Hero of War

~ Hero of War ~

Story:

As a boy living on the countryside, Zack had always dreamed of being a hero. His idol was Angeal, one of the greatest soldiers written about in stories. Through his youth, Zack studied the ways of the warrior, learning such qualities as chivalry, bravery, mercy, and selflessness.

While training himself in an alley, breaking beer bottles with a pipe, Zack gets a bit careless and attempts a ridiculous sweeping slash. Tripping other a beer bottle, he ends up falling face first on the ground below him.

While on the ground, he hears a rough voice talking to him. Quickly, he gets back up to see that its no other than Angeal himself, Zack's idol. Angeal offers Zack a chance to be a soldier just like himself, and Angeal holds a sword out to Zack, a symbol of the warrior.

Zack takes it up with reverance, accepting the offer.

The first days as a soldier, Zack meets with a handful of other new soldiers, a certain distinguishable being named Cloud. His blonde hair set him apart from the darker haired group, and he too was a country boy like
Zack. Zack jokingly tells Cloud the same phrases he learned from Angeal, and Cloud laughs, but accepts the offer. The two found a friend in each other.

Zack finishes his training after a duel with the formidable soldier Sephiroth, and so he recites the pledge of the soldier, as Angeal had before him.

On his first mission, Zack is ordered to find and bring back a missing soldier. Recklessly, Zack busts in to the man's house, knocks him unconscious, and takes him away, all whilst the man's family is left to watch. Zack takes the man to his base, where the man is tortured for information concerning a group of rebellion soldiers. Witnessing how inhuman his fellow soldiers treat the man, he tries to stop them, but eventually caves in and joins them, nearly killing the man before they give up, seeing as he knew nothing about what they wanted.

After committing such a horrible act on another human, Zack becomes troubled, and so once again recites his soldier's pledge, attempting to clear his head. Then, after a few years of being a soldier, Zack is given his final order: a guard in an area filled with rebellion.

Unexpectedly, Zack sees his childhood friend Yuna, one of the rebels he's forced to watch, making sure no dangerous act is taken. Yuna is taking part in a peace walk against the conflict that has torn her home, and friends, to pieces.

Zack orders her to stop, and then, begs her to stop. With no plan to stop, Zack raises his rifle, takes aim at Yuna, and squeezes the trigger.

Watching, Zack witnesses missles of lead pierce Yuna's body and force her to the ground. In her hand he sees a small piece of cloth. It hits Zack then: she'd been surrendering the whole time.

His final act breaks Zack, who now realizes the truth. The heroes he once thought so greatly of were nothing cold killers with glory on their
minds...just like himself. He takes up with sword for the last time. This time, against his own former heroes.

Zack is quickly taken down by legions of soldiers, but not without a fight. He stabs his sword into the ground, then falls, like he had in that alley so long ago. He drags the sword down with him. However, instead of seeing Angeal, Zack finds Cloud, the first friend he had made from becoming a soldier. He takes up the sword he had placed, and gives it up to Cloud, hoping his innocence will stay firm, so that he may pass on the story of Zack Fair as a man rather than a monster. As a hero.

Then, Zack takes his long deserved rest.

Two years later, Cloud finds himself back at the place he last saw Zack. The sword he had left there, the flag of Zack's legacy, lay just as Zack had dug it into the ground on his last stand.

Cloud remembers his first memories of meeting Zack, for the last time.

(end story)

Credits:

Music:
"Hero of War" by Rise Against
"Everything Begins" by [insert long Japanese names here]

Video:
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Final Fantasy X/X-2
Devil May Cry 3
Iron Man
Kingdom Hearts

Sources:
"Kingdom Hearts" scenes used are from KH-Vids.net
"Final Fantasy" scenes used are from BlueLaguna.net, SilentTweak.net, and from a DVD rip
"Devil May Cry 3" scene used is from Devil's-Lair.org
"Iron Man" scenes used from DVD rip

Disclaimer:
I, the producer of this video, do not claim any visual or audio media used in this video.

Honors:

November 26:
#86 - Top Favorited (Today) - Film & Animation

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Final
• Fantasy
• VII
• Hero
• of
• War
• Zack
• Cloud
• Rise
• Against
• HayabusaZeroZ

[megaluis2]

dude I did´t know that a broken sword was a gun but the vidio say it (is a very sad and good song)

[HayabusaZero]

Imagination is key :\

[MaximusGigantes]

wow that was really good... but no Aerith? eh, whatever it was still a nice vid

[HayabusaZero]

What's with everyone wanting Aerith?

[shenannigansxx]

this video is absolutely amazing! the clips fit the lyrics perfectly. amazing job! <3

[lordpacman]

wow you really did a great job on this vid the background audio fits well with the song, it doesnt overpower

[NicolaTheCullen]

good vid, but i think using Aerith instead of Yuna would work better

[narutodream12]

The Buster Sword, the "flag" of Final Fantasy

[RawrrrAddiction]

This is so sad and awesome *tears* you did a good job, serious ~

[MurderAtNight]

Excellent!

[kevingbillingsley]

My dad Lives this song

[SelphieFF8]

Yay more Zack videos! I love this video, it brings me to tears QQ Gorgeous editing and timing. The song fits perfectly and it's a beautiful tribute to Zack. =) Great job!

[hooraytoo]

@shenannigansxx NO KIDDING DUDE!!!

[hooraytoo]

one thing ill tell you man that was EPIC@!!! espicially 3:03! nice work!

[zeromechdragon700]

man this video is awesome wait that's not the right term it I.A yeah that how u should rate good stuff I.A and why must hit this song so much

[DJMetalstone]

@megaluis2 He probly shoots bullets with his sword :)