Snippet #1205080

The words "Simulation Complete" rang in Zack's com-set as the world in the Shinra Training Facility deteriorated in front of him. Only, he wasn’t in the Shinra Building any more. He was in a large field, standing like an idiot with his sword extended in his battle stance. "Huh? Where am I?" Zack looked around. Nothing but field stretched in front of him. Trees lied beyond the field, and Mountains poked over the tree tops. "Tseng? Do you read me?" The headset in his ear bleeped and blurred with static. "Zack... 've.....cl....what hap...." Tseng's final words were uncomprehendible and far and few in-between. Zack took the com-set out of his ear and pocketed it.

"I don't need this electronic. I've got my SOLDIER sense." Zack inhaled greatly and felt the rush of the clean air. He wasn’t used to air outside of Midgar, and the air in the slums was always clouded with emission and the exhalations of the others. Besides the com-set, Zack had one other item in his pocket - a letter from the slum's one and only flower girl.
He read over the words one more time.

"Are you doing well? Where are you? It's been 4 years. This will be the 89th letter I've written but I will
not send out any more. I hope that you receive this last letter. Zack! The flowers are selling very well. It makes
everyone smile. It's all thanks to you. Aerith."

Zack sighed. He'd seen his closest friend, Cloud, "eyeballing" her before. "Take good care of Aerith... Cloud, or I'll have to kill ya when I get back." Zack smiled faintly and looked around one more time, catching something he'd not seen before. A large castle stood prominently above the forest scenery. "Time to move." He then had a flash back.

Zack's other friend, Angeal, stood on a beach with him. "Great! It’s a vacation!" Zack said with a grin on his face. "No," reiterated Angeal, "It’s a workout. Do fifty laps in the water and then, when you're heavy with water, do a hundred laps on land." Zack grunted and Angeal laughed and rustled his hair.

When Zack came to, he was running in the direction of the castle.