letters
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z ac k
by Alex Ignacio
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letters
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zzzz a collection of found letters written by Alex Ignacio
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F O R E W O R D The contents of this book are based on the relationship of Zack Fair and Aerith Gainsborough in the video game Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII released in 2007 by Square Enix. It is the prequel to the critically acclaimed role-playing video game, Final Fantasy VII, released ten years prior in 1997. Zack and Aerith live in the capital city, Midgar, the most technologically advanced location constructed on the planet of Gaia thanks to the corporate behemoth, Shinra Electric Power Company. It consists of a large circular structure supported far above the ground by eight reactors and a central pillar. On top of the structure lies the upper city while on the ground underneath lies a large slum created by the city’s unfortunate and downtrodden. Midgar serves as the headquarters for the Shinra Electric Power Company as well as SOLDIER, its elite fighting force. SOLDIER consists of advanced super-soldiers, surgically embedded with superhuman strength, speed, and agility. Zack, a SOLDIER, meets Aerith in the slums after being knocked off the upper plate and
falling into her church. Over the course of the story he continues to visit her in the slums between missions. However, fate tears the couple and their growing love apart when Zack gets captured on mission as a result of an internal conflict between his mentors in SOLDIER and the Shinra Electric Power Company. He goes missing for four years. During those four years, Aerith writes him eighty-nine letters. However, he only receives the last one when he finally escapes. Determined to return to her, Zack attempts to make his way back to Midgar, but is stopped by an armed force and killed, setting the stage for the main storyline in Final Fantasy VII. This book collates twenty-six and the last of the eighty-nine letters Aerith wrote during those years. They are arranged alphabetically by subject matter except the eighty-ninth letter, which has been placed at the end. Knowledge of these games is not necessary to the reading of this book as it follows universal themes of passionate first loves and tragic loss. Alex Ignacio
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uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu A B C D E F G H I J K L M
A is for angel
You mistook me for one when we first met. You thought you died and went to heaven. I laughed because I’m not. and this rundown church is far from paradise. But you were the one who came through the roof as if you fell from the sky. So I’d like to think that you are the angel, and I’m in paradise.
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12 of 89 uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
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B is for back
When you walk you roll your shoulders and carry yourself with so much confidence. When you fight you wield your sword with ease and always protect me. That’s why when I saw your back hunched over and your shoulders trembling. I wanted to be the one to protect you and be your strength when you have none.
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OPPPPPQ C is for cart
You made me three so we could sell the flowers together. The first was plain and not cute. So I asked for a nicer one. The second was nicer, cute, and we were able to sell some flowers. The third looked more like a weapon than a flower cart. And even though someone offered to buy it, you refused because you had made it for me. I never use them anymore. I’m afraid they’ll break. and I’ll lose the only things I have left of you.
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P IJIJIJ D is for date
As thank you for waking you up after you fell you offered to take me on a date. I said don’t be silly but inside I was happy. Hey, I want to go on more dates. Come back soon.
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“So beautiful…”
“My face?”
“Haha, no. Your eyes.”
“Do you like’em? Take a closer look. They’re eyes infused with mako energy, a soldier trademark.”
“Oh stop it.”
“If you look into them it looks like you can see the sky right?”
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E is for eyes
Remember when I told you that I’m afraid of the sky? My horizon is the end of the slums and height of the plate sweeping above. But if it is the same color as your eyes then perhaps I’m not so scared to venture out and see what lies beyond.
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F is for flowers
“Yup, that’s me and Aerith’s dream. Not just the slums, either. We want to fill all of Midgar with flowers! If they can grow under an open blue sky, I’m sure that the flowers will bloom everywhere.” It made me so happy when you said it was our dream. Hey, don’t forget, you promised to sell them with me in the upper plate when you returned. Will that be soon?
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P IJIJIJ G is for
cdc At the very least
you could have
said
cdc g o o db y e
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H is for hero
On our first date I told you that I thought soldiers were scary They get special surgeries they fight and they love it but you’re nothing like that. A hero to children a protector of the peace you’re what soldier is supposed to be. So when you ask if you’re a hero or not I would say of course. You’ve never been anything else.
