3rd POV:
''Is all this subterfuge REALLY necessary?,'' 'Aerith' asked them. She was surrounded by countless green specks of lights, like stars floating in the vacuum of space.
''It is. He is stubborn. It is our hope that the journey will soften him up, let him grow closer to the others and solve his issues. Whatever they may be,'' one Planet replied.
It was one thing to grow closer to people over time, it was another to vehemently resist getting close to strangers and only start a form of relationship under special circumstances or by getting outstubborned. If the former was all that was needed then Nox' Planet would already connect to him, but evidently not.
''Besides, it will not be just a journey of convenience, like a vacation, for they do need to see to some tasks,'' another Planet replied.
''He could consider it a trap,'' 'Aeith' warned them.
''We know. It is a risk we have considered. We decided to proceed with the plan anyways,'' a third Planet agreed with her.
''Though we have already filled his Planet with the knowledge that Nox is a time traveler, she is still by and large unaware of what he is doing and what he plans. And thus, so are we. If we do not all work together, then we may as well work against each other.
We NEED him to ease his defenses and THAT requires putting him in an uncomfortable position. Metaphorically and literally,'' a fourth Planet told her.
''The same journey will also make them grow stronger. Something that will be needed when Nox establishes the connection with the planet, because the Arbiters of Fate will weaken the defenses in some place to strengthen the defense of Nox' and his Planets connection ... and whatever memories they share with each other,'' a fifth Planet said.
''And that means some more information for Sephiroth. And more information for Sephiroth is always bad,'' a sixth Planet said.
''Yes, indeed. But like we said, we considered ever decision and the consequences. We will proceed with the plan,'' a eight Planet told 'Aerith', making her sigh.
''Alright. Then I will play my role,'' 'Aerith' told them.
And once that part of the plan is done, then the rest should hopefully fall into place.
1st POV: Cloud:
''So, listen. I know Sephiroth burned Nibelheim down, from Tifa. But you said you were there too? She kept it brief, but could we have some more information? What made him snap?,'' Barret began and rubbed his head, while giving Tifa an apologetic look. Because he invoked bad memories, I guessed.
I looked at Tifa for a few moments. She rested her hand near her chest and I looked away quickly while waiting for her answer.
''You're right,'' she said after a sigh.
''Zack was there too. You want to start first?,'' Cloud asked him.
He looked constipated for a moment.
''Eh... no, no. Sephiroth... I don't want to remember it either. It is easier if you recount it,'' Zack scratched his cheek and looked away from my eyes.
Ooooookay? A SOLDIER First Class should be more composed then letting a few bad memories affect them. I guess I could show him how it is done and spare him the pain.
''Zack, Sephiroth and I were dispatched to Nibelheim, because of a reactor malfunction...
In hindsight, three First Class SOLDIER's being dispatched to the same place, for a simple reactor malfunction, should have been our first clue,'' I began, recounting what happened 5 years ago while leaning against the wall.
-
Sephiroth, Zack and I stepped into Nibelheim. We barely made it a few extra steps in, before the mayor, Zander, came to greet us at the entrance.
''So, good to see you. So good. Sephiroth, Sir, it is an honor. Please, right this way, if you want to rest at the inn. For your allies. This one will guide you there. And as for our discussion, right this way. Please, follow me,'' the mayor said politely.
''One moment. I need to give my men their orders. Could you give us a moment?,'' Sephiroth told him and the mayor nodded distancing himself, along with his men, from us.
''Home...,'' Sephiroth muttered after looking the village over briefly.
''What was that?,'' Zack asked, being able to pick it up with his hearing.
''Home,'' Sephiroth repeated louder and turned to me.
''I never had one, so I wondered what you feel, now being here again,'' Sephiroth elaborated.
''A day like any other, I guess. So, you moved a lot? Surely, you must still have had your parents,'' I replied.
''My mother, Jenova, is dead. And my father...The less said about him the better,'' Sephiroth replied and turned his back to us again,'' Forget it. You all go to the inn and rest. By sundown we will go to sleep, so that we are rested for tomorrow. Until then, feel free to explore the village.''
With those words said, he began making his way to the church to speak to the mayor.
Zack went off and did his own thing, but I...climbed the water tower first.
