3rd POV:
''So, I've been thinking,'' Cloud began.
''That is never a good sign,'' Barret commented and tried to swat a fly away from his face.
''Hilarious,'' Cloud dryly replied, his expression flat.
''Go on, Cloud,'' Nox encouraged him. They were all walking on roads and dirt roads to the Chocobo Farm.
''We're a pretty big team. If we all fight then we will get diminished returns from the experience the monster drops. We should fight in smaller teams and the rest stays back,'' Cloud suggested.
''That...is actually a pretty solid suggestion,'' Zack agreed,''What do you guys think?''
''I agree. Groups of four?,'' Tifa suggested.
''No. Groups of three. My grandfather told me that this maximizes the experience gain for each individual, while still giving one the advantage of allies by their side. Less and you lose that advantage, more and you get diminished returns,'' Nanaki explained to them.
''Pretty much,'' Aerith nodded.
''So THAT is why Angeal always suggested groups of three,'' Zack widened his eyes in realization. At least when it came to the third and second class SOLDIER's. For the first class it was more of a suggestion, but still a valid practice.
''You're only comprehending that now?,'' Cloud commented with a sigh. Did he never pay attention to the lectures?
Barret rubbed his chin in thought.
''And it is not like we can't jump in in case the main group ever needs help,'' he argued.
Nox hummed. They all looked at him and he was taken back a little. Yes, he said he was the leader. But he wasn't that strict about it, compared to the time he was the leader to his army. They were his... friends.
''Cloud, made an excellent suggestion. I have nothing else to say,'' he patted the guys shoulder.
''Oh, oh! Can I go first? Pretty please?,'' Aerith ran in front of them all and then batted her eye lashes.
''Sure. You, Red and Barret. I'm actually curious how Red fight's since we didn't see him in that much action against Sephiroth,'' Nox nodded.
''Hell yeah. Let us show you how it is done. You just stay back and be in awe,'' Aerith celebrated.
''Suit yourself,'' Nanaki said and walked to join her, Barret just after him. The three of them walking a few more meters in front of them.
''Actually, I DO have something to add to Cloud's suggestion. We should not sit idle. We can go over information regarding Sephiroth and other stuff OR we can spend our time coming up with new techniques or the like. Basically, so long as we don't sit completely idle and risk stagnation that should be good,'' Nox reasoned, the rest of the party slowing down a little as the main party engaged in combat with some Orcs.
''Oh man,'' Zack slumped his shoulders.
''I know. Thinking is dreadful,'' Nox teased him making Cloud's mouth twitch and Tifa giggle.
''Quit complaining, Zack,'' Cloud added.
''Easy for you to say. Thinking is boring,'' Zack huffed and pulled out his swords, walking a little away from them, and began doing some sword practice.
---
They made it to the Chocobo Farm after only a few hours of walking. Of course, there was some fighting. But most of them were weaklings. They did get some experience thought. And they established that Red was a pretty strong fighter.
''And there it is,'' Nox pointed out.
''Let's go then,'' Tifa enthusiastically told them and ran forward, the others following after her.
-
''Choco Billy,'' Nox shook his hand in greeting.
''Hello, you guys. Taken care of your business in Kalm quickly, I see,'' Billy commented.
''Yup. We are here to rent some Chocobo's for us to travel around the grasslands. Going on an adventure as a party, you see,'' Nox told him.
''Hmm,'' Billy lifted his cap and scratched his head a bit,'' Something tells me that this was not a decision made out of the blue.''
''It wasn't,'' Cloud told him and crossed his arms to look threatening. Billy just chuckled instead.
''Well, I didn't live this long by sticking my nose in other people's or my customers business. So, have it as you will. That said, unfortunately, I can not rent you any Chocobos, since I don't have any,'' Billy told them.
''Could've fooled me,'' Barret looked around at the Chocobos on the farm.
Billy shook his head.
''They are already sold. And NO,'' Billy quickly added, before anyone could say anything else, mostly Nox,'' Stella was not part of that transaction. They tried, but she kicked the buyer and jumped the fence to run away. I did tell him that she wasn't docile so he couldn't blame me for what she has done.''
Nox relaxed a little. But only a little, since he noticed a distinct lack of Stella present on the farm.
''How long ago was that and why hasn't she returned?,'' Nox asked him.
