CANON
❱❱ VERSE 1. hero chaser — pre-Crisis Core canon; from Gongaga, the infantry, and SOLDIER 3rd Class.
SOLDIER: protectors of the peace, defenders of the people, and heroes praised for their bravery and skill by every media outlet imaginable. Every kid growing up under Midgar’s influence seemed dream the same thing; to join SOLDIER for a chance to make something great of themselves—and Zack was no exception.Deciding to leave his countryside hometown of Gongaga at only thirteen, Zack has a plan to join Midgar’s military and rise through the ranks. He's young and barely old enough to enlist himself for service, but if he can prove the can make it as a SOLDIER, then he's convinced can easily become the hero he’s always dreamed of being! He’ll train hard, take on every assignment, complete every mission, and do whatever it takes to achieve his dream. He'll get there! They'll see!
❱❱ VERSE 2. zack the puppy — Crisis Core canon; from SOLDIER 2nd Class to Nibelheim.
Ever eager and determined, Zack seems to find his calling in SOLDIER. Earning himself a swift promotion from 3rd Class to 2nd Class, it wasn’t long before Zack was recommended for an apprenticeship under Angeal Hewley, one of SOLDIER’s most notable upper ranks. With Angeal at the helm of his training, Zack was able to hone his skills and learn what it’d take to become one of SOLDIER’s ‘best’ from one of the best.Things seemed to be going well for Zack and training, too—until sudden turmoil disrupts the hierarchy of SOLDIER. Betrayal and desertion seem to strain the division at its core, leading Zack into a hasty promotion from Angeal’s apprentice to a full fledged SOLDIER 1st Class. It’s the title Zack’s always dreamed of, but something seems wrong here. He’s not happy—but his duties don’t stop just because his new rank seems undeserved. He’s still determined to hold tight to his dreams, no matter how much heartbreak and headache he’s forced through.
❱❱ VERSE 3. the price of freedom — Crisis Core // FF7OG canon; post Nibelheim Incident to Zack's last stand.
Four years after being critically wounded, captured, and degraded to nothing more than a Shinra lab rat, Zack manages to find a way to escape his prison. Dragging both Cloud and himself to temporary safety, they’re now on the run—labeled Shinra fugitives by the company with a bounty; one for recapture, the other slated for death by any means necessary.The stakes are high and there isn’t a step he takes that isn’t lined with danger, but to Zack, this is the freedom he’s always craved! Finally free from the binds of Shinra and SOLDIER, he’s decided he’ll travel back to Midgar to take up life as a mercenary, meet up with Aerith, make sure Cloud recovers, and he’ll be set. Life’ll be good again!But Shinra isn’t a corporation that forgets. With the Turks tight on his tail and the infantry mounting their own counter attack, Zack’ll have a steep price to pay and even steeper obstacles to overcome if he wants to taste true freedom.
❱❱ VERSE 4. to become a hero — FF7: Remake canon; from Zack's last stand and beyond.
It should’ve been the end of his road. Zack, marked by fate to find the conclusion of his journey gunned down at the hands of Shinra, somehow defies his own odds and cheats certain death. Fighting off the infantry battalion blockading his way and surviving the 'last stand' meant to kill him, he gathers up a still comatose Cloud and soldiers on; determined not to let anything stand in his way of making it back to Midgar.It was a hard fought fight, but after nine months spent on the run, all of Zack’s troubles seem to come to a close when the welcomed sight of the Sector 5 church comes into view. But with Aerith no where to be found and the air of her church keeping a still weary former SOLDIER on guard, things aren’t safe. Something feels wrong here — and obviously his troubles aren’t over with yet.
ALTERNATE UNIVERSES
❱❱ AU VERSE 1. a date with fate — Kingdom Hearts verse.
An enthusiastic young kid who someday dreams of becoming a hero, Zack’s a warrior from a distant land who’s nosing around Olympus Coliseum hoping to find someone who can train him to be just that! After all, he’s heard plenty of stories about heroes hailing from the Coliseum and he’s here to take his shot, too. Anything and everything helps!Once considered a promising candidate for a ‘hero in training’ by Philoctetes, Zack’s since been replaced by Hercules as Phil’s trainee. Now, he’s mostly seen around the Coliseum training on his own; though his ‘lousy luck’ definitely hasn’t dampened his spirits any! He’s still as determined as ever to become a hero and will do whatever it takes for another chance.
❱❱ AU VERSE 2. dissidia — General crossover verse.
Zack's general crossover verse! Can include threads with settings based on the actual Dissidia games and its plotlines, but also includes plots where Zack's interacting with characters outside his normal home world, too. This verse covers anything and everything where Zack's not interacting with something or someone on Gaia, including threads that take place in the setting of another Final Fantasy installment. Obviously, this verse isn't the default for Zack if he's being played as an AU version of himself made to fit a certain setting ( i.e FFX!verse Zack or KH!verse Zack won't be tagged here ). This crossover verse only applies if canon!Zack is being portrayed in another setting but keeping all of his FFVII traits, equipment, and memories.
❱❱ AU VERSE 3. the future's hero — Modern verse.
As a friendly and outgoing college kid with high hopes and even larger dreams for his future, Zack quickly learns that the real world can be a lot tougher than it seems. He's popular enough in class though and tends to keep his spirits high, even when things don't go his way, that he never seems to have a hard time making friends or figuring out how to get past obstacles. Life deals him some tough lessons between loss, love, conflict -- but he'll make it through! He's certain he will someday! In this verse, Zack's a budding member of his school's ROTC brigade with plenty of high remarks from his mentors and higher ups on his drive, service, and enthusiasm for his assignments and training. He also works part time in a local cafe and is a decent student with average grades...though his hyperactive personality and curious attitude make sports and physical activities more of his go-to than book work any day.
❱❱ AU VERSE 4. wayward windchaser — Genshin Impact AU
Originally a native of Sumeru's hot, humid, and sometimes oppressive jungles, Zack's long since left his tropical home in the thick of the rainforest for the life of a freedom fighter. A natural dreamer by heart, when Zack heard stories of a land of freedom and opportunities just beyond the forest, it wasn't long before he'd decided to leave home and head for Mondstadt - a city he'd come to believe was a place where grandiose dreams could come true. After all, if he could rise to the occasion in any place to become the hero he'd hoped he could be, it'd be in a land with no restrictions on what he could (and couldn't) do to help people.Zack's time spent in Mondstadt isn't without its hardships, however. Often rejected by others as nothing more than a naive kid despite his accomplishments, losing a mentor, being used by others for his kindness, and being forced to grow up faster than he should have has lead to Zack growing a steel sense of duty and determination. He's found a strong sense of ambition in his unwavering desire to 'become a hero' to the people around him - and with it, he's been granted a vision as proof that he's on the right track.