-
''Come to think of it, don't you think it was kind of an insensitive thing to say? Some people would kill to have the same thing that is normal for everyone else. Just because you have it, doesn't mean you should take it for granted. Did you really only give such a lame response to his question about how 'coming home' feels like?,'' Aerith asked me and I saw Tifa nod beside her.
Her wide red eyes stared at me curiously.
I shrugged.
''I'm not taking it for granted. I just don't see why I need to make a big deal out of it,'' I replied earning some disapproving looks.
-
I saw Tifa's and my home clearly, right next to each other.
-
''You two were neighbors?,'' Barret asked.
''Yes. We hang around sometimes, but otherwise...we had different interests,'' I shrugged.
''And by that you mean, you were the problematic one,'' Barret concluded.
I wanted to deny it, but Tifa was right there to deny or confirm it, so I moved on, least I lie and get caught in it. That would be embarrassing.
-
I entered her house first, thinking she would be home. I took a look around the house and eventually entered her room. I inspected her piano a little and then looked into her closet-
-
''You looked through my stuff?!,'' Tifa asked alarmed and straightened her back, while sitting on the couch neat Aerith.
''I know I shouldn't have...,'' Cloud looked away from her.
''You asshole,'' Tifa and Aerith exclaimed.
''If you knew you shouldn't have, then why do it? And if you did it, then why confess? Think, Cloud, think,'' Nox pointed his fingers at his temples.
''Some kind of kink?,'' Zack turned to Nox.
I continued before we sit here the whole night. I should have kept my fucking mouth shut.
-
Then I visited my mother. We reunited, she shed a few tears, declared proudly several things about me and then made me dinner.
-
''Oh, so now, he minds another persons privacy,'' Tifa whispered bitterly. My enhanced hearing able to pick it up.
-
The next day we made for the reactor. Tifa was our guide, because apparently I couldn't be trusted with the task of navigating the terrain or whatever.
''So, should we go then?,'' Tifa asked them.
''Yes. Let's,'' Sephiroth turned around and began walking.
-
''Kind of an underwhelming reunion, no? Even if you weren't best friends, you still got along a little. What the hell is up with that?,'' Barret asked clearly confused.
''Of course, I was happy to see them. But my father made a big fuss about me not going and risking my life and Sephiroth started to look impatient, so I hurried a little,'' Tifa replied quickly.
Pretty vague, but that checked out.
-
Yes. Remeber that bridge? We crossed it and it broke. We all fell in the river and got swept by the current. It was struck by lightning and collapsed.
Sephiroth saved you and Zack. I saved myself and one of the infantry troops, but failed to save the last one. Sephiroth spent some time chasing him down, but lost track of him, while we all recovered from the near death experience as much as we could.
-
''Hold up. What the hell? You and Tifa made him sound like the maniac I met a few hours ago. The kind that wants to destroy the world. Now, you are telling me he was a decent guy, once?,'' Barret asked me with disbelief.
''Oh, trust me. I will remind you of who he is now,'' I assured him gravely.
-
Eventually we did make it to the reactor, after fighting a few monsters. Zack and the last trooper watched over Tifa, while Sephiroth and I made our way inside.
It was a simple valve not being properly tightened that depressurized the Mako flow to the Reactor and caused problems. Anyway, while I tightened the valve, Sephiroth look around and I eventually joined him.
There were egg shaped tubes, like the one we saw in that massive room, where we fought Hojo. Remember?
Sephiroth slashed them, having arrived at the conclusion that they used to be used for Materia to be manufactured and then repurposed for ...altering biomass. First animals. And then humans, as Sephiroth showed me.
He wondered about him having been also made this way. Then we returned to the village. But Sephiroth did not return to the inn after the second night. So I looked for him and eventually stumbled upon him in the Shinra Manor, in the basement.
He told me to leave. Then he shut himself down there and read through the books like a man possessed.
Until one night, I came to visit him again and STILL he was reading the books.
''Ah, Cloud. I've come across the most fascinating passage. "The specimen, found in strata dating back two thousand years, smiled with what could only be described as 'ethereal grace.' Though the truth eluded me at first, I later determined that she was an Ancient—or a 'steward of the planet,' as they are referred to in legend. She needed a name...and so I dubbed her 'Jenova','' he told me.