''She started camping nearby in the woods since then, with the other wild Chocobos. Come's by every now and then and then leaves. Smart girl, really,'' Billy told him,''You can find her there, BUT since you are already going there, you should talk with my grandson, Bill. Just because there are not Chocobos to rent or sell does not mean that we can't offer you a solution. You can find him over yonder in the barn.''
They nodded at him.
''Thanks, Billy. Sorry for any trouble she may have caused you,'' Nox told him while the others already began making their way over to the barn.
''Nah, don't worry. She was a delight to interact with. It was only a few days ago, she started acting like that and I'm sure she would have returned after a while by herself. It really was no bother,'' Billy assured him and Nox nodded.
...
''Hmm,'' Bill rubbed his chin,''Well, If you REALLY need Chocobos then you can capture some yourself. With a Chocobo Lure. Only ten thousand Gil for one,'' Bill told them with a smile.
''That is day light robbery!,'' Barret snapped at him with shock.
''Basic 101 of business. Set the first price very high and then lower it, to seem more 'reasonable'. But it will still be above market rate,'' Nox informed them as he walked up from behind them.
Bill chuckled a little abashed at getting caught.
''You can't fault me for trying to make some Gil,'' Bill shrugged.
''I can't. But getting caught did make you lose a customer. If it's a Chocobo Lure we need then I already have one. Although it is unmastered,'' Nox told them and brought it out.
''You kept it all this time?,'' Bill said surprised.
''Never had the heart to throw it away, even if I didn't see any use for it,'' Nox shrugged.
''I'm taking that! Chocobos, here we come!,'' Barret grabbed it from his hand and began walking away. Or he would have, if it wasn't for Cloud holding him and making him walking in one spot.
''But you do NEED to get them outfitted,'' Bill pointed out cheekily.
''Huh. Guess, the house always wins, in the end,'' Nox joked.
''Exactly! But seriously this time, 500 Gil for each Chocobo that will need to be outfitted,'' Bill informed them.
''Then ready your purse for once we return,'' Nox told him.
''You mean my wallet?,'' Bill huffed.
''Same difference.''
---
''No! Cloud don't leave us for your new flock,'' Zack wailed and fell to his knees. He cried out to him in despair.
Cloud shot him a flat unimpressed look as several Chocobos flocked around him and pecked at him. The others already had their Chocobo mounts, except Nox, and now it was his turn to hold the Lure Materia. The moment he did so, several Chocobos approached him in curiosity and with far greater ease or less resistance then they did with the others.
''Perhaps Zack was onto something, when he suggested that Cloud has a Chocobo head,'' Nanaki commented.
''He was definitely ON something, alright,'' Cloud muttered under his breath.
Tifa and Aerith giggled at the sight.
''Alright, blond guy, you had your fun. Now pick one and let's get them outfitted,'' Barret ordered.
''And as a matter of fact, how long will it take for Nox to find his girl?,'' Barret added after a while.
-
Finding her proved to be easier then expected.
Nox landed in a small clearing in the forest near a dark blue feathered Chocobo. The moment he did so, she was startled a bit, since she was eating, but then she quickly recognized who it was and rushed him.
Like always, Nox allowed himself to be thrown to the ground and allowed her to 'nest' him, by putting her weight on him.
''I missed you too, girl. Much as I would love to spend more time like this, I promise if you get off me now, I will have some good news to share with you,'' Nox told her.
As always, she was far to intelligent and seemingly as if she understood him , she got off of him.
''So,'' Nox let her perk up in anticipation a little as he spent some time dusting himself off,''My time in Midgar is over for now and a while to come. Which means that you and I and a few others will go on an adventure. Like old times, just without only the two of us.''
Stella perked up and chirped.
''Yes, you heard that right,'' Nox reassured and grunted when she jumped him again to press her breast into him in a sort of hug. She gave several joyful chirps.
''Now, now. We can celebrate later, but we are on a bit of a timer,'' Nox patted her neck a few times till she reluctantly broke off the contact. He climbed on her, made easier by the fact that she lowered herself in sheer anticipation.
''Shall we then?,'' Nox asked her.
She chirped and bolted.
-
Barret was startled when Nox and Stella jumped from behind some bushes.
He opened his mouth to introduce the others to his pride and joy, only for him to leave his mouth hanging as he saw Red riding on a Chocobo.
He pointed at them with a confused disbelieving expression.
''What?,'' Red asked and turned around to look behind him.
Nox eye twitched as the other looked behind Red as well. Were they all just going to treat that as completely normal? A DOG riding a CHOCOBO as if it were the most natural thing in the world?!
