3rd POV:
Nox dodged the Crown Lances tentacles and cast a fireball in its mouth. It died with a screech before dispersing into Mako. This one marked the end of this group of enemies.
Nox let out a deep sigh and then looked a around the battlefield.
One) the sense Materia was pretty damn useful in describing the enemies. Much better then just calling them tentacle monster or yellow penguin or god knows what else. But to be fair, there are also traditional monster like Cockatrices. He fought one no too long ago. He even saw a Chimera once, but staid far away from it.
...
Which... how did that even work? Did the Planet name these creatures? Maybe there was something to it, Nox supposed, when some people said the Lifestream was alive.
No matter.
Point is, the Sense Materia was a tool of convenience.
Two) ... for the sake of his sanity, Nox was just going to assume that the monsters dropped Gil sometimes, and ONLY sometimes, because they ate some random traveler. As well as some other items as well.
It doesn't happen always, but every now and then he was pleasantly surprised. This time the Crown Lances dropped nothing.
So he had SOME money. Which was better then nothing.
He did notice that the more dangerous an enemy the more likely they are to drop Gil.
That said.
He didn't fight too many enemies that were powerful.
Yes, he had grown bigger in body. And yes, for some reason killing enemies seemed to grow his mana reserves and he could cast spells with Materia... but his body was weak. He had the technique and the experience to kill most monsters anyway, but he couldn't do that all day.
He lacked endurance, he lacked speed and durability.
Like his Mana reserves killing monsters seemed to increase these parameters, albeit in a much smaller increment then with his Mana reserves.
(He was just going to assume that the very Mako that empowered the monsters, was absorbed by the slayer of the monster, because everything seemed to be made of Mako here. Then again Nox was no scientist, so what the fuck did he know? These were just his observations.)
Again, better then nothing, but NO WAY was that enough to defeat the Big Bad that ROB talked about. Nox had no idea what ROB was exactly, or who this Big Bad was... in fact he didn't actually know pretty much anything about the danger this world faced.
But whatever it was, as he was now, it would be not enough.
And even if it was.
He could always do better, after all.
(As for his Mako Strands? He hadn't really made any significant progress with them after discovering that the number kept growing with his deaths. And he TRIED after parting ways with his sword trainer. But he didn't make any new breakthrough.)
''Stella, danger's gone. Come back,'' Nox called out and dispersed his sword made out of Mako Strands.
A happy chirp came out and the Chocbo sprinted out of the nearby forest not too far away. She immediately nuzzled him as if to assure herself that he was fine...
These creatures are far more intelligent then Nox initially believed. He petted her beak gently in greeting.
Nox looked up at the sky. By now it was pretty dark, the sun just moments away from going under the horizon. Well, in that case, it was time to make a camp here at the beach. Nox pulled the luggage off Stellas back and began arranging everything.
...
Stella ate the food out of his hand, while he was brainstorming.
Maybe... he could join Shinra? Yes, he did not like obeying authority, but that is what acting was for. And he was nothing if not a good actor. Had to be, with him being constantly on the run during his early days of 'insurrection' or whatever else the previous government called. In his old world, that is.
Nox hummed. Supposedly SOLDIERs were much faster, stronger and more durable then normal humans...
But Nox didn't know. It sounded like an easy way out and for some reason whenever he thought about Shinra a feeling of... animosity surged in him. Sure he did not like elitist, but they haven't done anything personal to him (not these ones), so he was (or should be) apathetic to them. Not... these feelings instead.
Nox hummed again, but then quickly snorted and shook his head when Stella chirped at him in concern from all the humming. He directed her by the back to her food and she obeyed.
Fine. He will put the thought in the back of his mind for now and sit on it.
---
Nox was lying on the lush grass somewhere a while away from Fort Condor. Stella too has tucked herself in, sitting close by to him. Both were enjoying a brief respite from their travels and in Nox' case battles as well. The wind picked up. The sun shone down on them. The air was fresh and clean.
...
Maybe he should consider Shinra a smaller Bid Bad? Assuming he didn't die after fighting the real Big Bad and ROB did not immediately snatch him up after doing his job here, he would get to enjoy his peace here. But what good is saving the planet going to do, if it is going to die a long drawn out death afterwards, anyway?
Nox raised his hand and opened his eyes now that his hand was blocking out the sun. He starred at his hand in contemplation. Was he really going to overthrow another government? Even back then, he didn't do it for the people, for he owed them nothing, but out of a personal vendetta.