''The Jenova Project was approved soon after—a bold initiative to resurrect the long-dead Ancients. An initiative...that resulted in my conception. Or rather, my creation! The crowning glory of Professor Gast's wondrous experiment!''
''He created you?,'' I asked him.
''I should go. Mother is waiting,''
I was confused. So I tried to stop him, to gather his attention and make him make me understand, but he just slapped me casually into the wall and I lost consciousness.
When I regained my bearings I stumbled upon a burning Nibelheim. My first instinct was to run to my mother. But a log fell down on me and injured my leg.
-
''A log brought you down and injured you?,'' Nox tilted his head, from where he was leaning on the wall,'' A First Class, at that?''
Nanaki nodded in agreement at that.
I probably flushed a little in the cheeks, so I turned around to look out the windows.
''Yes. Sephiroth must have injured me more then I thought and the log just resurfaced my injury,'' I explained.
''Hm. Makes sense,'' I heard Nox reply.
-
Anyway. I stumbled my way over to the house. Zack probably already fought Sephiroth, because I didn't see him. I did see him later, but I will come to that in a bit.
The remaining trooper was helping the survivors of Nibelheim, but I found him collapsed in front of my house. It was...burned down completely and when I opened the door, I was blasted away from the explosion.
...
At least I saw my mother one final time.
Sephiroth appeared and killed most of the remaining survivors, while I was down...
I was in no condition to fight him. Yet he spared me and disappeared among the flames.
And some times later, after I healed up, especially after casting a few Cure on me, I hunted him down where I suspected him to be. The reactor, because Jenova was inscribed over the doors there.
I saw Tifa crying over the corpse of her father, then pick up Masamune and run after Sephiroth. She was lucky Sephiroth didn't bisect her completely, when he took his blade back from her. She landed next to Zack on the stairs and then Sephiroth made his way into the room after opening it.
Me? I applied some first aid to both of them and dragged them away from the stairs, just in case and then chased down Sephiroth. He was standing in front of some winged metal construct, that was obstructing the view to a tube and had his arms out, as if he was praying or worshiping something.
''Sephiroth!,'' I screamed at him and pulled out my sword.
''Mother, forgive this dullard. This pest. He doesn't know our splendor.
The Jenova Project. My mother, Jenova, was a Cetra. But the humans and Cetra fought each other. She was meant to rule this Planet. She was stronger, smarter. But then humans took her planet away from them, from her, from us,'' Sephiroth didn't even seem to speak to me, when he said all those words.
He ripped off that metal construct and then revealed what was hidden behind it. Jenova.
Sephiroth and I then engaged in combat and I killed him. Zack probably weakened him beforehand, a little. So that probably helped.
-
''Wait! That's it? What did you do after you killed him? What happened to Tifa and Zack that you split up, instead of sticking together?,'' Barret asked me perplexed.
A sharp pain went through my head and I grabbed it.
''Right now, that really is not important. I'm more interested in whether Hojo falsified the records Sephiroth read or not. We know Jenova is not a Cetra,'' Nox intervened.
''I agree. Seeing as I knew Hojo the best, I think I can answer the question the best. Absolutely. The man didn't have any screw left in his head,'' Zack firmly nodded several times. Barret and Nanaki looked at them a little oddly, but I just felt grateful that they would stop pestering me.
I feel like I already talked too much today. My throat feeling a little sore, since I'm not used to using my vocal cords that much.
''I agree.'' Aerith added with a nod.
''Which begs the question. Why do that?,'' Tifa added.
''Because he was fraud. He just threw together some stuff and success was either ensured by luck or the ingredients attributes. So much for a man of science who should rely on a controlled environment or predicted and hypothesized outcome,'' Nox scoffed and pushed himself of the wall.
''I mean... Sephiroth did hold Gast in a higher regard and he knew both personally. I think his opinion before he went coockoo should count for something,'' Zack rubbed his chin.
''Well, whatever his reasons, I'm glad he is now dead. Figures only Shinra would employ someone so depraved from everything I heard about him,'' Barret stood up.
Aerith stretched a little and yawned, before wincing.
''I don't know about you guys. But I really do need a sleep, my back is killing me,'' Aerith told them. She was right, I looked outside, it was getting pretty dark by now.