Nox sighed, when they looked at HIM as if he was the weird one when they didn't find a threat.
''Guys, Stella. Stella, guys,'' Nox introduced them lamely and turned her around. Cloud climbed on his Chocobo as well, and those who were grounded doing so as well. Riding them without riding gear for short distances was fine. And the Farm wasn't far away from here.
''Let's get them outfitted,'' Tifa tried to clear the awkward air by talking. The others nodded to her.
Nox just sulked more.
A dog riding a chocobo.
What was next?
A fish flying in the air?
Nox scoffed a little.
As if. He had yet to encounter any such creature in all his travels.
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''So, now that we have our means of transportation, you said something about us seeking out the WEAPONS and Huge Materia?,'' Tifa asked Aerith as they were riding their Chocobos leisurely.
''As a matter of fact, what EXACTLY is a Huge Materia?,'' Zack added.
''Huge Materia is... well, it is a little more complicated.,'' Aerith looked as if she was trying to find the right words.
''All Materia are a crystalisation of people's knowledge and memories. And all Materia are a form of representing the Lifestream. Only writ small. Huge Materia are the same. Only the represent the Lifestream in a bigger way AND any spell you cast with them is hundreds of time more powerful with only a little more mana needed then the spells from mastered Materia, like Firaga for example,'' Nanaki explained.
''Essentially. Say a Firaga melts a rock, the same spell cast from a Huge Materia will evaporate the rock and then scorch and melt the surroundings as well,'' Aerith added.
''Well, now it makes sense why we would need them,'' Zack muttered.
''And as for seeking them out...?,'' Aerith trailed off and then began praying.
''The closest is the Emerald WEAPON,'' Aerith opened her eyes and told them.
''Then let's seek it out,'' Cloud concluded.
''Except it is also the hardest to reach. It rests at the bottom of the ocean and did so for so long that an entire ecosystem formed around it. The Planet doesn't want to wake it until it is ABSOLUTELY necessary, so we would have to find a way to it,'' Aerith put a stop to their enthusiasm.
''Well, damn,'' Barret commented.
''How BIG are WEAPONS anyway?,'' Nox asked.
''Mountain sized,'' Aerith told him.
''Damn,'' Nox immediately shot out.
''Although, it does depend on which WEAPON you are talking about. They are different sized ones, with slightly different purposes, but the same goal. So not all of them are dormant either,'' Aerith added.
''Then, if not the Emerald WEAPON, which one should we seek out?,'' Tifa asked.
''Mmmm, the Ruby WEAPON. We need to go to Cosmo Canyon for that one. It is the farthest, but also the easiest to get to,'' Aerith told them.
''Well, would you look at that. That is were I wanted to head to,'' Nanaki reminded them.
''If we need to make our way to the other continent then Junon would be our best bet,'' Cloud told them.
''We'll make our way there. Eventually,'' Nox assured him. They still needed to gather experience themselves. Well, he needed to come up with new techniques since he already was very strong.
''But...,'' Cloud began.
''No. He is right. Sephiroth wants us to chase him and set the battlefield. We will deny him that,'' Aerith told them.
''What if he meets us at the places where we go to get the Huge Materia?,'' Zack asked.
''Then we battle. We can't prepare for EVERYTHING, only most of it. Unfortunately, we will have to wing it a little every now and then,'' Aerith told them.
''How comforting,'' Nanaki dryly remarked.
''She is right. With Sephiroth being able to see the future, even if the Planet and the Arbiters deny him the full usage of that ability, we can't prepare for everything. Only most of it. If you don't like it, then just bite down your frustration. I know I am,'' Nox told him.
Red sighed.
''Then it is decided? We go to Junon?,'' Zack asked him.
''Yup. Eventually. First, let's see if Kalm has any bounties,'' Nox told them.
Zack graoned.
''Doesn't sit right with me, but sure. Let's go,'' he said.
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Nanaki cast an ice spell to ground the Quetzalcoatl and stop it from flying in the air. Meanwhile Aerith made a dome around it, so that Tifa and he could use their new attack that they came up with.
They both jumped to the wall and then pushed themselves away from it, both delivered a strike and then jumped back, before repeating the process a few times more times. The two of them bouncing around the dome, almost like, and while doing damage to the massive bird.
Eventually they jumped away when the mako dome ended and Aerith finished it off, by making ice spears erupt from the ground and finish it off. It burst into mako and dropped a few things.