He supposed he could get powerful enough, marsh to Shinra HQ in Midgar and clean house. It will certainly be a bloodbath, but it will solve both his desire for peace and the security of this planets future, while also keeping him far away from any leadership position and its responsibility...
Then again. Shinra owned the world here. Unlike in his previous world which was not the case, even if it seemed so at times, because of how much they DID own and influence, Shinra built a world wide infrastructure and support net. He would need to kill SO MANY people that no one could take over the remaining government system or rebuild from the ashes. And at that point...
Nox shook his head and with it his morbid thoughts.
It was a small dilemma that he needed to solve.
Because this? ALL this lush green grass, the flowers, the forest... it would be gone. Midgar is not the only place where the Mako Reactors kill off the surrounding flora and fauna. Fort Condor was just like Midgar to an extent, for the Reactor was smaller then the one in Midgar.
It was why he found himself in those thoughts anyway, but no matter. That is a problem for future him, present him gets to have a nice relaxing rest after hard won battles...
Nox released a soft sigh through his nose as a butterfly landed on his fingers. He kept them still, so he wouldn't scare it off. He watched its antennas twitch and its proboscis extend to touch his finger, seemingly seeking it for food.
Nox looked at it in wonder and envy. Had thing splayed out differently, he would have wished to become a biologist. No idea what profession exactly, but something with biology definitely.
Nothing of the sort occurred and he learned that sometimes dreams just don't come true. Ever.
It was his biggest regret... and now it was too late for his interest died out. There was simply too much baggage attached there.
If his father hadn't died of cancer. If his mother didn't get cancer and commit suicide. If he hadn't insisted that he wanted to look for a job and take care of his mother...
If.
If.
If.
The world did not care for 'what if's'. It cared only for what was. What if's merely made for nice academic debates for intellectuals to pass their boredom.
Nox released another soft sigh.
Look at him, being all philosophical today.
For some reason, he decided to extend one singular Mako Strand to the butterfly. It hasn't left in a while, long enough that his arm was starting to get a little tired from blocking out the sun, and was strangely insistent with the way its proboscis just searched around his finger for something.
It immediately began inspecting the Mako Strand, the proboscis touching it a little, but then it flew away, either not liking the taste or determining that he really did not have food after all.
Nox hummed and then let his hand rest... for about two seconds. Then he bolted up in a sitting position as an idea struck him like lightning.
Stella looked at him curiously and chirped.
''Stella, I may have found a solution to my problems. Let's go,'' Nox stood up and climbed on top of her. She obediently began sprinting in the given direction.
---
Why just use the Mako Strands offensively, when he can use them defensively. Especially if they can't be disconnected from his body.
Nox starred at the shimmering green gauntlet. He dismissed his armor, but the gauntlet he kept because it was the only one he could inspect with his eyes carefully.
It was... not the success he wanted it to be. Sure it protected him. Very well, in fact. Especially the denser he made his gauntlet. He looked around the previous battlefield. They were some tougher enemies he had sought out, some Stingers, and none of them really did any damage to him. So in that sense they did not even pose any trouble or challenge to him...
But he couldn't change the color, always a shimmering green, thus the armor was not inconspicuous AND it did not fulfill it primary function, so when he eventually looks for the Cetra he would attract FAR too much unwanted attention.
It's primary function was supposed to be to enhance his speed, endurance and durability. And he supposed strength too, but he cared more about the previous three.
Instead it felt more like his body was a passenger and he controlled the 'suit' with his mind. It was... an experience difficult to put in words.
The point was, that it wasted time. He could move his body. He could keep his focus on a shape. But then to ALSO make that shape move WHILE keeping track of his surroundings and enemies?
The only reason the Stingers haven't skewered him, was because the armor tanked the damage that good. But being a sitting or slow moving duck and relying on only one attribute for him to secure victories sounded like a recipe for disaster.
Nox starred at the strands in frustration.
Honestly, he wasn't even entirely sure if his deaths really did grant him the Mako Strands. It was not like he could be 100% certain, because ROB said so. Anything he did 'conclude' would always be accompanied by a shadow of doubt.
How was he supposed to get stronger, or apply his powers more creatively, if he wasn't even sure if that was how his powers worked?
For all he knew, he could have used the wrong formula to somehow arrive at the correct solution anyway.
Nox bitterly remembered that ROB said he would let him figure it out, because it was more entertaining this way. Well... at least one of them was probably laughing.
(Honestly? Despite being frustrated, Nox did not hate or dislike ROB, because he was SO unapologetically direct and straightforward with his intentions. And that was something that he, while not necessarily respecting it, appreciated. He always knew where he stood with the other person and did not need to fear betrayal or abandonment, because he immediately knew what to expect from them.)