''Oh, maybe I can help you,'' Tifa offered and moved to touch her back in a certain way making Aerith jump up.
''Yeah, I think we all definitely need to slepp,'' Tifa replied a little concerned after seeing her reaction.
''Hey that is my...,'' Barret complained as he saw Red jump on the bed almost immediately after they all stood up and concluded they needed to sleep.
Since I was the closest I just laid on the other bed in the double bed room. Unfortunately some of us had to sleep on the ground, because the inn only had two double bed rooms available for us and we were 7 people.
''Damn it,'' Barret cursed.
I suppressed a smug smirk. First come first serve.
''I really am not looking forward to sleeping on the ground,'' Zack complained. Me too pal, which is why I grabbed the other bed available. I still remember the times I had to sleep on hard terrain when I was still in SOLDIER.
''Quit whining, you all. I slept in worse places then laminated wood,'' Nox told them and laid down on the ground, arms under his head as a pillow.
''Oh, yeah? Like what?,'' Aerith (and Tifa) stopped at the door to ask him.
''Between two train compartments in a hammock, for example. Trust me, despite the fabric, all that back and forth and rattling and noise and the stress that some security guy will stumble upon me made for a ... distinguished experience,'' he told is all with a shrug.
''What?,'' he asked when we all stared at him.
''You really need to tell us some stories about your travels, if even one is so... out of the left pocket. How did you even get yourself to the point to think that that was a good idea?,'' Aerith asked him. He could have fallen, and if he had fallen between the gap, between the two train compartment, he could have landed under the train and died!
''Maybe over a camp fire. For now, I'm tired. Fighting Sephiroth did tire me out. Night y'all,'' Nox told her.
Aerith looked a little put out, I had to guess.
''Night, y'all,'' she said anyway and then left. Tifa repeated her words and then left as well..
3rd POV:
Tifa lied in her bed, not really able to sleep. Several things weighting on her mind. She knows that Cloud was there, five years ago, but... he was a trooper, according to Zack. There never was a third SOLDIER First Class. She also knows that he DID indeed save her, thanks to Zack, but...
How MUCH did Hojo's experiments screw him in the head?
''Aerith? Are you asleep?,'' Tifa whispered and turned her head.
''Not really. So, I guess I'm wide awake now.,'' Aerith replied and turned to face her. She would have really liked if she could have shared a room or bed with Nox, since she got used to them sleeping in the same bed.
Now, sleeping without him holding her, felt weird. But she understood why they organized the group like that. And a small part was hurt how quickly he got down and seemed to make himself comfortable on the ground. Or maybe she was over reacting and making a big deal out of nothing. He traveled a lot, and probably slept a lot on the ground, so such a habit might be hard to break, even after two years of sleeping in a bed.
But this wasn't about her anyway. Her troubles were small compared to whatever was going through Tifa's head. She was sure.
She cast Silence on the room. Honestly, the fact that not only was it a spell that blocked the ability to cast spells, but also block sound made it such a useful tool.
''I know that Cloud was there five years ago. It's just...Why the need for this memory altercation? We know from Zack that most of the details are right, it's just...such a small change...I don't know,'' Tifa looked stumped about how to express herself.
''Don't worry. I understand what you are trying to say,'' Aerith assured her and pushed herself in a sitting position.
''Maybe...it wasn't Hojo at all that was responsible for that change? The human brain is supposedly very weird, but I wouldn't know. Maybe it was his coping mechanism on how to deal with the trauma, because while he did save you and killed Sephiroth ...once. It may not be enough for him and he thinks he failed on his tasks or goals, somehow,'' Aerith reasoned.
Tifa pushed herself up in a sitting position on her bed as well and sighed.
''It makes sense, I guess. We just don't know if that really is the case. What do you think I should do? Should I confront him-?'' Tifa began.
''Remember what Shalua told us,'' Aerith urgently reminded her.
''No! I didn't mean that I wanted to point out inconsistencies in his stories. I meant, should I thank him? Do you think it would reinforce his...delusions?,'' Tifa winced a little. Delusions sounded so harsh, but it was an apt description as any she supposed.
''Pressing him a little might be helpful,... maybe. I don't think thanking him is honestly gonna do anything bad or good to his state of mind, so you should do that,'' Aerith said after thinking it a little over.
