Chapter Text
Night was falling in the city of Midgar. The glimmer of the first evening stars constellated with shimmering green particles of mako, thrust into the night sky by eight reactors, churning tirelessly to power the flickering streetlamps that reflected the sparkling sky above.
But the city below was not as serene as the night sky. Screams and gunfire could be heard from the upper plate as terrified civilians attempted to flee hordes of armored gunmen. A group of these men had nested atop a train bound for the Sector 1 Station, leaving terrified passengers trapped and helpless inside each carriage.
Soon, the sound of gunfire was drowned out by the buzz of helicopter blades and radio chatter. A large black chopper emblazoned with the Shinra Electric Power Company logo descended toward the train, returning gunfire but maintaining a strategic distance. The bay door slid open to reveal two young men in uniform.
"The train has been overrun by Wutai troops. Eliminate them and regain control of the train," the older of the two ordered.
The younger man turned back and gave his superior a cheeky grin. "Oh yeah!"
"Get serious!"
But the young man had already leapt out of the helicopter, landing on the roof of the train.
"Zack!" The older man shouted, jumping down to join the young man. "Focus! There are no Shinra troops on this train. Understood?"
Zack nodded solemnly, then rushed toward the gunmen, who started rapidly firing on the SOLDIER.
"Hello to you too!" he remarked as he clumsily danced around the bullets. He glanced up. There! That should give me some cover. Without a moment's hesitation, he leapt into the scaffolding above the train.
These were the moments Zack liked best: the wind in his hair, the rush of adrenaline, the pitter-patter of bullets uselessly zinging past him and pinging off the metal scaffolding. Zack opened his eyes wide, taking in every millisecond.
He landed on the train again, this time close enough to see his face reflected in the troops' visors. He grabbed the sword off his back and leapt high into the air.
"SOLDIER 2nd class Zack, on the job!" he yelled, bringing his sword to the ground with a spinning slash.
As the last man slumped over and fell off the train, Zack caught the end of a transmission through his comms: "Train MK 93 II re-routed to Sector 1 Station near Mako Reactor 1. Proceed to mission phase 2 and change surveillance rank…"
The train slowed to a stop, hissing and screeching. Zack hopped off before the train stopped completely, sauntering toward the sector square. His phone rang.
"Zack speaking."
"Making progress, Zack?"
"What's going on, Angeal? Why are we fighting Shinra troops?"
"They're Wutai troops in disguise. Now, head to the open area above."
"Towards Sector 8?"
"Yes. But first, you have to clear a path."
"Clear a path?" The path looked clear enough to Zack.
"You'll see what I mean. Be careful." As Angeal spoke, more armored troops swarmed from the station, blocking Zack's path to Sector 8. Though they shot endlessly at Zack, every bullet whizzed past, and Zack continued to nonchalantly talk on the phone.
"So I can cut loose, right?"
"Use some discretion." There was a beep as Angeal hung up.
Zack flipped his phone shut and drew his sword again. "It's showtime!"
The infantrymen were easy enough to take down. Zack laughed as he swung his sword elegantly, slashing at the infantrymen and dodging their bullets.
Zack's phone rang again just as he dispatched the last trooper. "Not too bad."
"Piece of cake! I'll make 1st in no time!"
"Go up the stairs at the end of the platform."
"You got it!" This time, Zack ended the call as he rushed up the stairs, squeezing past terrified people fleeing from the square. As he reached the top, he realized what the civilians were fleeing from. A hideous beast stood, heaving and growling, in the middle of the square, slashing at passerby with its sharp claws.
A behemoth! Zack smirked. Nothing I haven't faced before. He swiftly dodged behind the creature, ducking under its tail and slashing at it every chance he got. It took effort to pierce its thick hide, but soon the beast let out a garbled roar and fell, never to move again.
Zack sheathed his sword, ready for his next task. But as he started to move, a thin blade appeared over his shoulder. Shoot! Where did this guy come from!?
"Showing your back to the enemy... Overconfidence will destroy you."
Defeated, Zack hung his head and put his hands up in surrender. He turned to face the victor, but when he looked up he gasped in shock.
"Wh-what is this?"
At the other end of the sword was a man any citizen of Midgar would recognize at a glance - Sephiroth, the most prodigious of the 1st Class SOLDIERS. He glared sternly at Zack, his mako-tinted eyes seeming to see into his very soul. Without warning, Sephiroth slashed at Zack, but Zack blocked the blow and attempted to return one of his own.
"Damn it," Zack groaned, struggling to withstand a particularly strong blow, "you're not the only hero!"
But Sephiroth was clearly the better fighter, pressuring Zack until he was launched backwards, his sword flung from his hand. He gasped as his head hit the pavement. Blinking stars from his eyes, he looked up to see Sephiroth drawing his sword back for a finishing blow.
"It's over."
Zack closed his eyes, waiting for the end. But when he opened them, Sephiroth's long, thin sword was blocked by the hilt of a sword that had been cleaved in two. Angeal glanced down at Zack, but Zack couldn't read Angeal's expression. Angeal pushed back, and Sephiroth stood, sword at his side, staring blankly at the two.
Zack stood, groaning. "Ugh… thanks, Angeal."
Angeal didn't say a word, instead pulling out his cell phone. After dialing a few buttons, the city around them seemed to dissolve into a bright blue light. Even Sephiroth appeared to dissolve, his thin, sullen face fading into Angeal's square, stern one.
"Training's over."
"Wha- why!?"
Angeal wordlessly pointed the broken half of a sword at Zack. Now that he could take a better look, Zack recognized it as his own. Sephiroth… even a simulation of him did that much damage…
"You serious? I was just getting warmed up!" You don't expect me to take on Sephiroth, do you!?
Angeal said nothing. Broken sword in hand, he strode silently toward the exit. He stopped in the doorway, as if he had suddenly remembered something rather important.
"Zack. Embrace your dreams."
"Huh?"
Angeal looked over his shoulder at Zack. "If you want to be a hero you need to have dreams...and honor." With that, Angeal exited, leaving Zack to ponder his mentor's words.