But Nox would have to get stronger, because saving the world did sound nice. Not because he had an ego, but because it would be a terrible shame to have such a colorful world be eradicated.
Nox sighed and began brainstorming again.
...
...
!!!
It would also solve the problem of the inconspicuousness of the armor.
Nox brought out the Mako Strands again. Then he set a checkpoint, just in case it went horribly wrong.
Instead of manipulating them outside... why not manipulate them inside his body? They would retain their shape, with some flexibility, but the would not waste time and attention, because they would move with the body. Be under his skin at all times active, hidden unlike his armor, and provide his enhancements 24/7. Frankly the more he was thinking about it, the better it sounded. He doubted that there was any danger of Mako poisoning, it was after all HIS own Mako...
Well, no matter, he was going to take the risk.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say. And he really needed to make some progress on that front, Nox felt like.
Nox took in a breath and then released to calm himself.
Here goes nothing.
Nox watched as the strands parted. For once they did not gather to condense themselves into a shape, instead they seemed to try and make themselves as small as possible, to the point he barely could see them anymore and just felt them.
Then the tips settled on his skin... and pushed inside.
Nox gasped in shock and collapsed on the ground as his arm was on fire, for a brief moment his world went dark too. Stella ran over to him and began chirping in concern, desperate to try and do something for him.
It was... like a toothpick, or a splinter that entered someones body. The damage was localized, but the pressure caused pain that shot through the entire appendage. It was the closest way Nox could describe the sensation in the moment.
There was ... pressure inside his arm. The strands did not push forward much, maybe only a few millimeters, if even that and yet the pain did not just shoot through his arm with the pain originating from his fingers. It coursed through his entire body...
It was agonizing. Unlike the pain of any death he ever felt before...
After some while, when the pain slowly began to settle... he pushed again and gave a small grunt. Even his pain tolerance would not stop him from hiding this pain. If this experiment was a success then hopefully, the pain would subside and dull or people will notice.
Then he pushed a third time and found himself flat in the dirt again, his muscles tense.
He blacked out again.
He decided he would stay on the ground, instead of standing or sitting up.
He pushed the Mako Strands again.
...
He started the experiment a little before dusk and kept it up through the entire night. Come Morning, he was a panting pathetic wheezing mess that was moaning in pain every now and then. He was absolutely drenched in sweat, a small wet circle having appeared under him. Some spot, like his back, had to enjoy dry sweat as well, because not all sweating spots were created the same and he was pretty dehydrated by now.
Stella did not stop chirping with worry since he began, eventually her chirps turned sad.
Nox blinked, the dirt nearly getting into his eye and he sighed. He stopped his experiment by now and just let his body rest.
The pain was still there, but it was thankfully dulling. The pressure, not so much. He could FEEL something under his skin, it was uncomfortable and made him want to scratch his skin off. Like ants crawling under his skin, in his blood streams in his eyes and legs and arms and the brain itself...
One part of his brain screamed that it was an invasive body that needed to be gotten rid off.
But his other part of the brain felt... good. Really good. Powerful even. The 'new nervous system' interlaid among his new nervous system, coursing through his muscles, bones, skin...
It was a strange sensation. He was both in pain and weakened, yet felt on top of the world, powerful and even euphoric, the more the pain dulled.
Nox could already tell that the experiment was a success.
The question now was only by how much?
With a small grunt he picked himself off the ground and scwoled.
He reeked and needed a bath... and a change of clothes, which meant he would have to clean these clothes too.
Stella came over to him and gave him a worried chirp, not minding his state while pushing her beak into his chest in affection.
''Don't worry, I'm fine Stella... More then fine in fact. The pain was well worth it. Sorry for making you worry like that, but look on the positive side, I can now defend you and myself better,'' Nox told her while stroking her neck.
Stella gave a small chirp as if disagreeing with the pain having been worth it. Nox' heart was moved at her concern, but sometimes ... it was what it was.
''I know, I know. Come, I'll clean myself up and then we can go engage some monsters to see how much stronger I have gotten,'' Nox patted her and then began packing the camp. They would need to turn back since the passed a river not too long ago, but no matter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Nibelheim Dragon spat some fire at him, Nox used a Mako wing to shield and deflect it and then side stepped the dragons attempts to slam his tail on him. He used his sword spear to pin the tail into the ground and then dodged another fire, as the dragon screamed in pain and anger.
His dodge sent him into the air, where the dragon tried to grab him from with it's maw. It promptly received a powerful Bolt down it's throat and further a knee to its face when it flinched.