''How about right now?,'' Aerith suggested.
''Right now?!,'' Tifa looked startled and then unsure,''If I go knock at their door, however softly, then everyone, except Barret, will wake.''
''I doubt we will die tomorrow, but I always believed that you should quickly share your feelings with those you love. At least this way, if you do die, you die with no regrets or at least with no words left unsaid. I suppose you can still have regrets even if you do say your words. So, go girl,'' Aerith told her encouragingly.
Tifa thought it over for a moment and then nodded.
---
Cloud opened his eyes, when he heard a knock at the door. He was pretty sure that the other, except Barret, woke up as well.
He sighed softly and then picked his sword before going and opening the door.
''Tifa?,'' Cloud asked her, whenhe closed the door behind him.
''Cloud,'' she smiled at him,''Could you follow me to the roof? I want to talk to you a bit.''
He nodded and then followed after her, and when she stepped on the balcony and up the stairs, disappearing behind the wall, Cloud winced and held his head. He looked down the stairs and widened his years.
Sephiroth?
He disappeared and reappeared in front of him.
''You saw me kill her five years ago. So who is she? Or the better question is. What is she?,'' he asked him and then disappeared the sharp pain in his head slowly disappearing as well.
''Hi,'' she told him kindly, when he finally did make his way up.
''Tifa,'' Cloud nodded, Sephiroth's word not able to leave him.
The two stood awkwardly around for a bit.
''So...,'' Tifa began.
''There is something I've been meaning to ask you,'' Cloud began as well.
The two stepped back a little and looked unsure of who should start first.
''No, you start first. Please,'' Tifa gave him an encouraging smile.
Cloud was silent for a brief moment.
''So, I saw your wound. Thinking about it, I'm surprised you are still alive,'' Cloud remarked and then let the sentences hang.
''Yes,'' she smiled and nodded,''Master Zangan was the one who found me, he applied some first aid. And then the doctors stitched me up and the nurses nursed me back. The fact that I am still here is a testament to your efforts and theirs as well.''
She looked confused after that. Yes, Cloud said that, but she didn't hear a question in his sentence. She frowned then and then widened her eyes as realization hit her.
''You think I'm some kind of impostor?,'' Tifa asked him hurt. She turned fully toward him and gathered his attention.
Briefly she looked unsure about how she could convince him that she really was not an impostor and then got an idea.
Cloud turned around after she lifted her tank top and sports bra up and saw her scar...as well as some of her under boob. He didn't want to risk blushing or getting thrown of his game, while also giving her privacy after he saw the scar. He grabbed the railing and let his hands rest there.
''I carried the scar with me ever since. As a reminder of what happened and who I am now,'' Tifa told him.
He lowered his head a little, but didn't apologize. For Tifa, who knew Cloud before, she knew what the gesture meant. She wondered when he grew to be so prideful over the years, because she couldn't fathom Cloud ever becoming like this, even if she knew people changed.
''Anyway. I wanted to thank you. In the end you did keep your promise. Remember?,'' Tifa smiled at him and leaned on the railing of the roof balcony as well.
''Yes. You wore that blue dress. With some green in it?,'' Cloud went along, now in a good mood. Tifa nodded.
''Thank you, Cloud. For saving me,'' Tifa told him sincerely.
Cloud looked at his palm and then clenched it into a fist.
''I just wish, I would've come to sooner, after Sephiroth threw me in a wall. Maybe then,'' Cloud sighed softly.
He was surprised by the contact when Tifa put her hands over his fists gently. He looked at her and she smiled gently at him. He was a little embarrassed by the contact, but allowed her to do her thing.
''You did enough. No one except yourself can fault you for what happened next. And you shouldn't. You did your best and that was enough. What more can anyone ask of you. Especially after you killed Sephiroth?,'' Tifa reassured him frimly.
''It clearly didn't stick. Because... of Hojo's Project Reunion? What was up with that?,'' Cloud asked her and wince after ward.
Tifa didn't fail to see his action.
''We don't know the specifics exactly. But Hojo was trying to do something, to bring him back. It seems in the end, he succeeded,'' Tifa kept it short.
