Hellooo? A Zack and Aerith Story

[TherathxRikku]

Hellooo?

Written by TherathxRikku

Final Fantasy Copyright belongs to Square Enix and Tetsuya Nomura.

I wanna start off by saying I changed the story and the lines a little bit, plus the monster fight is a lot more epic than in the game. I'm gonna put this on DA too if you guys wanna comment or anything.

Enjoy. ^-^

“Hellooo…”

It’s all I can hear…I can’t answer it, but it sounds like a girl…is she speaking to me? Or am I hearing things? I have to try to answer.

“Wh--…Who are you?...”

“Aerith! Are you okay? That looked like a nasty fall.” She said with concern.

I knew I wasn’t dreaming! I tried to open my eyes, but the light forced them closed, I heard the girl laugh.

“Hee hee, it’s okay, you’re safe here.”

“As long as you keep talking, I’ll be fine…” I pushed the words out, it felt like my lungs were rocks. She laughed again.

“What’s your name?” She asked.

“Zack Fair, from Midgar.” I said. She seemed to recognize it.

“Oh, you’re in the Slums of Midgar!” I forced my eyes open to make sure she wasn’t lying, after the blurriness went away, I saw cracked and rusted walls and pillars of what seemed to be an old church. The sun was shining through a hole in the roof probably caused by me. It was a total ruin…yet, it seemed like a very peaceful place to be, almost soothing just being in the room. I looked around to the girl who saved me, and she was beautiful! She had long brown hair wrapped in a ponytail and was wearing a cute white dress. Why was she here of all places?

“Are you sure?” I asked with disbelief, of course I’d never been to the slums, but Midgar had no churches that I knew of.

“Of course, come outside, I’ll show you!” She said with excitement. With a smile she yanked me up and scuttled me outside as if I was an old doll, yet I didn’t mind it. She opened the creaking doors to the church and I was expecting the sun to blind me, but it was very dim, as if the sun were blocked by something. I looked up and sure enough, there was the plate that held Midgar up in the sky. I looked around and it was almost pitiful how cramped and cluttered it was, there was metal and trash laying about everywhere, people were making houses out of trailers and cars, but Aerith seemed to love it.

“Wow.” Was all I could say, I grew up in the country, but it wasn’t this bad, I at least had a traditional house. I looked at Aerith and she was looking at the ground.

“I know what you’re thinking, but it’s really not that bad. The people here are all friends and we all have valuable things!” I felt terrible hearing her say that. I put my hand on her shoulder and smiled.

“It’s okay, I actually feel like I could live here.” She looked back at me smiling brightly and laughed.

“By the way…” She said looking away.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Is this…yours?” She pointed to a blade of intense size lying against the wall of the church, it barely had any scratches on it, no smudges or blood, a rare sight, yet I had seen it every day since I joined Shinra. It was my best friend’s sword.

“Yeah…where was it?” I asked Aerith.

She looked at the ground with a bit of a sad look and said, “I found it lying next to you.”

I noticed she looked concerned about something, so I asked if anything was wrong. She looked back up at me and said, “You’re not with SOLDIER, are you?” I wasn’t surprised to see her act like that while asking that question, SOLDIER isn’t very well liked by a lot of people.

I’m not one to lie, so I said quietly, “Yeah.” I expected her to run or slap me in the face, but she just said, “Okay!” and continued to show me around, she’s an odd one, but I can’t help but like her for it.

We found ourselves in the Market and it was just like the rest of the town, but it seemed nicer than Midgar, the shopkeeps weren’t as stuck up. About that time, I felt something bump into my side, I looked around and a kid was walking by, “Watch out!” he shouted with barely any manners, but he’s a kid, I looked at Aerith and she was looking at my pocket.

“Something wrong?” I asked.

“You aren’t missing anything are you, like any belongings?” She said looking right at me, my eyes widened and I searched my pockets frantically, “My wallet’s gone!” I shouted. Aerith looked at me with a calm expression.