The dragon screamed in frustration and then decided to suffer the damage in it attempt to flee. It ripped its tail open by pulling away from the sword spear, the spear stuck to deep underground for it to not suffer this kind of damage. Then it tried to fly away.
Now, Nox could have flown after it with his Mako wings, but instead he decided to bully that thing and grabbed it by its remaining tail and slammed it into the ground. The bones of one of its wings snapped.
Nox decided to put the thing out of its misery, during it brief incapacitation and moved with a blur to pull his sword spear out of the ground, shooting in a straight line past the dragon.
He flicked the sword spear from any remaining blood and earth as the dragons head fell off and the dragon burst into Mako. Then he collapsed the spear handle into a sword handle and sheathed the sword at his side.
Stella loyally came over to him upon his whistle, not minding the snow and cold all that much. As always at his behest, she stayed far away from his battles.
Nox petted her, then pocketed some of the money dropped by the dragon and climbed on top of her. Finally they began making their way over to the Reactor in Mount Nibel again. He already skipped the town.
The people of Nibelheim were alright, he supposed. They all walked like they had a gun pointed to their head...
Either they feared outsiders or something more sinister was going on. If the fancy strikes him he will explore the town more properly, but as it was he just passed through and spent a day at the inn.
While Stella was making her way up the mountain, Nox could not help but think about the last few years.
His experiment was more then just a success. It blew all his expectation sky high in surpassing them... phenomenally. He had no idea how he fared against a SOLDIER, especially not a First Class. And especially against that Sephiroth guy. Not that it mattered, for he gathered in passing while on one of his rare visits to a town that almost all of the First Class SOLDIERs died, Sephiroth among them.
(Curious as he was on how someone that was supposed to be very powerful died, he was currently focused on getting more powerful. He mostly kept his ears out for dangers that could lead him to Big Bad.)
He didn't need to see how he fared against Sephiroth anyway. The monsters since his experiment ... were just weak. And he started engaging a lot of powerful and dangerous enemies since then.
Oh, they still killed him, but that was because he was not attentive or distracted. And it was rare. He started needing to intentionally kill himself again, whenever he wanted to grow his Mako Strands in quantity.
He gathered a few Materia, he mastered a few Materia.
He discovered, through experimentation, that he liked using a sword spear. He knew how to use a long sword, but monsters always were just so troublesome when one got too close to them. It was not that he couldn't defend himself against claws, magic and god knows what else with his sword. It was more that they were evasive and he needed to hunt them down, the extra reach just proved so useful and convenient.
Ergo sword spear.
He gathered some funds and materials and brought the things over to the same blacksmith that his previous sword trainer brought him and then had him smith the weapon according to Nox' sketches. The blacksmith was insulted, saying that it would make him forge a faulty weapon, since it would easily break because it would be so hollow inside. But after some back and forth he finally relented and began making that sword spear.
Nox wanted a long sword that could be expanded and collapsed into a sword spear. The blade itself was exquisite, the blacksmith had not complains about that. It was the handle that insulted the smith. When it was a long sword, the handle would be fine since it was filled up. When it was a sword spear and the blade was extended, like a baton, the inside was hollow.
That is where his Mako Strands came in. It supported the structure by filing out the insides of the handle. By all accounts it was a weapon for him, by him that could only be used to its full potential through him.
All that was left was to learn how to fight with the sword spear. Techniques, stances, that kind of stuff. It wasn't too difficult since using the basics taught by him by his previous sword master he could make a proper style for himself.
He also learned that he COULD detach Mako Strands from himself, but only in simple shapes. These shapes lingered and could not be controlled from afar, before they returned back to him after a while.
It was the ONLY reason why he dared throw his sword spear, otherwise the monsters would break the handle/ shaft.
Still working on controlling Mako Strands away from his body, but so far he hadn't made any more progress on that front.
He learned how to fly, by making Mako wings. He didn't use them too much. And only at night. For now he still wanted to stay off the radar of anyone, Shinra or otherwise, even if he was powerful enough by now.
There was no such thing as overkill after all.
...He also didn't want to abandon Stella, while he flew away god knows how long.
He did fly off to an unmarked island on the map, once. And picked up a Knight of the Rounds Materia. It was a powerful Summon. Which... he didn't really use, because most monsters die from his own strength anyway and it would be wasting his Mana reserves. Still, always nice to have that extra kick just in case he encounters something that is not enough by his lonesome.