''Yeah. And now Sephiroth is stronger then ever,'' Cloud remarked. What was up with that, by the way? And how did Hojo make it so that Sephiroth could control fate itself? Or at least the means, by which it was enforced?
''Yeah;'' Tifa agreed and looked down. Cloud felt her hands over his fist slack a little.
''I will stop Sephiroth again,'' Cloud reassured her quickly, to bring her mood back up.
She smiled.
''Not alone, you won't. This time you have more allied then just Zack,'' Tifa reminded him and looked him in the eyes. She kept it deliberately vague, so any details wouldn't make him spot any inconsistencies. It helped that it was the case, five years ago. Zack really was his only ally then.
''Right,'' Cloud nodded.
And then the two stood around a little, her hand still over his fist and the air began slowly turning awkward between them.
Tifa was the first to break contact.
''That is all I wanted to say and I'm sorry to have woken you. But it couldn't wait,'' Tifa explained to him.
''I'm not bothered,'' Cloud reassured her.
''Good. Don't be afraid to tell me, if I do something wrong. Good night, Cloud,'' Tifa softly told him.
''Night, Tifa,'' Cloud kept it brief wanting the awkward air to leave them. He watched her as she gave him a smile and then climbed down the stairs. He sighed and looked up at the stars.
Might as well make his way down as well.
---
Tifa and Aerith woke early. And while Tifa began cleaning up a little, Aerith spent some time communing with her variant about what their next steps should be.
Then they left their room and stumbled upon the others doing the same.
Barret and Zack looked dead when the stumbled out of their room.
''My back,'' Barret tried to stand up right and winced harshly,''Oh, my back.''
''Told you not to sleep in the chair,'' Zack muttered. He wasn't better off, but at least he didn't look like a bent twig that would break if someone tried to straighten him.
Cloud, Nanaki and Nox followed after them.
Nox squated and then bent his back backwards. They all winced as all his joints cracked loudly.
''Oh, that's the spot,'' Nox smiled and then stretched his arms and his shoulders, a loud pop was heard again.
''What?,'' he asked them confused when he saw how they looked at him.
''Nothing. So, what now?,'' Red asked them.
''Do you guys have money?,'' then Nox received nods he continued,''Then go spend some time in Kalm. For yourself or because you need to see to your gear, whatever, I will restock on everything we need for camping trips and the like.''
He handed Red some money because he was the only that didn't nod.
---
''Zack,'' Nox acknowledged when he followed after him.
''I wanted to talk to you about something. Remember what Cloud said yesterday?,'' Zack asked him.
''Yes. What of it?,'' Nox asked him. Aside form the fact, that the memory wasn't entirely accurate, of course.
''There were instances were he recounted things where he wasn't with me. Remember, he was that trooper. It makes sense that he knows some things accurately, because he accompanied us, but the confrontation in the basement and the reactor? I would dismiss it, if he didn't almost recount the words exchanged word for word. That... shouldn't have been the case, dude,'' Zack told him worried.
''Do you think Hojo did something to his mind as well? That he didn't just experiment on his body?,'' Zack whispered to him.
''Well, Hojo did try to bring Sephiroth back. Not someone like him, but him specifically. I suppose he could have tried to give Cloud his memories as well. Though how he would've tried to do that, aside from Mako I don't know,'' Nox reasoned.
''But... no way. Cloud is still Cloud, right? Even with all his memories jumbled, he is still the Cloud I rem- Eh, well. Almost the same Cloud as I remember, but ultimately still Cloud. Right?,'' Zack pressed him.
''Calm down. There is no reason or evidence to believe otherwise for now, so we can go with your assumption. But, do keep an eye out for him. More then we were already doing,'' Nox calmed him down.
''Right. Right,'' Zack nodded and then let out an explosive release of air from his mouth in relief. He began doing a few squats in the middle of the streets and gathered a few looks.
''Thanks, Nox. I needed that,'' Zack told him after he stopped doing squats.
''You're welcome. Want to accompany me on the boring task of ensuring our logistics?,'' Nox asked him and pointed with a thumb behind his back.
''And he disappeared like the wind. Guess him not liking to do numbers still hasn't changed,'' Nox sighed when the spot Zack was in previously was empty. A little dust cloud being left behind by his trail.