“It’s okay, we just need to find him and ask him why he stole your wallet.” She said like this kinda thing happens all the time, I wanted to pulverize that kid! I raised my arm in the direction he ran.

“Why, I oughta--!” Aerith stopped my sentence short by lowering my arm.

“Zack, I know that boy, he wouldn’t normally do something like this, let’s just find him and ask him why.” I felt bad again so I agreed to handle this calmly, something I don’t think I’ve ever done before.

Seeing as we were in the Slums, I thought it would be pretty easy, but a crowd appeared out of nowhere! I could barely breathe! We’ll never find the kid if it continues like this!

“Zack, follow me! I know a good way to get through a crowd!” Aerith shouted, she then turned sideways and preceded with a crab run through the crowd, I was impressed to say the least, but I need to hurry, she’s really moving! I turned sideways and booked it through the crowd, I was amazed it really worked, I didn’t hit anyone! I also noticed other people doing it, I laughed but my attention was quickly captured after I tripped and fell onto the street. It hurt real bad, I felt blood trickle down my lip from my nose. I wiped it off and stood up, Aerith was gone.

“CRAP!!!” I shouted. There were so many people; I couldn’t keep my eye on a single person for more than two seconds! I stopped running and concentrated on the crowd, searching for Aerith’s long brown hair. I looked for what felt like an hour, then for a second, I thought I saw her, but I was moving my eyes around so much, I didn’t think to keep my focus on her, so I looked around again near the spot I saw her…

“There she is!” I exclaimed and I raced toward her through the river-like crowd. I shouted her name repeatedly, but she couldn’t hear me, the hustle and bustle of the crowd drowned my voice to where I couldn’t even hear. I was about 20 yards away, it seemed. I continued to shout “Aerith” until my lungs and throat felt like they were drowned with dust. I finally reached her and placed my hand on her shoulder, she turned around.

“Damn, not her…” I whispered. Then I felt something grab the back of my shirt, I turned around with my hand raised thinking it was the thief again, but it was Aerith, she jumped at my aggression, I quickly lowered my hand and apologized. She laughed and pointed toward the way I came from.

“I found him, but he’s a quick runner! He went that way.” She said, the crowd deafened her voice, so I had to read her lips, I thought she said something else at first, but I didn’t take the time to process it, if I lost my focus on her I would surely get lost again. Aerith started running again, I could barely keep up with her, if the kid is faster than she is, then I will die of exhaustion! Why am I not faster? I’m in SOLDIER for Pete’s sake! We finally broke out of the crowd and wound up back at the Marketplace, I looked around and couldn’t find the boy, there were more than a single kid in the Slums.

“Looking for someone?” I heard behind me. I looked around and a shopkeep was standing behind a bar resting his chin on his palm.

“Yeah, could you help?” I pleaded.

“Course! You can’t find no one here without any help.” He chuckled. I didn’t really feel like trusting anyone here seeing as one stole my wallet, but I was desperate, I had 10,000 Gil saved up!

“Thank you, we’re looking for a kid about 4:5 with brown hair and shorts.” I said, the shopkeep laughed.

“Son, about 75% of the Slums’ children matches that description. Ha ha ha!” I was downtrodden at this point, if I can’t find that wallet, that means no more house and no more food...no more dates. I HAVE to find that wallet! The shopkeep noticed my low mood, “Look, son, if you do something for me, I’ll keep my eye out for him, what do ya say?” At this point, a little chore didn’t matter, I need that wallet!

“Sure, what did you have in mind?” I said. The shopkeep pulled out a Materia from his pocket and handed it to me.

“Test this out for me, I’d do it myself, but I’m not used to the Mako energy, you look like a SOLDIER guy, you’re not dressed like a normal dude.” He seemed trustworthy, Materia hasn’t ever really done harm to anyone. I absorbed the crystalline orb and I felt strength in my legs, I knew this Materia almost immediately, it was Dash Materia! I can find the kid a lot faster this way!