He also, once again, couldn't think of ROB playing a morbid joke on him. The pain over the Mako Strands inside him dulled to almost negligible levels. But each time he died a jolt of intense pain coursed through his body again and lingered. Which lead him to believe that the Mako Strands 'stored' and 'remembered' the pain of each of his deaths and made him experience it all over again individually or at once. Maybe ROB was playing a joke on him, maybe he got it all wrong and that was a deterrent so he wouldn't throw his humanity away or some such.
So, yup. Nox went down the memory lane and reminisced about his past. He had nothing better to do anyway, while Stella carried them across the plains.
---
Something was... wrong. The moment Stella stopped and he got off not too far from the Mako Reactor this feeling would just not leave him alone.
Like he shouldn't be here.
...Not like an uninvited guest, but danger...
...
That was one of the things Nox noticed as well. Every now and then a feeling would settle in his body and he had no idea where it came from.
Was it his powers?
Or was it normal to the physiology of these world people? As in, had they all such a powerful gut instinct?
It was not always easy to interpret these feelings, sometimes they were there, but so small he could not make heads or tails of them. He assumed the danger was not too great every time that happened.
''Stella, stay here,'' Nox instructed. She gave a worried chirp, like she herself not wanting to be here.
Nox decided to enter the Reactor anyway.
---
It was dim, the lights either having broken down or not being turned on at all. But there was no dust, which mean someone was here recently or was living in it. Nox was mindful of any cameras as he advanced, not that it mattered since he planned on killing himself after exploring anyway, but with the feeling of previously he would be more cautious then he already planned on being.
There were no terminals. But he did find some papaers about Subject C and Subject Z...
The papers talked about Reunion, but did not specify what Reunion was.
If anything, the papers did not talk about much at all. Nothing he WANTED to hear at least. Whoever this scientist was, kept incomplete records and/or filed most of the stuff in his brain. He received more questions then answers by reading these papers.
Something about S Positive Cells as well, and both specimens not showing promise...
Human experimentation? Nox made a face of disgust. At least he could claim to have it done purely on himself. But he doubted anyone was so eager to be experimented on.
...Transport? Of what the 'specimens' or something else? Out of inconvenience to continue experimenting here?
Transport where? Midgar, the Shinra HQ? Nox seems to have gathered another reasons to go to Midgar after all this time. First to see if they have records on the Cetra and now this. Could this be linked? Were the Specimens Cetras?
...
He stopped reading the papers.
If the papers talked about transport, then the 'Specimens' are here. Maybe something else as well.
Should he rescue them? Even if they weren't Cetras, maybe they could offer some insights on what the hell this experiment tried to accomplish. If the scientist was dumb enough to gloat at his 'specimens'.
...
Nox decided and advanced, seeking to rescue the victims.
Eventually he stumbled upon a peculiar room. There were egg shaped constructs and a stair leading up to a heavy door.
'Jenova'? Nox read above the heavy door. That was new and not mentioned in the papers. Would Specimen C and Z be there as well?
First he decided to take a peek through the window of the egg shaped construct.
?!?!
Why were they housing monsters? Was this the result of the experiments? Where they human once?...
Nox slowly looked at the heavy door.
There were no guards, not cameras, no transport vehicles, papers that were incomplete or gave spare information...
Nox did not pull out his long sword this time, instead he made a Mako sword spear, the slightly dark room being bathed in a small hum of green light.
This was a failed round anyway. Depending on what he found on the other side, he would not be returning here again, even if it meant letting Specimen C and Z to their fate. He would not gamble the world in a fruitless attempt to save two people.
Opening up the door proved more difficult then it had any right to be. Eventually he swung his sword spear a few times with multiple lines appearing across the door, before it crumbled into tiny cut pieces.
Nox stepped forward, the room housing some tanks, Mako tanks by the looks of it. He could see several people inside them and not well at that. They were all facing him with the back, Nox would have to walk around them to see their faces. But the most interesting thing was the tank in the middle. All these cables leading into the ... being. It was missing a head...
Wrong...enemy...
Nox pushed the feelings down, not that they returned a tenfold.
Nox carefully stepped past the door rim.
At once, multiple dark shadowy ghostly entities surrounded him. Hundreds. Thousands. An uncountable number. Nox moved like lightning, cutting down a few of them, but they were simply too much.
They grabbed his arms, his legs, his chest, his head, every part of his body was grabbed.
Nox noticed that they were not trying to kill him. They were pushing him!
Mako Strands exploded from him latching onto everything around him. He pulled himself back to the door, both parties straining themselves to accomplish their task. Eventually even more of these ghosts appeared, trying to grab his Mako Strands and detaching them from whatever they latched on to. Some of the Mako Strands began spinning, slashing everything around him, now that he could no longer move his sword hand.