''We finally got the thing,'' she said as she picked up the feather.
Apparently it was needed to give the melting process some new properties and coat the metal in some sort of coating after it was poured in a mold.
...Or something. Most of it, honestly flew over her head.
---
''Tadaa!,'' she presented the feather to the contractor.
''Oh, thank you. With this I can finally make the missing piece and start this wind turbine again,'' she told them.
''Are you trying to produce electricity?,'' Nox asked her rhetorically.
''Yes. These were leftover relics from the Old Junon Republic. After Shinra beat them in the war, they fell into disrepair. I'm hoping that by doing this we can find alternatives and rely less on Mako,'' she informed them.
Aerith and Tifa made an approving sound.
Nox meanwhile hummed.
He wasn't disapproving of her efforts. But they didn't produce that much electricity and wind wasn't always available so it was an unreliable energy source. All that metal could be used for better stuff AND wind turbines took up considerable space.
THAT SAID, it was still better then Mako Reactors AND it could be used as a stop gap, a band aid, till better sustainable energy sources were created. Afterwards the metal can always be repurposed.
Does it take effort and money.
Yes.
But the alternative was doing sloppy work and letting the planet die.
Hmm.He never got around to investing and making new energy sources, because he was too busy with statesmanship and drawing up the legislature of the new kingdom, while keeping everything calm.
He wondered if Florentine got around to fixing that.
Meh, who cares? He was focusing on the here, now.
''Now, that is what I'm talking about?'' Barret pumped his fist,'' You think you can make them for every other place?''
''First, we will need to see if they work as a proof of concept. Unfortunately, on that front, I'm pretty much flying blind,'' the contractor told them.
''Then we wish you all the best and good luck. Stick it to Shinra, will you?,'' Barret told her.
''I'll try. Oh! And could you pay Broden a visit and tell him that he should... I don't know. Pay me a visit so that we can travel around, like we used to in the past,'' she handed them the money and a few extra for the extra bounty.
''Sure,'' Zack replied.
---
''I...am no longer in any shape to travel around. Unfortunately,'' Broden winced.
The others looked at him a little weirdly. He stood up and was talking about needing to go somewhere to reunite with someone only to then fall back down from pain.
''Are you alright?,'' Zack asked him.
''...No. I used to be in SOLDIER, you know. I'm suffering from degradation,'' Broden chuckled weakly as he saw Zack's and Cloud's expression,''Don't look that panicked. Maybe you are one of the lucky ones, who don't suffer from it. It is always a coin toss, however.
I was so proud when I was offered to be a part of a secret experiment.''
Broden sighed.
''If only I knew what I was getting myself into. And now? My youth passed in the blink of an eye and I'm more brittle then people twice my age. Don't take your youth for granted,'' Broden coughed after telling them that.
''We won't. In fact, we are no longer with Shinra,'' Zack nodded firmly, feeling a little unease settling in his guts from what Broden told them. Degradation was a risk he was aware off, but...
He slacked his shoulder.
''You know, it took me a while to notice. But there is a faint scent of Hojo clinging on to him,'' Nanaki commented.
Broden blinked.
''You can talk? Nevermind. Dumb question. Yes, you would be right. Hojo was the man that did this to me,'' Broden confirmed.
''Then you can rest easy knowing he is dead,'' Cloud tried to comfort him.
''Good riddance, I say,'' Broden chuckled weakly.
''Here, take this. They will be wasted on me, with my broken body. Use them better and more wisely then I did,'' Broden gave them two Materia.
They said their goodbyes and exited the inn.
---
''What is degradation?,'' Tifa asked them while all of them were out and camping.
''The process that made us SOLDIERs... it can cause cellular breakdown. Very few SOLDIER#s make it to old age. And it is not just because we constantly put ourselves into danger,'' Cloud explained calmly.
The fire crackled and the logs cracked. Some cinders flew into the air from the small explosion.
They ventured a little too far and didn't make it in time back to the inn, so they gathered some logs and put their sleeping bags near and around the fire. Aerith and Nox lied in the same sleeping bag, since she wanted to.
Nox didn't mind too much.
What? He wasn't about to complain that his lobster was too buttery and his steak too juicy. She was his girlfriend, of course he didn't mind.
''Then why the hell did you two numbskulls decide to go through with the process anyway?,'' Barret asked them with disbelief.