“This is a speed enhancer Materia. Can I borrow this till I find the kid?” I asked. The shopkeep rubbed his chin as if pondering deeply.

“I suppose. IF you give me some collateral.” I suspected as much, problem is, everything I own is in that wallet. Aerith spoke up.

“I’ll stay here till you return, Zack.” I’m not sure what she was thinking, but I didn’t trust the kid, this is the Slums after all.

“I can’t let you do that, Aerith!” I shouted, but she refused to listen.

“You can find the kid if that’s a speed enhancer, right?” She has a point, but I just can’t leave her here! The shopkeep put his hands up.

“I promise not to lay a hand on her, son! I’m married, you know.” I could see the ring clear as day, but it doesn’t prove anything. I don’t have time to argue, I hate to do this, but I have no choice.

“…Okay, I’ll be back shortly, Aerith.” I said. She nodded and the shopkeep rested his head on his palm again, he seemed indifferent on the whole situation. I waved to Aerith and began running off, the Dash Materia was intense! I was running at least 4 times faster than normal! I had trouble dodging people while looking for the kid at the same time, but I found myself on the other side of the Slums in about 3 minutes! I stopped and looked around occasionally.

“Still no sign of him! How could a kid run so fast and hide so well?!” I shouted to myself. Needless to say I was getting really pissed, the Dash Materia was starting to take its toll, my lungs were on fire, I felt sweat dripping through my hair into my eyes, I decided a break was needed. I stopped over in an alley to catch my breath, the smell of rats and trash was overpowering, I was panting hard and I tried to ignore the stench, it felt like I wasn’t resting, but dying from exhaustion and a ungrateful nose.

“Huff…huff…okay, I think…I’m good.” I whispered to myself. I began to ran again, the crowd was dying down, but it was still pretty packed, I could barely tell one person from another! I found myself back at the marketplace with Aerith sleeping against a wall, the shopkeep was conversing with a customer that looked like a kid with brown hair…brown hair…4:5 tall…wearing shorts!!!

“That’s the kid!” I shouted to the shopkeep. The kid turned around and jumped at the sight of me. Aerith was so startled, she yelped and stood to her feet before she even woke up. The kid tried to run for it, but I dashed in front of him and stopped him in his tracks, he was so perplexed by my speed he fell on his butt, he was screaming apologies so fast I could barely understand him, Aerith walked over dazed and groggy, she regained her consciousness and spoke over the kid trying to calm him down, after about five minutes, she got the kid to shut up.

“Now. Why did you take my wallet?!” I shouted without thinking. Aerith cleared her throat loudly, I laughed nervously and calmly said, “Oh, yeah. Um…kid, why do you need my wallet?” The kid folded his arms.

“None of your business!” He said, again with no manners, I wanted to smack him sooooo hard. But Aerith would kill me. She talked to the kid as if a mother talking to her son.

“You promised me you wouldn’t steal again, you would only do this if you had a good reason.” The kid looked at the ground with a troubled look.

“I lost my wallet to a monster and I need to buy medicine for my mom.” He said. Now I felt bad for yelling at him, so I thought of something.

“Why don’t I get it back for you?” I said confidently. The kid looked at me as if I was a saint.

“You’d do that?!” He shouted. Aerith looked at the ground.

“You’re going to fight?” She said quietly. I didn’t enjoy fighting much, but I couldn’t let a monster do this to kid.

“Only this once, I promise, I’m doing it for the kid.” I said trying to sound proud. The kid then spoke up.

“The monster should still be in the street that leads to the park! It’s pretty scary!”

