He didn't think much of it when he happened across a small, stuffed bear sitting in the entrance hall earlier in the day. It wasn't really his thing, stuff animals, but it was cute enough to where he thought Aerith might like to add it to the decor of her room.
He was one his way up to the second floor...when suddenly, he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye.
He turned, his mouth dropping at who he saw.
"Angeal?!" He ran over to the other. "When did you get here?"
Ignoring the question, 'Angeal' held out a hand. Are you ready?
Confused and maybe even a little concerned now by the strange behavior, Zack hesitated. "Ready for what?"
Another smile, this one somehow sweet if not sinister. You wanted wings, didn't you?
He didn't have a chance to answer as, quite abruptly, the entire area became engulfed in flames. Jerking back, Zack ducked and raised his arms, trying to shield himself from the heat.
"Angeal!!"
Panicking, he looked up, only to see his old mentor catch fire right in front of him.
"NO!"
A quick Blizzaga erupted from his hands, dropping ice on the burning SOLDIER. A wave of steam blasted him right in the face, making his eyes water painfully. When it finally cleared, his heart nearly stopped in his chest.
A slender creature stood before him, all silver, metal, and glistening organs. It's a silhouette he's seen before, except the glow of the crimson eye is sharper and there's an exuding pulse emanating from the main body.
Alive.
"You..." Zack backed away, a hand going for his sword. "You can't be real."
But I am, sweet child. Jenova smiled. Wherever my children are, I will always be.
"I'm not your child!" he snapped, drawing his blade in a flash.
Oh, but you are. You think you've been granted the power you have for nothing? She extended a hand. Come. Mother's here.
"I have a mother!!" Raging, he gestured violently. "I'm not your son!"
Jenova's smile was soft, almost pitying. Silly child. I'll simply have to teach you.
She snapped her fingers, and instantly, a jolt of fiery agony shot his back. Doubling over, Zack let out a cry, the pain of it nearly knocking him over. There was something crawling -- no, growing underneath skin, like it was trying to shove up and out...
A flash of white erupted behind him, the pain of it making him gasp. He jerk his head around, his face going pale at the sight of a single wing unfurling behind him.
"No..." An aghast whisper.
Jenova simply smiled. Yes.
An inhuman howl filling the stairwell, Zack whipped the Buster sword around, a shockwave erupting from the blade as he brought it to bear against Jenova -- the demon haunting his visions.
An explosion rocked the stairwell, and in moments, Zack would be rushing out through the entrance hall, a sword in one hand, his other covering an ear.
[ ooc: Just as a note, everything Zack is seeing here IS NOT REAL. He has not actually sprouted a wing or any of that stuff. He'll be running out of the mansion after this sequence and generally wreaking havoc across the grounds until someone stops him.
June 3rd | open | 2nd floor stairwell to start, the grounds later
He was one his way up to the second floor...when suddenly, he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye.
He turned, his mouth dropping at who he saw.
"Angeal?!" He ran over to the other. "When did you get here?"
The winged SOLDIER just smiled.
I've always been here.
Nonplussed, Zack stared. "What...do you mean?"
Ignoring the question, 'Angeal' held out a hand. Are you ready?
Confused and maybe even a little concerned now by the strange behavior, Zack hesitated. "Ready for what?"
Another smile, this one somehow sweet if not sinister. You wanted wings, didn't you?
He didn't have a chance to answer as, quite abruptly, the entire area became engulfed in flames. Jerking back, Zack ducked and raised his arms, trying to shield himself from the heat.
"Angeal!!"
Panicking, he looked up, only to see his old mentor catch fire right in front of him.
"NO!"
A quick Blizzaga erupted from his hands, dropping ice on the burning SOLDIER. A wave of steam blasted him right in the face, making his eyes water painfully. When it finally cleared, his heart nearly stopped in his chest.
A slender creature stood before him, all silver, metal, and glistening organs. It's a silhouette he's seen before, except the glow of the crimson eye is sharper and there's an exuding pulse emanating from the main body.
Alive.
"You..." Zack backed away, a hand going for his sword. "You can't be real."
But I am, sweet child. Jenova smiled. Wherever my children are, I will always be.
"I'm not your child!" he snapped, drawing his blade in a flash.
Oh, but you are. You think you've been granted the power you have for nothing? She extended a hand. Come. Mother's here.
"I have a mother!!" Raging, he gestured violently. "I'm not your son!"
Jenova's smile was soft, almost pitying. Silly child. I'll simply have to teach you.
She snapped her fingers, and instantly, a jolt of fiery agony shot his back. Doubling over, Zack let out a cry, the pain of it nearly knocking him over. There was something crawling -- no, growing underneath skin, like it was trying to shove up and out...
A flash of white erupted behind him, the pain of it making him gasp. He jerk his head around, his face going pale at the sight of a single wing unfurling behind him.
"No..." An aghast whisper.
Jenova simply smiled. Yes.
An inhuman howl filling the stairwell, Zack whipped the Buster sword around, a shockwave erupting from the blade as he brought it to bear against Jenova -- the demon haunting his visions.
An explosion rocked the stairwell, and in moments, Zack would be rushing out through the entrance hall, a sword in one hand, his other covering an ear.
[ ooc: Just as a note, everything Zack is seeing here IS NOT REAL. He has not actually sprouted a wing or any of that stuff. He'll be running out of the mansion after this sequence and generally wreaking havoc across the grounds until someone stops him.
Ping me if you have any questions! o9 ]