While they did cut through the ghost, again, more just took their place.
So... he could not kill them, he could not pull himself back, because more and more appeared and even his strength did not prove enough, and they clearly where trying to get him to that person in the middle of all the Mako tanks for some reason.
If that wasn't a trap, if there every was one. One that SURELY would not have severe repercussions, if these ghosts accomplished whatever they wanted to accomplish.
So he killed himself. He could live without answers for a while. Specimen C and Z would have to manage on their own.
He pierced his heart and brain with Mako Strands for the quickest death.
The ghosts desperately tried to get his body to the being in the tank anyway, but alas, just before they could make contact...
...
Nox found himself back before entering Nibelheim. He pulled the rains on Stella and brought her to a halt. Nox starred up at the mountains for a while in contemplation.
He never did learn who the scientist conducting the experiments there was. But he did find out some things. Jenova. Human Experiments. Words that meant something.
The more time passed the more it seems that all roads lead to the same destination.
Midgar.
Midgar will hold his answers. By now he should be powerful enough, Nox starred at the mountains again, powerful enough for most things. If nothing else, this encounter taught him that he needed to grow even more powerful.
There really was no such a thing as overkill, huh?
For all he knew, this was the Big Bad he needed to take care off.
...It knew or suspected about his ability. Or at the very least it wanted SOMETHING from him or else it would have killed him.
...But before, he goes to Midgar he had one more thing to do. He put that off for long enough anyway.
He turned Stella around and began making his way south.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''The 'Calamity from the Sky','' Nox read off the mural, guessing and hoping that his weeks of hard work paid off.
He was in the Temple of Ancients. After a ... embarrassingly amount of puzzles, traps, monsters and labyrinths he finally arrived at, what Nox reasoned, to be the chamber that needed protection and defending... or something in here that needed protection and defending.
Getting the Temple open was surprisingly easy. He just formed the Mako Strands into the shape of the key, at the entrance, and inserted it.
Also, since he came here, Nox was pretty sure whatever these feelings were, were not gut instincts. Why else would he feel 'home' and 'sad'. Gut instincts only warned of dangers.
He spent some time reading off the mural, trying to translate these glyphs into modern words. Thankfully, the fact that there were mostly paintings on the wall meant that he didn't need to decipher every word.
But a meteor falling down from the sky? That seemed important so he he decided to see what significance it held.
''A meteor crashing into earth, harming Mother Gaia and doing significant damage to her. The threat... of a bigger Meteor?,'' Nox asked perplexed, muttering to himself.
Why were there talks of two Meteors? As if the first tried summoning the second.
Nox continued to read. Eventually he was forced to decipher all glyphs and symbols or else he would be left with more questions then answers. Again. This took another few weeks of his time.
...
''She came wearing our friends faces, our brothers and sisters, our families... then she spread the sickness. Wait... are they implying 'she' was the meteor? 'She' was the 'Calamity from the Sky'?
The Cetra and the Calamity fought... while the planet was making weapons... Weapons? What weapons? Shit, it doesn't say.
Cetras were dying of sickness, Cetras were dying of battle... but they managed to seal the Calamity and Weapons... Weapons? Or WEAPONS? They talks as if they are ... entities, children of Mother Gaia or something. Not A weapon, but WEAPONS. I don't know, man.
WEAPONS... I guess. WEAPONS never saw use and slumber in hiding in and on the planet. Damn, that is some heavy lore drop. I never encountered one so, they must be hiding well.
The Calamity was sealed before she could cast... Meteor. But her sickness remained and her arrival did enough damage that Mother Gaia would need years to recover...
It doesn't say where they sealed her. Probably for the better, in case anyone was dumb enough to seek her out and unseal her.
As for her sickness, it remained. And picked off most of who remained. Maybe even all, if our people are unlucky.
So THAT is why Cetras died out. Humanity just lucked out that only one 'race' was affected. So there was no war between them, I guess? Then again, I really hope Cetras are not dead and Shinra has information on them. THIS seems like the Big Bad, maybe it is even connected to these ghosts and Jenova... The Cetras will be sought out and if I stay near them then I'm sure to encounter the Calamity. Either way a Cetra is my best bet to determine my next step...
Anyway.
Meteor was a Black Materia. Cetras took it and hid it here so that none my threaten Mother Gaia like that again...
They probably couldn't destroy it or else they would have,'' Nox muttered to himself away pacing back and fort.
It didn't escape him either, how there was no mention of this 'Promised Land' that he knew Shinra was looking for.