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29 of 89 uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
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I is for icicle inn
It’s a town located in the frozen area of the Northern Continent. To my people, the area is called the Knowlespole. I don’t remember it though. My parents took me away when I was only a baby. Did you know? I’m the last of my people. There’s so many things I haven’t told you yet. I wish I could have learned more about you too.
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J is for journey
I want to keep thinking that you’re only on a journey and that you’re still making your way back to me. But if not, I hope we can cross paths again one day.
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70 of 89 uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
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OPPPPPQ K is for kingdom
I had a dream that I was in a hollow bastion looking for a place called Kingdom Hearts but in that dream you weren’t there. So perhaps rather than a dream it was a nightmare.
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“Do you really have to leave?”
“I promised. The people I love, are waiting.”
“...I don’t understand. Not at all. But... please take care of yourself.”
“Of course... I’ll come back to you. Even if you don’t promise to wait. I’ll return knowing you’ll be here.”
LOVELESS (3.16.184)
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L is for loveless
I finally watched that play you mentioned. The one you said your mentor was obssessed with. I can’t say I quite understand it. A hero, a wanderer, and a prisoner all searching for the Gift of the Goddess... how strange! But you know, the last lines of the play really made me think of you. After all, I did promse to be waiting right here when you got back. So please take care of yourself. I’m still here.
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M is for monster
I no longer fear the monsters that come out at night. Like you said, they’re not tough at all. So when you come back, I’ll show you the strenth I’ve gained because of you.
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N is for night
Days are dim without you
and nights are darker.
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P IJIJIJ O is for once
Once there was a boy with jet-black hair and the sky in his eyes. Once there was a boy who dreamed of being a hero. Once there was a boy who fell through the roof and asked for a date. Once there was a boy who left without a word and never came back.
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“Let’s make a promise for our next meeting!”
“Promise? Next meeting?”
“Well... no, let's make it, ‘a promise for the moment of our next meeting.' Aerith, wear pink clothes then, how about that?"
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P is for pink
I wear that color every day waiting for the promise you have yet to keep
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Where did you go? Are you safe? Why did you leave? When will you come back? There are far too many to ask but somehow I’m afraid to find the answers.
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50 of 89 uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
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P IJIJIJ R is for ribbon
Your first gift to me was the pink ribbon in my hair Somewhere I read: A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon. If that is true then when you return I’ll pin the ribbon as your reward for fighting so long and fighting so hard.
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S is for sky
“The sky frightens me. I feel like it’s sucking me in…” “I have an idea! One day, I’ll take you to see a beautiful sky, the real sky. It’s not frightening at all. I know you’re gonna love it.” Even though you promised to take me to the upper plate to see the sky slowly surely I’m gathering the courage to see it myself.
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OPPPPPQ T is for time
“I want to spend more time with you.” was my one wish of the twenty-three you asked me to write. If I ask for a tinier wish will that be enough to bring you back?
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U is for upper
Yesterday I finally went to the upper plate. It’s just as you said. The sky is beautiful. The flowers were a really big hit! I sold all the ones I had. Thank you, Zack. I wouldn’t have been able to get up there without you.
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“There’s seems to be some important mission coming up, I might have to leave Midgar.”
“When are you coming back?”
“I’m not really sure.”
“Oh... Is it okay if I call you?”
“Of course! I’ll pick up right away, even during my mission.”
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V is for voice
It’s been months since the last time you answered my call that brief moment when you picked up and said my name was the last time I heard your voice.
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W is for w i sh e s
I had twenty-three really tiny ones. But I knew you wouldn’t remember them all. So I put them together in just one. Do you remember that one tiny wish?
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X is for
The shape of the scar on your cheek
From the man who attacked you
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The same man you admired
The same man who became a monster
The man who’s life you had to end
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Y is for year
It’s been four since the last time I saw you and six since we first met. Should I count the days? hours? minutes? seconds? Or maybe decades, centuries— if only to see you again.
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OPPPPPQ Z is for z ack
cdc Your name and my name sound nice together. cdc
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89 of 89 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
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