since fate topples the strong, all mourn with me
Final Stand: 
Zack hitches a ride with an old man. On the back of his truck with Cloud, discussing there next course of action- to get to Midgar and become mercenaries. In the Japanese version, Zack uses the word 'nandemoya', meaning a 'jack of all trades'. However a road block is up ahead, so Zack gets out of the truck, and after hiding Cloud safely behind some rocks and out of crossfire, he goes to face the Shinra troops. And it looks like every troop has come to take Zack down. Remember, Luxiere's email saying that whomever find Zack, will become SOLDIER: Class 1st? Zack joking remarks "Geez, the freedom sure is pricey" before lifting his sword to press against his forehead, as he had seen Angeal do, and repeating Angeal's words "Embrace your dreams, and regardless the situation, never let go of your pride". He rushes into h battle with his battle cry "Irrashaimase!".
Fading Memories. 
Zack began the battle midday, by now the sky is dark. Whether the battle last an entire day, or whether the sky was darkening due to incoming rain, I'm uncertain. As Zack sustains more damage, his DMW begins to falter, until it is completely destroyed. When Zack falls for the final time, soldiers stand over him and riddle his body with bullets- at point blank range. Knowing Cloud is Mako poisoned and not a threat, they leave Zack to die. Cloud crawls over to Zack, anguished over the state his friend is in. By now it is raining, washing away the blood covering Zack. Zack tells Cloud "Live. You are the evidence...that I lived. My pride, my dreams,I leave them all to you". Cloud doesn't seem to grasp exactly what Zack is saying until Zack shoves the hild of the Buster Sword to Cloud andprsses Cloud's face to his bloodied chest, smiles,and dies. Cloud screams. The rain stops, the clouds part, revealing a sunlit blue sky. Cloud remembers Zack's words and tells him "Thank you. I won't forget. Good night, Zack" and walks away, dragging the Buster Sword with him.
With Angeal. Zack opens his eyes (in spirit mind you) and sees Angeal flying down toward him. "As I thought, this is a nice feeling. Those wings, lend them to me.". Angeal reaches down as feathers blow about, Zack takes his hand, and ascends. "Yup,this really does feel good". A lone feather blows high above Cloud; "If you meet Aeris, take care of her for me". The same feather blows back to the spot Zack's body had lain, skimming the ground, "I became a hero, didn't I", and the feather flies back up into he air.
Never Ending Story. In Midgar, some time later, Aeris prays to the LifeStream, and arises, flower basket in hand, to sell flowers on the streets of Midgar. Cloud, as in Zack's training mission, is a top a train heading toward the Mako Reactors, wielding the Buster Sword and wearing a SOLDIER: Class 1st uniform. "I am Cloud. SOLDIER. Class 1st".