//------------------------------// // Preperation // Story: My Little Crisis Core // by Mudkipman98 //------------------------------// As Zack slowly opened his eyes, he found himself lying in a very comfortable bed. He tried moving his arms and legs, but to no avail. He couldn't even move his neck. It seemed that the only part of him that would listen was his head. "Twilight?" he called out dryly. "Are you here?" Before he knew it, he heard Twilight's voice next to the bed. He looked over to see her sitting on a stool. "I'm here. How are you feeling?" she asked. "Well, besides the fact that I can't move my body, I'm doing well actually," he responded with a chuckle. "That's a relief," said Twilight returning the gesture. "What happened to you?" "Oh right. I never finished explaining," he began. "When a SOLDIER member like me, or any of my enemies for that matter, are damaged enough, we can unleash an attack called a limit break. They're extremely powerful and have a wide range of effects. One of the two that I used during my battle healed me." "The reason I'm stuck like this has to do with when and how limit breaks are used," he continued.(1) "Different members of SOLDIER use different methods of activating limit breaks, usually depending on how much energy they can afford to use at a time. For me, I used to use what was called the Digital Mind Wave, or DMW for short. It relied completely on luck while tapping into extra energy reserves that I had. However, the method I've been using since I arrived is based on how much damage I receive from different attacks." "The main flaw with it is that I build up energy by taking damage, forcing me to wait until I'm badly injured most of the time." "I still don't see how that relates to your condition now," said Twilight with increased curiosity. "I'm getting to that," replied Zack. "This also means that if I try to use a limit break before the energy is built up, then I have to fuel it with my own personal cache, and that rapidly wears on my body, especially since I'm infused with MAKO energy which boosts my energy output." "Okay, I think I'm starting to get it," said Twilight, trying to put the pieces together. "That's good, because I really need you to understand that before you try what I did." That answer took Twilight aback. "What makes you think that I'll try to use a limit break any time soon?" asked Twilight. "Because, I can see it in your eyes." A pause filled the room. "I noticed it when we fought those changelings. You were willing to do anything to save Spike, even kill if you had to. I've seen those eyes before in a very dear friend of mine." Zack's mind drifted momentarily to Cloud. How is he doing? Maybe he killed Sephiroth. Wait. Then why would Sephiroth be in Equestria? It's confusing, but maybe that's why Sephiroth was in Equestria. After all, I arrived after I died so why couldn't Sephiroth? "I know that willingness to do whatever it takes to protect the ones you care about." continued Zack. "Just don't let that protection take you too far down a road that's less traveled by for a reason." "What?" "Oh, nothing, Twilight," said Zack, eager to push the conversation forward. "So, how are you with a sword?" The question seemed out of nowhere, but Twilight answered anyway. "Well, beyond using my magic to swing it admittedly recklessly, I'm not good at all." "Then use mine," said the wounded SOLDIER. "I'll be out of commision for a while, and unless you think that you can take on Sephiroth with just a few pieces of materia and your bare hooves, you'll need a weapon. You can use my sword to practice the basic technique. Just make sure that you use your hooves instead of your magic. Thinking of the sword as an extension of your own body can help you master it." "Master it? You really think I have what it takes to do that in such a short time?" asked Twilight. "Well sure. You've got the determination to protect what matters. What else do you need?" asked Zack with a grin. That gave Twilight confidence. A new threat had found its way into Equestria, and it had help from the changelings. Twilight knew she would need everything available to her if she was going to win this time around. "Alright. I'll do it," she said, ready to begin immediately. "Hold your hor- I mean, hold on." Zack had to catch himself before he said anything stupid. "I'll need to give you some instruction so you don't hurt yourself. It's a big weapon, and if it's not handled correctly, then it could be dangerous for you, especially since you've never held a weapon without use of your magic." "True," said Twilight, the excitement fading from her voice. "When will you be able to move again?" "Hopefully tomorrow. I won't be able to spar with you for a week or so, but it'll give you plenty of time to practice." "Spar?" said Twilight with a nervous gulp. "Or course," said Zack matter-of-factly. You have to get some real practice in. You can't just imagine fighting an opponent the whole time." Twilight got nervous as she imagined fighting Zack after only a weak of practice. "So what, did you two forget all about me?" asked a voice from behind Twilight. Without even seeing the mare, Zack knew who stood behind Twilight from her voice. "Rainbow Dash! How are you doing?" asked Zack. "Better than ever!" she cheered. "I even got in some practice with that sword of yours." "Wait, you what?!" asked Zack, starting to panic. "That sword is extremely important to me! Why didn't you ask my permission?!" "Well, you were sleeping and I didn't want to wake you up. Besides, you just told Twilight that she'd need more than just her hooves and some magic crystals to beat that other sword guy." Grunting with annoyance, Zack pushed the use of his sword without his permission from his mind. Instead of trying to scold the mare, he thought of something else. "Hey Rainbow, have you ever thought about using a spear instead?" "I did do some jousting once," she said proudly. "How did you like it?" "It was awesome! Even if I was up against Fluttershy, I still felt like I was invincible," she said, replaying the scene in her head. "Then I might have something that you'll like. Once I can move again, I'll give it to you," said Zack. "What is it?" asked Rainbow impatiently. "You'll have to wait and see. You've gotten the hang of using my sword though, right?" asked Zack. "Yeah. Why?" "Would you mind showing Twilight here how to hold it without hurting herself?" "Sure! Come on ya bookworm!" said Rainbow Dash as she grabbed Twilight by the hoof and dragged her downstairs. Twilight grabbed Zack's Buster Sword on her way out the front door, still being dragged by her pegasus friend. Oh thank god, thought Zack. Peace and quiet. Zack reoriented his head so that he was facing the ceiling before shutting his eyes and drifting off to sleep. /)*#*(\ "Chrysalis, I thought you said that you could kill Zack. Why are you in pieces?" asked Sephiroth mockingly, sitting in the grand hall of the castle that the changelings had taken. "That fool was too quick for me. He messed up though. He tried to use two limit breaks in a row," she said as blood continued to drain from her body. Sephiroth chuckled to himself. "Did he now? Then if he's still alive, he'll be a broken man. Now's our chance to destroy that town of theirs." Sephiroth stood up from the throne in the castle. "Revive your changelings, Chrysalis. We're going to crush that town under an army." Sephiroth drew his sword and held it high, igniting the tip with a fire spell to create a bright torch as the light reflected off of his blade and arced around the giant room. The light danced its way across hundreds more changelings that lined the walls. All of them were of higher rank and ability than their fellow changelings that had fallen before them, and they had a lust for blood. A massive battle cry echoed through the Everfree Forest, chilling the blood of any pony who happened to stray too far from town and close enough to the castle of the Everfree.