''When you go to war as a boy, you have a great illusion of immortality. Other people get killed, not you... Then, when you are badly wounded the first time, you lose that illusion,'' Nox spoke into the sky. Aerith tilted her head from his chest a little to look at him.
''Oh?,'' Nanaki perked up,''A philosopher?''
Red could recognized it from the tone that it was a quote.
Nox shrugged.
''I dabble,'' he replied making Red purr a little.
Red did love his conversations with his grandfather about all kinds of topics. And he was often encouraged to talk more with other people to get different perspectives aside from his grandfather's. Though Nanaki failed to see what anyone could teach him, aside from his grandfather no one was wiser. But still.
''But, you won't have it right?,'' Tifa asked him hopefully.
Cloud's eyes moved back and forth, unsure what to say.
''Of course not,'' he reassured her. The truth was, there was no way to know. It really was a coin toss.
He felt he did something right, when Tifa seemed to relax a little.
''Man, forget all this heavy stuff. The stars look beautiful tonight,'' Zack tried to change the topic.
They spent some time to look at them.
''They really do,'' Tifa agreed making Cloud hum.
''Since we are already looking at them. What do you think the meaning of life is, Nox?,'' Nanaki asked him a little eagerly. Maybe if he DOES follow his grandfathers advice he can learn some new perspectives, unlikely as that was, and impress his grandfather when he reunites with him.
''The meaning of life?,'' Nox asked him making sure his tone sounded confused, as if he already knew the answer and was perplexed that Red didn't already know it.
''42, obviously,'' Nox told him dead serious.
Inside he felt a little bad for pulling Red's tail to prank him, but he couldn't help but prank him anyway. He was no software engineer and he did not know how to code, BUT he did stumble upon this joke. Apparently *42 was a placeholder in coding for 'anything'.
The joke was that the meaning of life was whatever one wanted it to be.
While it was a prank, it was also coincidentally what he ACTUALLY believed in.
Nothing is true. Everything is permitted. So ergo, aside from science which needed to be viewed objectively, one could make the 'truth' whatever they wanted to be.
''42?,'' Nanaki asked slowly in confusion.
''Ugh, not again,'' Zack whined.
''What?,'' Aerith asked him.
''Sometimes he just busts out terms and phrases that make no sense until much later. Like cringe. It took me so long till I gathered from context clues that it is supposed to mean awkward or embarrassing. Or Jesus fucking Christ, which I still haven't found out what it means,'' Zack explained.
''To be fair, you did embarrass yourself constantly in the village. You were kind of the village clown,'' Nox replied.
''It's called having fun. And I was totally not the clown. I was the most popular guy,'' Zack defended himself.
''The most popular in getting clowned on,'' Nox rectified.
''Why did I ever hang out with you again?,'' Zack asked him playfully. They were just bantering.
''Because to your peanut sized brain, I was somehow cool. It certainly takes some mental gymnastics to equate the village pariah with a cool person,'' Nox chuckled in good nature.
''You were the village pariah?,'' Cloud asked him curiously with interest.
Aerith perked up too.
''Yup,'' Nox shrugged,''They saw me as a freak, because to them I was an albino and albinos were weird. The adults were fine... Mostly. Except the ones that whispered my mother cheated on my father. The children either avoided me all or were cruel. Except Zack, for some reason,'' he explained.
''I liked how calm and collected you were no matter what they said or did to you. More of them saying something, because you always put them in the ground with minimal effort when they tried to get physical,'' Zack added.
''Meh. It was just some application of a few techniques. Not much strength was required,'' Nox shrugged.
And humiliation. Attacking someones pride was always a way to get someone to back off... or earn an enemy for life who wanted to kill you.
''Is that why you left? Because you were the village pariah? Did you want to spare your parents the whispers? Lot's of people thought you dead, your parents mourned you and your father searched for your body in the forest to bury you until I left for Midgar. Maybe he is still searching,'' Zack turned his head from the night sky to look at Nox.
''Do you regret what you did to your parents?,'' Barret asked him.
''Nox?,'' Aerith asked him in concern, when he didn't answer for a while.
''They were good people. Are. But sometimes...one way of parenting is not compatible with the child. They were too protective and no matter what I told them, they weren't listening. I was being suffocated,'' Nox lied. He could hardly tell them that he left to grow in power and fulfill ROB's task, not could he?
''But... your parent's,'' Zack trailed off.
''Sometimes you can't win at life, Zack. You can do everything right and still lose,'' Nox shrugged.
''Were you lonely while in the village? Were you terrified when you left?,'' Cloud asked him.
