
“Oh, Friend! Do me one last favor will ya?” He pulls his buster sword out of the ground and tosses it me. I turn just in time to catch it in my hand. “Take my sword to her church ok? It’s high time my ass finally makes it there. Nice catch by the way. I remember the first time I handed you that thing here you couldn’t even lift if off the ground.” (3)
He winks and gives me a playful salute as he turns and walks toward the cliff. He looks over his shoulder and smiles that same old smile before stopping at the edge and disappearing.
Ok so I feel like I need to explain a few things from this chapter because unless you have read some of the extra things released, then you won’t really understand. All of this stuff made sense and fit together perfectly in my head, but unless you share my exact same views (which is unlikely) then you probably won’t understand my logic so I have it explained here J
(1) In Final Fantasy VII: Ultimania Omega, there is a short story named ‘The Maiden Who Travels the Planet.’ I suggest reading it and ‘On the Way to a Smile’ if you haven’t already done so. In it, Aerith’s time in the lifestream, following her death, is documented. She states that she is determined to keep her will, soul and her memories and find a way to communicate with those people still alive that she cares about, mainly Cloud. In ‘The Maiden’ she is never able to achieve talking to Cloud however, I think later she masters the skill. Obviously, in my opinion, she succeeds since she is able to appear in Advent Children. She is also able to teach Zack to do it as well. I personally do not believe it was simply ‘a figment of Cloud’s imagination.’ Aerith and Zack found a way to fight the lifestream in order to stay with the ones they love on the planet. In my story, they continue to communicate with Cloud in this manner when he needs them. When Aerith realizes that Cloud is ready to let go of her, she decides it is time to stop fighting, and finally be completely consumed by the lifestream.
(2) Here Zack is referring again to ‘The Maiden’ story referenced above. Aerith feels that her love for Cloud is stronger and more real than her love for Zack was. She tells Zack this when she encounters him in the lifestream. She says that maybe given time, her love for him could grow stronger than her love for Cloud, but at present, she must stay true to Cloud and save him. I was very upset by this part of the story since I am an adamant Cloud/Tifa and Zack/Aerith shipper. So, I decided to fix it! In my opinion, she really loved Zack more; she had just become attached to Cloud because he was so much like Zack. So after he discussion with Cloud about his feelings, she is able to let go of that attachment and return to the lifestream to be with Zack. Haha! I am very pleased with the way it all fit together nicely.
If you would like to read ‘The Maiden who Travels the Planet’ and ‘On the Way to a Smile’ in English, I found a rough but understandable translation here: http://xcomprandomness.co.uk/ff7novels/
(3) If you haven’t seen Advent Children Complete, WATCH IT! For the love of everything FFVII, WATCH IT! Soooo amazing! Anyway…If you watch FFVII:ACC You will notice that Aerith and Zack leaving the church is not the last scene like in the original version. After that, there is a scene where you see flowers growing on the cliff where Zack died and you hear Denzel ask Cloud if it is a grave. Cloud’s response makes me cry every time so you will have to watch it to hear it for yourself! Then it cuts to a shot of Zack’s buster sword, all polished and shiny at Aerith’s church. Awwww J This scene is said to have taken place AFTER Dirge of Cerberus however, for my purposes, I feel that the part that happens after DoC is Cloud taking Denzel to the cliff where the flowers are in bloom already. I think that Cloud planted the flowers and moved the sword before that…like in my story J now watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8vJk-6z1mc
I had been right. The pain was strong and it was real. I felt like crying. I take another deep breath, fighting the breakdown. I clap him on the shoulder. “I really do, Zack. I mean, come on. What girl in their right mind would choose me over you anyway? I’m crazy, remember?” I smile and give a small chuckle. When his eyes meet mine again, I notice tears gathered along his lower lashes too, waiting to fall. He quickly wipes them away before they have a chance and laughs quietly.
“Thank you, Spike. You’re a good kid, ya know? Best friend a guy could ask for. You were one hell of a living legacy too. You were a bit rough around the edges at times but I wish I could have amounted to half the man you are, Cloud. You make me proud, man. You make me so damn proud!” I am suddenly caught in his vice like grip, his arm around my neck holding me in a headlock while the other fist gives me a noogie. He releases me for a second and then traps me in a tight hug. “I love you, man.”
