OVA
Description
Zack Fair leaves his rural village of Gongaga at thirteen to join Shinra's military, without telling his parents. He trains under SOLDIER First Class Angeal Hewley, who becomes his mentor and instills in him the values of dreams and honor. Zack rises to SOLDIER Second Class and later achieves First Class status through missions in Wutai and investigations into desertions like Genesis Rhapsodos. Angeal bequeaths him the Buster Sword before dying, symbolizing the transfer of his ideals and legacy.
Zack possesses an upbeat, energetic personality, earning the nickname "Zack the Puppy" from Angeal. Loyal to comrades and guided by a personal moral compass, he aspires to become a hero through self-improvement. He develops a romantic relationship with Aerith Gainsborough in Midgar's Sector 5 slums, buying her a pink ribbon and encouraging her flower selling. Later, he befriends infantryman Cloud Strife during a mission to Modeoheim, bonding over their shared rural origins.
Accompanying Sephiroth and Cloud to investigate a Nibelheim reactor malfunction, Zack witnesses Sephiroth descend into madness upon learning his origins from the Jenova Project. Sephiroth burns the town and attacks residents. Defending Tifa Lockhart leaves Zack incapacitated, while Cloud confronts Sephiroth. Both are captured by Professor Hojo and endure four years of experimentation with Jenova cells and mako exposure, leaving Cloud severely poisoned and catatonic.
After escaping, Zack carries Cloud towards Midgar, evading Shinra forces, including pursuing Turks and infantry, protecting Cloud throughout. Near Midgar, Shinra soldiers ambush them. Zack hides Cloud and confronts the army alone, sustaining fatal injuries. With his final breaths, he passes the Buster Sword to Cloud, urging him to uphold SOLDIER's honor and fulfill their dreams. Zack's death allows Cloud to survive and later adopt aspects of his identity.
An alternate timeline depicts Zack surviving the ambush and delivering Cloud to Midgar, though his subsequent fate is unknown. Posthumously, Zack appears as a spiritual presence, reminding Cloud to embrace life as his "living legacy." His sacrifice and ideals continue to influence Cloud long after his death.
Flowers eventually grow at the site of his death in the wasteland outside Midgar, marking the start of ecological recovery. The Buster Sword is later placed as a memorial there.
Zack possesses an upbeat, energetic personality, earning the nickname "Zack the Puppy" from Angeal. Loyal to comrades and guided by a personal moral compass, he aspires to become a hero through self-improvement. He develops a romantic relationship with Aerith Gainsborough in Midgar's Sector 5 slums, buying her a pink ribbon and encouraging her flower selling. Later, he befriends infantryman Cloud Strife during a mission to Modeoheim, bonding over their shared rural origins.
Accompanying Sephiroth and Cloud to investigate a Nibelheim reactor malfunction, Zack witnesses Sephiroth descend into madness upon learning his origins from the Jenova Project. Sephiroth burns the town and attacks residents. Defending Tifa Lockhart leaves Zack incapacitated, while Cloud confronts Sephiroth. Both are captured by Professor Hojo and endure four years of experimentation with Jenova cells and mako exposure, leaving Cloud severely poisoned and catatonic.
After escaping, Zack carries Cloud towards Midgar, evading Shinra forces, including pursuing Turks and infantry, protecting Cloud throughout. Near Midgar, Shinra soldiers ambush them. Zack hides Cloud and confronts the army alone, sustaining fatal injuries. With his final breaths, he passes the Buster Sword to Cloud, urging him to uphold SOLDIER's honor and fulfill their dreams. Zack's death allows Cloud to survive and later adopt aspects of his identity.
An alternate timeline depicts Zack surviving the ambush and delivering Cloud to Midgar, though his subsequent fate is unknown. Posthumously, Zack appears as a spiritual presence, reminding Cloud to embrace life as his "living legacy." His sacrifice and ideals continue to influence Cloud long after his death.
Flowers eventually grow at the site of his death in the wasteland outside Midgar, marking the start of ecological recovery. The Buster Sword is later placed as a memorial there.