''Not really, to both questions. I guess I had Zack. And remember what I said earlier about illusions and getting hurt? It took me a LONG while till that illusion shattered for me,'' he said. Not really a lie. The illusion shattered when he was young and finally comprehended what death was. Then it returned because death didn't stick to him like it did to others. (Except old age) And then it shattered again when he grew a little older and matured more and he comprehended that death was ABSOLUTELY not the worst case scenario that could happen to him.
Getting captured was.
Of course, now the illusion returned again, because not even that was a worry anymore since he could chose his checkpoint and use his Mako Strands to kill himself at any time.
Quite a roller coaster.
The conversation kind of deadened after that and they all began to slowly go to sleep.
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''Come on, Cloud. Let's spar. Go through the sword stances or stuff,'' Zack suggested one day after they completed another bounty.
''Sure, why not?,'' Cloud agreed.
They walked some way away from the camp and entered their stances.
The others were hanging around the fire, while Aerith and Tifa tended to the food, since it was their turn this time. Barret and Red conversed about something and Nox looked in contemplation down at the ground, while Stella ate her greens sitting near him.
He didn't have enough Mako to do some of the stuff that he did in Midgar. Certainly not enough to use his Mako Strands effectively as armor ON TOP of also reinforcing his body. It would be nice if he could do both, but no. And if he did the armor without reinforcing his body he would be turned to mush from the centrifugal forces inside.
So, he had to create a solution for that. Problem was that he really couldn't come up with something and he spent the past few days thinking really hard about it too.
He slumped his shoulder and made to join the others, it seems that he would have to set a checkpoint (after ensuring it was safe and no fond memories would be lost) and then kill himself. So. Many. Times.
That should build up his reserves and allow him to have both.
Till he spotted something in the corner of his eye and he looked up in the tree. Between the twigs, a little spider worked tirelessly to spin it's little web and build it's trap.
Comparatively to other of it's size, it was pretty cool and amazing how it used something so thin to trap others of it's size. Then again, he heard that the tensile strength of web was enough that if it was made as thick as a rope an entire airplane could be pulled by it without tearing.
Minimal resources, for maximum application. Or something.
Minimal...resources...for...maximum application...
He didn't have enough Mako Strands to have both the armor and the reinforcements. And that was because the bigger something was, the more mass was needed to make it dense and hard to penetrate.
So... why not work with little objects? After all, they would need less mass to become dense.
Especially since he already had the control to do it and was already doing it INSIDE his body. The Mako Strands going through his body were SMALL. He could replicate that outside his body. Of course that means going all in into offense with the Mako Strands that he wasn't using to reinforce his body, but... he could still kill himself and grow his Mako Strand reserves. Then he would have the body reinforcement, the armor and then razor sharp invisible means of attacking his opponents.
If he had a nickel for every time an insect gave him a ground breaking idea in how to apply his powers, he'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it is weird that it happened twice.
The good kind of weird.
He should pay more attention to nature to get more inspiration
He created a Mako ball in his hand and then began 'unfurling' the ball into hundreds of smaller strands, into thousands, into tens of thousands, into millions.
He spotted a rock and flexed his fingers a few times.
Then...the rock began falling apart into small cubes.
Nox smiled a little to himself in satisfaction. Even if a part of him wanted to slam his head into something, because it took him this LONG to finally come up with the technique. He HAD the control, after all the Mako Strands in his body were small, he just failed at using it differently.
''What did you do?,'' Nanaki asked as he walked over to him and inspected the rock.
''Followed natures guidance. Ask and she shall provide,'' Nox pointed at the spider web and then sliced another rock into tiny cubes.
''I...am not seeing anything,'' Nanaki pointed out, feeling a little creeped out.
''That is the point,'' Nox commented.
Just... how far could he take it, though?
Could he make it so thin that it splits an atom?
Ergh.
Probably best not to try it here with all the others.
Thinking about it, he remembered having watched 'The three body problem' once, with... them. He still vividly remembered how that boat was sliced at a nano-molecular lever or something. (Physics never was his greatest strength.)
The boat wasn't 'cut'. Their atomic binding was undone, that is how thin the wire was.. Or so the explanation went.
And this was a fantasy world so it MIGHT be possible.
''Remind me never to make you angry,'' Nanaki requested.
''What?,'' Nox was distracted with his thoughts, but brought back.
''Nah, don't worry. I'm not that kind of guy,'' Nox reassured him.