I hug him back tighter, afraid to let go. “ I love you too, Zack. Thanks for everything.” He releases me from the hug but his hands come to rest on my shoulders, holding me at arms distance; his eyes bore into mine with intensity. Looking into them, my breath catches in my throat.
“No, thank you! Now listen. You completed the mission I assigned you; you lived out the rest of my life for me. You kept my honor and my dreams alive. You kept your promise to me. Now it’s time for you to keep another promise, one that’s much more important. Go be her hero, Cloud; go save Tifa. Go live your life now. It’s as simple as that. Stop worrying about the ‘what ifs’ and the ‘could have beens’ and go get your girl!” He spins me around away from him and nudges my backend with his boot.
My breath catches in my throat and my heart pounds as I start to think. This is it. This is goodbye. This is so much harder that it was with Aerith…It’s like I am losing an actual part of me. Zack had made me who I am today. He had sacrificed his life to save me. He had given me the courage to be a man and save the planet and now I have to say goodbye. I have to let him be happy too. He deserves it more than anyone.
“Oh, Friend! Do me one last favor will ya?” He pulls his buster sword out of the ground and tosses it me. I turn just in time to catch it in my hand. “Take my sword to her church ok? It’s high time my ass finally makes it there. Nice catch by the way. I remember the first time I handed you that thing here you couldn’t even lift if off the ground.” (3)
He winks and gives me a playful salute as he turns and walks toward the cliff. He looks over his shoulder and smiles that same old smile before stopping at the edge and disappearing.
Ok so I feel like I need to explain a few things from this chapter because unless you have read some of the extra things released, then you won’t really understand. All of this stuff made sense and fit together perfectly in my head, but unless you share my exact same views (which is unlikely) then you probably won’t understand my logic so I have it explained here J
(1) In Final Fantasy VII: Ultimania Omega, there is a short story named ‘The Maiden Who Travels the Planet.’ I suggest reading it and ‘On the Way to a Smile’ if you haven’t already done so. In it, Aerith’s time in the lifestream, following her death, is documented. She states that she is determined to keep her will, soul and her memories and find a way to communicate with those people still alive that she cares about, mainly Cloud. In ‘The Maiden’ she is never able to achieve talking to Cloud however, I think later she masters the skill. Obviously, in my opinion, she succeeds since she is able to appear in Advent Children. She is also able to teach Zack to do it as well. I personally do not believe it was simply ‘a figment of Cloud’s imagination.’ Aerith and Zack found a way to fight the lifestream in order to stay with the ones they love on the planet. In my story, they continue to communicate with Cloud in this manner when he needs them. When Aerith realizes that Cloud is ready to let go of her, she decides it is time to stop fighting, and finally be completely consumed by the lifestream.
(2) Here Zack is referring again to ‘The Maiden’ story referenced above. Aerith feels that her love for Cloud is stronger and more real than her love for Zack was. She tells Zack this when she encounters him in the lifestream. She says that maybe given time, her love for him could grow stronger than her love for Cloud, but at present, she must stay true to Cloud and save him. I was very upset by this part of the story since I am an adamant Cloud/Tifa and Zack/Aerith shipper. So, I decided to fix it! In my opinion, she really loved Zack more; she had just become attached to Cloud because he was so much like Zack. So after he discussion with Cloud about his feelings, she is able to let go of that attachment and return to the lifestream to be with Zack. Haha! I am very pleased with the way it all fit together nicely.
If you would like to read ‘The Maiden who Travels the Planet’ and ‘On the Way to a Smile’ in English, I found a rough but understandable translation here: http://xcomprandomness.co.uk/ff7novels/
(3) If you haven’t seen Advent Children Complete, WATCH IT! For the love of everything FFVII, WATCH IT! Soooo amazing! Anyway…If you watch FFVII:ACC You will notice that Aerith and Zack leaving the church is not the last scene like in the original version. After that, there is a scene where you see flowers growing on the cliff where Zack died and you hear Denzel ask Cloud if it is a grave. Cloud’s response makes me cry every time so you will have to watch it to hear it for yourself! Then it cuts to a shot of Zack’s buster sword, all polished and shiny at Aerith’s church. Awwww J This scene is said to have taken place AFTER Dirge of Cerberus however, for my purposes, I feel that the part that happens after DoC is Cloud taking Denzel to the cliff where the flowers are in bloom already. I think that Cloud planted the flowers and moved the sword before that…like in my story J now watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8vJk-6z1mc