"Emilio, Tyler, Lester, this is dangerous! Tifa's heading toward Mt. Nibel! Grandpa said it's not safe—the bridges aren't properly maintained! We have to stop her," Solon says, his voice tinged with fear.
"We already tried. She thinks her mother went to Mt. Nibel, and she wants to visit her. Let's just follow her and make sure she's okay," Emilio explains.
This sounds like a terrible idea! You guys are gutless! Don't just go along with her madness!
Tifa presses on toward Mt. Nibel, leaving the town behind her. The remaining Three Fiends and Solon follow, unable to convince her to turn back.
Should I use force to stop her? I… don't know!
They reach a point where the path narrows, becoming increasingly treacherous. "Sorry… I can't do this," Lester says, turning back toward the village.
A few minutes later, Solon glances over his shoulder to see Tyler walking away as well, his face filled with guilt.
Finally, Tifa crosses a small, rickety bridge. Emilio stops and says, "I'm sorry, this is insane! I can't risk my life! I'll… I'll get help! Solon, try to stop her!"
Are you serious?!
Solon darts across the bridge, trying to catch up to Tifa, who's approaching an even longer and more dilapidated bridge. He notices Cloud trailing behind them, having secretly followed the group.
Just as Solon looks back at Cloud, he hears Tifa scream. She loses her footing and slips through the open side of the bridge, barely clinging to one of the wooden planks.
"SOLON, PLEASE HELP ME!" Tifa screams, noticing Solon, her voice filled with panic.
Solon sprints onto the bridge, reaching down desperately to grab her hand. He manages to catch her, but as he tries to pull her up, a section of the bridge collapses. Tifa falls, and Solon slides down with her, barely holding onto a sharp, broken plank on the side of the bridge.
His hand is already cut and bleeding, but Solon manages to desperately cling on using all his strength.
"SOLON, TIFA!" Cloud shouts, his face pale with panic as he rushes toward them.
No, the weight! He can't come too—the bridge won't hold!
"No, Cloud, don't—" Solon tries to warn him, but it's too late. Another part of the bridge gives way as Cloud steps onto it, and all three children tumble into the ravine below.
Solon hits the side of the ravine, slowing his fall before sliding down to the bottom. He lands hard but quickly sits up, his eyes scanning the sky above.
Ouch… that hurt… but not as much as I expected! The Bronze Bangle from Grandpa is working. I wonder what would've happened if… no, wait! No time for that. Tifa and Cloud!
Solon scrambles to his feet and looks around. He sees Cloud sitting on the ground, his pants torn and his knees bloodied, but otherwise unharmed.
Then he spots Tifa lying motionless on the ground.
"Tifa!" both boys shout in unison, rushing to her side. Cloud tries to shake her, but Solon grabs his arm.
"Stop! Are you stupid? Don't move her after a fall like that!"
"Why?" Cloud asks, confused.
"It's part of the first aid training my father made me do when he was trying to get me into SOLDIER. Just listen to me—I know what I'm doing! It's important not to move her head," Solon says, recalling the countless lessons and books on combat, first aid, and military training his father had forced on him.
Solon carefully positions Tifa into the recovery position, taking extra care not to move her head.
"We need to get help. I hope Emilio calls for help, but I don't fully trust him. He might be too ashamed for abandoning us and may just decide to wait for us in the village," Solon says.
"That bastard. Tifa's so-called friends all bailed. They can't be trusted!" Cloud says, clutching his knees and wincing in pain.
"You're hurt too, Cloud. See, this is why this thing is so cool!" Solon says, holding up his Bronze Bangle.
Solon makes a quick decision. "You stay with Tifa. If something happens, gently drag her to safety, but be careful with her neck. I'll try to find a way out and call for help."
"No, I'm going!" Cloud insists, but his knees buckle as he tries to stand.
"No time to argue!" Solon says, already heading south toward the village, hoping to find a quick way back.
It takes Solon over an hour to search the southern part of the ravine, but he finds no way out. Every path is blocked by towering, unclimbable rock walls or leads further down into the ravine, where he can't see the bottom.
I can't risk jumping down there! What do I do? I have to go back.
Solon returns to the bridge where they fell and finds Cloud sitting silently beside the unconscious Tifa. He sprints past them, not wanting to worry Cloud further.
He then heads north, searching for any possible escape route.
Shit! I don't see any way out here, either! What do I do?
Solon begins to panic as he nears the end of the northern ravine. Suddenly, something catches his eye.
A cave… I need to risk it!