''Comforting,'' Nanaki replied dryly.
The other's didn't notice much of what he was doing or about what they talked about.
Nox suited that just fine either way.
''Guys, dinner is ready,'' Tifa called out to them making Cloud and Zack stop sparring and walk towards the camp fire.
But more experimenting and brain storming could be done later. For now he was hungry.
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''Say, why do you growl like that when people talk to you? You don't need to tell them you can talk, but why that growling?,'' Cloud asked Red after they were the main party, alongside Tifa, handing in a bounty.
They hunted down a special wolf, called the White Terror that terrorized and sometimes snatched the cows from the farmers. Red's nose was a little weak, because of his time spent in Midgar, but it was getting better. He and their chocobos helped immensely in tracking the wolf down.
''It gets tiresome to watch strangers go through the same surprise every time they hear me talk. So, I simply pretend, until I can't be bothered or I am too curious not to speak up,'' Red explained.
Cloud hummed.
''Fair enough,'' he said making Tifa giggle at their interaction.
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''Guys, there is a Titan Summon not too far from here,'' Aerith told them as they were riding on their chocobos.
''Already got one. Unless someone wants a spare?,'' Nox told them and held out a red Materia. All of them shook their heads. There wasn't really any reason in their minds to have a spare summoning Materia, unlike all the other types of Materia.
''Oh...,'' Aerith said dejected.
''Is there any Materia you DON'T have?,'' Barret asked him.
''Well...a few of them. Materia I didn't know existed for example. Like Huge Materia. Holy and Meteor count too, technically. Since one I can't use and the other is not mine, so I might as well not have them, metaphorically speaking,'' Nox answered.
''I REALLY want to know where you all traveled,'' Barret pressed him.
''Like I said, maybe one day,'' Nox playfully replied to him making him huff.
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''No, Cloud, you are holding it wrong,'' Zack tried explaining, once during their spar.
''I'm not,'' he defensively replied.
''Well... no, you aren't,'' Zack agreed making Cloud frown.
''I'm just... trying to say... How big are your?! Tall, I mean,'' Zack asked him.
''What does that have to do with anything?,'' he got even more defensive in response.
Zack wanted to rip his hair out. Why was he being so difficult compared to the type of guy he was before the Nibelheim incident?
''Nox, help me out?,'' Zack requested when he spotted him in his periphery observing a centipede.
''Huh? Sure, what do you need?,'' Nox asked him and made his way over.
''So, I'm trying to get something across to Cloud, but he is too stubborn to get it,'' Zack explained.
''Ok. Continue,'' he instructed. Cloud crossed his arms and watched them converse.
''His form isn't bad. It's just...the SOLDIER standard training is not the right kind of fighting style for him. I'm just trying to get it across, that he should make some adjustments so that he tailors the fighting style more to something that would suit him individually,'' Zack explained.
''My fighting style is fine,'' Cloud told them.
''It was the same thing Angeal did with me,'' Zack reasoned hotly, starting to get impatient. He has been trying to broach this matter for a while now.
''Cloud come here, please,'' Nox requested and summoned his Mako Sword.
He sighed heavily and approached with some caution.
''Hold your sword out and block my attack. I'm not attacking, just trying to get something across,'' Nox explained.
Cloud did so and Nox pressed his sword against Clouds. Edge scraping against edge. For a moment things seemed fine, but then Nox began pressing the blade harder against Clouds own and eventually he began pressing down.
They disengaged.
''Did you notice what happened?,'' Nox asked him.
''You're stronger then me?,'' Cloud asked him and put the Iron Blade on his back.
''Wrong. Let's try again. But first, how tall are you?,'' Nox asked him.
Cloud crossed his arms and remained stubbornly silent for a bit.
''1,73,'' he replied after a while.
Nox nodded. That was perfectly fine, but both here and in his old world that was a little below average.
''Most people are taller then you. So, as you NOTICED, when you fight taller people then you, they can press down on your blade. You may have a SOLDIERs strength, but these small centimeters make a huge difference. Because I can use gravity to my benefit and you have to work against it.
So, what Zack is trying to say, is that you should play to your strengths. Speed and agility. You already dance around the battlefield, so dance more. Am I right in assuming that you will only make small adjustments to his stance?,'' Nox asked Zack at the end.
Zack nodded resolutely.
''Well, there you have it. There is no harm in trying it out at least. No?,'' Nox diplomatically argued with him.