Listen. He had to leave Stella at the entrance. He set the checkpoint while the two were together anyway, so in case something happens, even if he didn't want anything to happen to her, she will be fine. Then again, she was very good at staying out of danger so he wasn't too worried.
Spending weeks all alone, pouring over walls and trying to make sense off everything did things to a man. Mentally. Talking out loud helped him.
''The Black Materia... It is here. Should I take it? The Temple protected it for, what, thousands of years, hundreds of years, I'm not entirely sure what is correct here. It did a good job, so it can continue doing a good job.
BUT!
Danger in the form of Big Bad Evil Guy is approaching or else I wouldn't have been born NOW. There is no guarantee it WILL stay protected. If it is with me, then I can guarantee it's safety more... but then how will I put it back? There was some magic involved in all of the traps, there is no reason for me to assume this won't be the case with the Black Materia as well.
Decisions... decisions...,'' Nox muttered again to himself.
Now that he was thinking about it as well, he really wanted to learn what the name of this 'Big Bad Evil Guy' was. He was just calling them this way because ROB called them that and he had no better name for them. But personally, he just didn't like the name all that much, because it sounded like Nox was treating this like a game.
It may track with ROB, whatever he was, he was clearly a god and that attitude seemed to fit... or maybe not, Nox didn't know ROB well enough. Maybe he WAS taking his job, whatever his job was, seriously and that is why he sent Nox down here.
He probably couldn't interfere himself, godly laws and all that...
...Again, Nox had no idea what was right our of all his assumptions.
Maybe ROB was taking his job seriously, but learned to have fun along the way.
HE DIDN'T KNOW. GIVE HIM A BREAK.
...
Yeah, Nox can see why people say complete isolation is mentally damaging, which is coming from him who already hears voices in his head. He didn't really have that problem up till now, with Stella by his side.
...
Better make his decision and then delta.
After some more back and forth, he decided to take it with him after all and activated the mechanism. He expected a final trap so it would be good not to end this 'round' to early anyway.
Huh? Again, there were feelings, like what he was about to do was dangerous... Which he fully expected. But since, it wasn't the same feeling as in the Mount Nibel Reactor he proceeded anyway.
Uhh, everything was shrinking.
Wait! Could it be...?
...
Stella gave hims a chirp as he found himself back at the entrance of the Temple again.
''I'll be back in a moment, Stella. Stay here for a moment but run away from danger, if any comes your way,'' Nox instructed. Already he could feel his mental exhaustion from all the isolation dissipate just a little.
Absolutely ingenious. The Temple WAS the Black Materia. A final defensive measure for anyone who would be trying to get the Black Materia. Buuuut he had a solution for his problem.
Again he opened the entrance, again he made his way through the traps, monsters, puzzles and labyrinth again until finally he arrived back at the chamber housing the Black Materia again. Then he attached some Mako Strands at the mechanism that would activate the trap and began making his way back the way he came in.
Once outside near Stella again, he activated the mechanism and watched as the Temple Shrunk leaving behind only a crater and a small Black Materia at it's center.
He flew down the crater and picked up the Black Materia. Well... It wasn't completely black as the name suggested. There were some colors dancing inside it and he could faintly make out the shape of the Temple inside it.
Honestly, the Cetras clearly knew more about Mako than anyone else, he doubted he could manipulate a Materia like this. The knowledge that must have been lost to the ages...
Nox shook his head and unsheathed his sword before putting the Materia in it. The sword darkened somewhat, but otherwise it would show no indication that the Black Materia was in it.
Again, feeling washed over him. Feelings of...'trust' or 'protection'.
Probably the latter, because he did trust himself to protect and/ or not abuse the Materia. So he just ignored these feelings and flew back up to Stella.
''Come, Stella. It is time I went to Midgar,'' Nox replied as he climbed on top of her.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''Stella, PLEASE stop making a fuss. I have to do this, a Chocobo has no place in Midgar. You will hate it there. You have no place to run or graze or do any of the other things that you enjoy,'' Nox tried placating her. She wasn't the only one that didn't want to part ways from each other.
She stamped her leg on the ground and grave him angry chirps, her feathers ruffling and rising according to her mood.
An idea entered his mind.
''Stella. Wait. I will promise you to come visit once a month,'' Nox offered.
She screeched in affront as if to say 'only once a month?'.
''Two-''
Another screech.
''Three-''
Yet another screech.
''Four time a month and that is the last you will be getting and I will spend half the day with you. That is 12 hours,'' Nox put his foot down and replied to her sternly.