Nox sighed fondly, but then he settled his expression into one of neutrality as he resumed his task.
Well, he wasn't entirely sure when he told Zack that Hojo might've done some sort of memory transference with Mako.
There was another component that he never forgot after Zack mentioned what Hojo was trying to do.
S-Positive Jenova cells.
He could guess what the 'S' and 'positive' stood for, but he still didn't know what exactly Jenovas powers were. Just illusion? Shapeshifting? Or something more? Bodily enhancements and great magical powers were a surety, as Sephiroth demonstrated.
Nox frowned a little. The idea that Jenova cells could somehow influence minds was not too far fetched. He did get that ill feeling every now and then, when near her. Or her cells. Like Hojo. Or Nibelheim.
Could it be...?
Then should he...?
No. Too little evidence, but he will pay closer attention to Cloud.
And if he really was what he believed he was...
He'll cross the bridge when he gets there. So far he was willing to give Cloud the benefit of the doubt. He never triggered that ill feeling in him.
And speaking of ill feeling. What exactly was it? Another one of his powers? One linked to his second set of powers, maybe?
Who the fuck knew?
Nox sighed. Nevermind, he could spend a life time pondering, but if he didn't gather new information pondering is all he would do and never arrive to a conclusion.
It was a good thing, information gathering was one of his strength's then.
---
Nox paid the man and exited the food store. He ran some calculation in his mind and hummed to himself. Mhm, hmh, mhmhm. hmhmh.
Yup. Checks out. He was done. Maybe while he was already here, he might as well, buy some sleeping bags? That would do the others good.
He passed by the Materia store and gave it a glance. He stopped and hummed before entering it, with an idea in his mind.
After he exited it, he passed by another store again and entered that too. Kalm was surrounded by flowers. So they knew a thing or two about flowers. Which meant books on them. And seeds. Though, he discarded the idea about seeds for now. He just wanted a book on flower language for now.
After he bought it, he perused the book while STILL trying to make his way to the general store to buy the sleeping bags.
Lilacs = Young blossoming love.
Nox chuckled a little. So it was a little more then just a token of friendship. She could be so cute sometimes. Come to think of it, he should give someone a call. Biggs was more reliable. He could enter and water his Lilacs. Then again, Marle could do that in his stead since she had a copy of his keys as the landowner.
So long as he paid his bills, he should still have that home. Marco, his neighbor, was the same after all, even if he was a vegetable. He wondered why that guy had a number on his biceps.
Anyway. Finally he entered the general store and bought some sleeping bags too.
---
''Nox!,'' Aerith gathered his attention when he walked around the town a little. She quickly made her way over to him and held out two tickets in front of his face.
''Tadaa!,'' she declared.
''I can see that just fine without you holding it in my face,'' Nox looked past the tickets into her eyes,''What are they?''
''Tickets to the Clock tower. Wanna go with me on a small date?,'' Aerith asked him.
''Sure. I'm done grocery shopping anyway,'' Nox nodded.
-
''Midgar... should be that way,'' she made her way over and pointed. And indeed, a small part of the highest point of the Shinra HQ was still visible.
''It looks so small from afar,'' Aerith remarked.
''Trust me, it gets smaller the more you understand how big the world is. Until you realize we all are nothing but a single speck of dust in a big room,'' Nox muttered and looked at the sight too.
''Mhm?,'' she leaned her head sideways.
''Forget that sight. Look at this one instead,'' he grabbed her hand and dragged her to the opposite of the clock tower.
She gasped and leaned forward on the railing. The sun was rising up. The dawns light washed over the flower fields. To the left the ocean sparkled crystal clear. Birds chirped in the distance.
She leaned into him after she stepped back, before she fell down and over the railing.
''It's beautiful,'' Aerith commented.
''It is,'' he agreed.
After some time, he leaned down to her ear and whispered.
''White Lilies.''
''Hmm? Where?,'' Aerith asked him and looked closer to the flower bed. He didn't even bother to point as a matter of fact. But she wanted to see those flowers too, considering what they repre...sen...ted.
Aerith snapped her head towards him and he kissed her deeply while he dragged her closer to him by her waist. So early was it, that there wasn't really anyone up here with them.
''You...,'' she blushed a little. And not just because he kissed her and it was romantic, but because he caught her out on her lie all that time ago.