Solon steps into the cave, but the darkness quickly swallows him. He can barely see his own hand in front of his face, the only light coming from the entrance and a few small holes in the ceiling.
The computer with the scanner Grandpa gave me! I hope it isn't broken from the fall!
Solon turns it on and is relieved to see the high-tech scanner still working. He notices it has a built-in light and quickly activates it.
Yes, it works! Thanks, Grandpa! The Mako batteries are fully charged too—this should last for weeks!
Solon uses the scanner's light to navigate the dark cave, moving cautiously.
Don't be scared. This is just an empty cave!
Suddenly, he hears something move. He points the scanner toward the sound, and the display immediately lights up:
[Nidhogg Scale]
Note: Component taken from a Nidhogg, a snakelike creature often found in caves. They possess venomous fangs and can poison their prey by biting them or spitting toxic secretions. Their scales have various uses for ….
Oh, shit! Don't tell me…
Solon recognizes the Nidhogg slithering toward him and immediately turns off the light, running in a random direction.
He hears the creature hissing behind him and sprints as fast as he can. The cave narrows, and just as he feels the walls closing in, he notices a faint glow ahead.
THERE'S LIGHT! AN EXIT!
Solon runs toward the light but slams into a wall, pain shooting through his body as he stumbles forward. The wall collapses under his weight.
Ouch! Why did I run into a wall? And why was there light coming from behind it?
Solon looks back and sees no sign of the Nidhogg. Relieved, he steps through the newly opened entrance and walks toward the light source.
Inside, he finds a green glowing orb resting on a rocky surface, surrounded by strangely shaped green crystals. More green light oozes from the ground, gathering around the orb and crystals.
NATURAL MATERIA!! MAKO CRYSTALS!! A MAKO SPRING!!! It's coming through the ground!
Without hesitation, Solon grabs the orb and rips the crystals from the rock, stuffing them into his pockets.
He activates his scanner, and it reads:
[Poison and Petrify Materia - Unprocessed]
Poison… and Petrify? Both? These must be rare Materia on their own—how can this one contain both? I didn't even know Petrify Materia existed, and Poison is rare too, according to Grandpa! This is a treasure!
Shit, I want to explore more, but I need to leave. The Nidhogg could still be around, and there might be more! Plus, Tifa needs help!
Solon leaves the hidden chamber and begins searching for a way out of the cave.
It takes him hours to navigate the winding tunnels, but he finally stumbles upon an exit—only to realize it's the same place he entered.
Tears stream down Solon's face as exhaustion overwhelms him. His clothes are torn and filthy, his arms and legs bloodied, and his body covered in dirt and dust.
I'm sorry… Tifa, Cloud…
Solon trudges back to where he left his friends, only to find them gone. In their place, he hears voices shouting, "SOLON! SOLON, WHERE ARE YOU?" A large ladder hangs down one side of the ravine.
Gathering his last bit of strength, Solon walks toward the voices, relief flooding through him.
— [Scene Break] —
"We… we fell! Solon went to look for help," Cloud stammers, shaking and unable to defend himself.
"Tell me again, Cloud—this is serious! More details! Why were you even heading toward Mt. Nibel?" Mayor Zander demands, his voice a mix of worry and anger.
"Wait, this isn't helpful. My Cloud would never let harm come to his friends," Claudia Strife says, clutching her son tightly.
"It's that boy's fault my Tifa is in this state! And he abandoned Solon!! HE'S STILL MISSING!" Brian Lockhart screams, his face gaunt and sleepless.
"First, my wife, now Tifa and Solon. I can't take this anymore! It's this boy's fault! EVERYTHING!" Brian's voice cracks, his expression almost crazed.
"Now, wait a minute… Brian, let me take you home. You need to focus on Tifa for now. This isn't helping anyone! Mina, help me escort Brian home. Solon's a smart boy—he'll be fine!" Mason says, trying to sound calm, though his face is pale and stressed, the life seemingly drained from him.
Suddenly, a group of villagers burst into the Mayor's office, one of them shouting with a grin, "He's safe! He was wandering in a cave inside the ravine for hours, trying to find a way out to call for help. He's exhausted, but he's fine. That rascal even managed to escape a Nidhogg in the cave. Give him a few days of rest, and he'll be back in your workshop, old Mason!"
"Now, that's the spirit I expect from a boy his age! He's only seven, but he's showing real promise," Mayor Zander comments.
Mason clenches his fists, his face lighting up with relief. The color returns to his cheeks, and he seems to grow decades younger in an instant.