''...No. Fine, let's get this over with,'' Cloud said.
Zack groaned in relief.
''Thank you, Nox,'' he called out and followed after Cloud to their new sparring spot.
''You're welcome.''
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''I say we hung out enough in the Grasslands. Should we move on to the next spot? Junon,'' Zack asked them.
''Hmm. Sure. Why not. We can either make our way through the mountains. I would NOT recommend that. Already did that once. Or make our way through the swamps. We would have to deal with the Midgar Zolom then, but that shouldn't be a problem and then we can go through the Mythril Mines,'' Nox suggested.
''The Midgar Zolom is dangerous,'' Barret pointed out.
''At our level?,'' Cloud commented.
''Let's not get ahead of ourselves or else we'll get a big head. And no one wants that. No?,'' Tifa asked a little playfully. Cloud slumped his shoulders.
''I'm not against it. It could give us quite a lot of experience in any case,'' Aerith agreed.
''Urgh, fine. But if anything goes wrong, I reserve to tell ya ass, 'I told you so','' Barret complained.
''Fair enough,'' Nox nodded.
The mountains weren't THAT bad, but he did make a promise all that time ago, considering the sheer amount of time that thing killed him.
''So, who will fight it?,'' Aerith asked.
''I will, together with you and Tifa,'' Nox informed her.
''Why so sudden? You haven't been in the main party since we set out from the Chocobo farm,'' Nanaki asked him.
''You needed the experience more then me...and I made a promise to myself long ago. That I will absolutely destroy the Midgar Zolom,'' Nox explained.
''How did it wrong you?,'' Zack asked him.
''It nearly killed Stella here,'' Nox leaned forward on her and stroke her long neck. She chirped in agreement.
And it killed her and him a few times.
''So, am I to understand that we will be sitting back even if we are in the main party?,'' Aerith asked him.
''ONLY for this one. There are no other monsters I made such a promise for,'' Nox reassured her.
She huffed.
''Fine. Go have your fun all by your lonesome then,'' Aerith pouted. It has been a while since they fought side by side. Ever since Sephiroth. She missed it.
''I will,'' he promised her.
''You weren't supposed to admit it!,'' she complained petulantly.
''No? Sounds like a you problem,'' Nox joked and urged Stella on ahead.
---
''Careful. It supposedly stirs at the slightest disturbance of the water,'' Barret told them from the back, from afar.
''Is that so? Then don't mind if I do,'' Nox jumped from Stella and jumped into the water. Barret threw his hands up in frustration.
Contrary to what they expected, it was not the Midgar Zolom jumping out of the water with Nox in it's mouth that they saw. It seemed more like...the Midgar Zolom was thrown onto the land. Nox jumped after it.
The Midgar Zolom hissed at him and readied to attack.
Nox just snapped his fingers and flexed them a little. The Midgar Zolom stopped in it's tracks and then began falling apart, it's body sliced into tiny cubes. After a while it burst into mako particles and was absorbed by the main party.
Nox turned to them and gave them a confident smile.
''Yeah. Yeah. You're strong, we get it,'' Barret huffed.
''What was that?,'' Cloud asked him.
''A new technique I developed. I wasn't sitting idle all these times I wasn't in the main party, you know?,'' Nox told him and then shook his head fiercely.
''In retrospect, jumping in may not have been the brightest idea,'' Nox remarked and removed an algae from his shoulder.
''You think?,'' Aerith deadpanned and then sighed. She cast a strong Aero spell on him to dry him and blow the greenery away from him. He would probably smell a bit, but once they are outside the mines, it shouldn't take too long till they are in Junon and he can take a bathe.
''Thanks. 'Ppreciate it,'' he thanked her and climbed onto Stella.
''Shall we then?,'' Nox asked them.
''Sure, but I still want to know what that was,'' Barret demanded.
''You know how I can make big Mako tentacles? Well, picture that, but much smaller to the point it is naked to the eye. They are pretty sharp, as I've demonstrated,'' Nox explained.
''The best defense is a good offense?,'' Aerith put it in perspective.
''Pretty much. Yeah,'' Nox nodded, the conversation descending to other topics from there between them all.
And he already tested it out, his hypothesis, about splitting atoms. But only after he set the checkpoint and had no memories to lose, because there were none to lose. He left them and flew away and did his experiments somewhere safe-ish.
It worked.
(A.N.: 7016 words. Hope you enjoyed reading it. Cheers and stay safe out there.)