''You have no one to blame, but yourself. Should've talked more about flower language and/or been more honest,'' Nox teased her.
''I didn't think you'd be interested,'' Aerith muttered and buried her face in his chest to hide it.
''You should assume, but always verify. I'm interested enough to remember, at least. But you let me down so much, I just had to put in my own work to find out what each flower meant, so I bought a book since we are already here,'' Nox explained to her.
''Oh, shut up,'' she grumbled,''Throw the book away. Or at least give it to me, since you don't like wasting things and let me have the pleasure of teaching you flower language.''
She looked firmly up at him, daring him to challenge her on her demand.
''Oh. Well, I already read the whole book,'' Nox revealed.
''What?!,'' she sounded so dejected making him chuckle and she quickly realized he just pranked her.
''Here,'' he told her and handed her the book after bringing it out from his Store Materia,''I just skimmed through the book, looking for specific words. You still have much to teach me.''
''Good,'' she nodded determined.
She quickly gave him another kiss happy that he wanted to learn about her hobby. They spent a little more time and eventually made their way downward, since they had to meet up with the others.
---
''So, what now? Where should we even begin to hunt down Sephiroth?,'' Nanaki asked them. All of them standing around at the entrance of Kalm.
Cloud was about to make a suggestion, but Aerith beat him to it.
''I communed with the Planet. Sephiroth is hiding pretty well from here eyes, but she made a suggestion. We have the Black Materia. He will want it, and thus will come to us-''
''Like a well trained dog,'' Nox commented.
''Man, you must be insane to treat him with so much disregard,'' Barret pointed out.
''I'm not underestimating him. I just don't fear him, even if I fully acknowledge his power,'' Nox explained.
And that was mostly because of ROB. He remembered the air, when they first met. And he was a normalish human then. The presences of any other entity paled in comparison to that.
It wasn't just... It didn't feel like just an extension of power in the air. Quite the opposite in fact. It felt...like an abyss. Like no matter how deep he stared or how hard, NOTHING would bridge that gap between them.
EVER.
Aerith cleared her throat.
''As I was saying. Sephiroth will come to us. There is no need to chase him around. So instead, we should prepare for our encounter and grow stronger,'' Aerith continued.
''Ok? But how? Just going around killing monsters or also doing something specific?,'' Zack asked.
''That too. We should take some monster bounties wherever we go. To gather experience and also some money. But, the most important part is that we should go seek the WEAPONS to get their Huge Materia,'' Aerith told them.
''WEAPONS? I thought they were slumbering deep under the earths crust. At least the murals gave the impression,'' Nox commented.
''No actually. They are MUCH closer then most people realize. You just need to know what to look for, or pay close attention,'' Aerith told them.
''Wait, I heard the term before. But what s WEAPON exactly?,'' Barret asked her.
''The Planets response to Jenova. Her guardians. Massive Mako contructs that are there to eliminate any threat to her body,'' Nanaki explained.
''Pretty much,'' Aerith nodded.
''Ok and once we have them? What should we do with them?,'' Cloud asked her, feeling strangely agitated. Was it because he didn't get his way?
Aerith shook her head.
''She didn't say. But she said it was important and that we should go gather them, then she will explain more,'' she told them.
''Then the sooner we get to it, the better,'' Nox told them seriously and then smiled mischievously.
''Let's mosey,'' he said completely serious.
''Let's mosey.'' 5x.
They all looked at the one person who didn't participate in their call.
Cloud sighed feeling a little embarrassed. Could they stop making fun of him? They will never stop, will they?
''Let's mosey,'' he said anyway making them celebrate. He felt his mouth twitch, his agitation fading.
...
''As fun as that was, where should we go?,'' Red asked them.
''If we plan on traveling a lot, we need trusty companions. To the Chocobo Farm!,'' Aerith declared and walked out of Kalm first.
The others followed after her.
(A.N.: 6803 words. A lot of the next chapters will be slice of life or character interactions/ character development. I can't ALWAYS write a fight scene, since that isn't all there is to a story after all.
If you dislike that, then I will come back and leave a comment on THIS paragraph, telling you where the action picks off again.
That said, I hope you enjoyed reading it. Cheers and stay safe out there.)