She gave sad chirps and looked as if about to cry.
''Shhhh. I know, girl, I know. But I know you understand why I have to do this. I promise you, when this is all done you and I will be reunited again and we may even travel the world again. Until then we will have to be apart for a while,'' Nox explained to her, trusting her to be intelligent enough to understand.
She gave small relenting chirps and stepped forward to shove her chest into his body while trying to hug him with her neck as best as possible.
After a long time, the two parted ways and she shot him sorrowful chirps as he was walking away from her. But she did not not jump the fence or follow after him, even if they both knew she could have.
''Here. Stella, will listen to you if you explain things to her politely. I may have spoiled her a little so you will have to do that or else she'll drag her feet, but otherwise she will give you no trouble. Maybe let her out of the fence a few times so she can run around the farm. She won't wander off, she is to smart for that. Otherwise, I will entrust her to you,'' Nox said while trying to hand Choco Bill a bag of money.
''I'll always gladly take care of any Chocobo. Keep it Nox. Whatever you have to do in Midgar you may need the money,'' Choco Bill waved his hand at the bag.
''That may be so, but this money is for her food and your services as well as any trouble she may cause, but with me visiting four times a month she should be placated. It is the matter of principle, I won't take advantage of your kindness, especially not after doing so much for me.
If you don't take it, I will simply drop it on the ground and run away. Let us keep our dignity, yes?,'' Nox finally added when Bill looked about to refuse the money again.
He was old, he won't be able to bend down to pick the money and Nox would look embarrassing running away like that. There just was something undignifying about picking up money from the ground in a transaction.
Serendipitously finding money on the ground? No problem.
Picking up money from the ground in a transaction? A little problematic.
Nox found that most people even when poor, did not want to live like pigs. And if they did, they had mental problems.
''Fine, I guess I will spoil her rotten as well in this case,'' Choco Bill relented and grabbed the bag.
''If you spoil her, do let her out. I don't want her to get fat (*an angry chirp was heard in the distance*). Like I said, I will visit four times a month so she shouldn't give you any trouble.
And Bill, if you sell her to someone I will be very cross. That said, don't put your lives in danger. If the customer sounds unreasonable, simply sell her to them and keep track of who they were I will deal with the rest. Ok?,'' Nox told him.
''We may not look like it, but we can fend for ourselves,'' Choco Bill chuckled and flexed his biceps. Seeing Nox' expressions he continued:''But we will do that. Don't worry, we'll stay safe.''
''Good,'' Nox nodded. If the customer was unreasonable about such a small matter, they couldn't have been a good person anyway. He will end the 'round' and then assassinate them. Simple.
''My how you've grown, Nox. You' will break many a girls heart. Reminds me a little of myself, if I'm honest. Say, would you like to eat dinner with us? I can drive you to Midgar,'' Choco Bill offered with a chuckle and rested his hand in comfort on Nox' shoulder. He quickly removed it when Nox looked hella uncomfortable.
''No. I do not wish to intrude. And I can't ask any more of you, after what you did for me all these years ago. Don't worry, I will arrive at Midgar just fine by myself. Do greet Choco Billy for me, will you? As well as Margaret. And you all stay safe out here,'' Nox said his goodbye and promptly left before he could say anything back.
Bill watched him go with a sad expression.
Poor kid.
There was clearly still something that plagued his soul. After all these years, he still hasn't resolved it, huh?
---
Nox walked till he was out of view from everyone.
A small metal contraption moving at high speeds? It would be seen or heard even from the distance.
A small human sized being with small wings, even if dressed in black and had a shimmering green wing for his wing? Well... there was a small risks of being seen, so Nox catapulted himself past the clouds.
...
Nox landed far enough away that no one saw him then he walked a while to arrive at a cliff.
He already saw Midgar from the distance once. The sight would never not be unsettling to see a circle of death, or at least where flora and fauna grew with difficulty, around those Mako Reactors.
He shielded his eyes as a cloud moved and the sun shine in his eyes. The wind picked up making his hair rustle and a tumble weed rolled behind him.
He began climbing down the cliff and started making his way to the city. After all he must be seen entering it, if he just flew in, it would attract too much attention.
Time to see this 'promising city of Mako' for himself.
(A.N.: 7935 words. The Journey Chapters are finally over. Now the story will start in earnest and he will engage with other characters. The story starts two years before the start of the game, so he won't meet every character at once, but still. Nox is twenty around this time, but I will mention it in the story sooner or later, since meta knowledge is lazy, in my opinion.
Hope you enjoyed reading it. Cheers and stay safe out there.)