“Got it, thanks.” I smiled. Aerith looked away from me, I put my hand on her shoulder. “Its okay, Aerith, I’ll be back shortly, I promise this will be the only fight.” She nodded. I exited the marketplace and headed west toward the park, people were running away from the direction I was headed, they were all screaming and warning me not to go down there, but I’ve faced worse. I saw the monster roaring and growling, it was an overgrown worm, capable of swallowing a human whole, but it was pretty wimpy compared to SOLDIER training.

“You the one causing all this mayhem?” I said. The monster growled and turned towards me, it shined its teeth at me, I pulled my sword from behind my back and readied my stance. The monster slithered at me with blinding speed, I leapt in the air and gripped my sword with both hands and struck straight downward. The monster looked up and rolled to the side, my sword suck into the concrete like a knife through butter, I tried to pull it out, but it was good and stuck.

“C-Crap!” I shouted, the worm lunged at me opening its mouth planning to swallow me, I gripped its teeth trying to force it off of me, but it was extremely heavy! The worm was pressing with all of its strength, my left foot slipped and I found myself on my back trying to keep from being lunch. The worm slithered its tail over my waist and wrapped around it, I squirmed and wiggled trying to get it off, but that never helps. The tail started squeezing, I could feel the air being forced out of my throat, I was now bubble wrap for this monster! I was at the end of holding my breath, so I forced myself to roll over, taking the monster to my sword, I kept rolling until the tail met the blade. The tail cut cleanly and I was free from death for the moment.

“Choke me now, bastard!” I shouted triumphantly. The worm was screeching from the pain, I gripped my sword and tried again to yank it from the ground, I pulled so hard, I felt a blood vessel trying to pop. The monster calmed down and I still haven’t gotten the sword to move at all!

“Dammit!” I cried. Screw the sword, I’m gonna fight you with nature’s weapons! I readied my stance again as the worm lunged forward, it wasn’t moving as fast without the tail. Then I remembered the Dash Materia, I can win this! I started to run at normal speed to fool the worm, then I dashed behind him and I stepped on its tail, it screeched at ear piercing volume, then started wriggling on the ground again. I ran to my sword at full speed, leapt in the air and drop kicked the handle, the sword broke free from the ground, I gripped the sword tightly and ran back to the monster’s face. It screeched in my face in rage. I readied the blade.

“You’re done.” I said while sinking the blade into its stomach. It groaned quietly and sunk to the ground, blood covered most of the street. The wallet was lying on the ground about four feet from the monster.

“Mission accomplished!” I shouted. I took a peak in the wallet and I nearly lost my balance. “237,000 Gil???!!!” I cried. How could a kid get this much?! I hurried back to the marketplace and the kid was grateful to see me, Aerith was scared because of all the blood on my hands and shirt.

“Did you get it back?” The kid asked. I handed him his wallet, he was disgusted from the gunk that covered it, then he smiled.

“Thanks, mister!” He said.

“Now prepare for the longest lecture you’ve ever witnessed!” I said with gusto. The kid jumped and got a real troubled look on his face. I laughed and said, “…Is what I wanna say, but you need to get that medicine don’t ya?” The kid laughed and ran off. Aerith shouted at me.

“Are you okay?!”

“I’m fine, no problem whatsoever, the monster however, not so good.” I said. She sighed and looked away, I pulled some tissues from my pocket and wiped myself off and hugged Aerith. “Like I said, I won’t fight again.” She hugged back and sniffled.

“Okay…I like you, Zack.” She whispered.

“I like you too, Aerith.” I said. My phone rang, perfect timing.

“Yeah?” I asked the phone. The voice on it was Sephiroth.

“Come back to the Shinra building, now. Genesis has attacked.” He said firmly.

“Seriously?!” I shouted. “I’ll be back soon!”

“You have to leave?” Aerith said quietly.

“Yeah, afraid so.” I sighed.

“Will we…see each other again?” She asked. I smiled.

“Of course!” I said. She hugged me again and I hugged back.

“Goodbye for now, Aerith.”

“Goodbye, Zack.”


END CHAPTER 1