It all started with the monster that kept chucking spitballs at Genesis's head.
It wasn't a very large monster (though the size of the spitballs it produced was remarkably impressive for its size) or even a particularly uncommon one. But for a reason Genesis simply could not think of, it had a ridiculous fixation on his hair and covering it with slobber.
"My goodness-" Genesis ducked another globule of wet, slimy monster saliva. He almost cursed. "I swear to god if that gets in my hair!"
The monster only gazed at him dolefully, and spat one particularly large glob at him. With a disgusted exclamation, Genesis launched himself at the spitting abomination and neatly beheaded it. Then he set fire to its corpse, just in case.
He frowned when something shiny glinted half-hidden in the ashes, and gingerly toed it out with the tip of his boot. An eyebrow raised at the sight of a summon materia lying on the ground. Genesis picked it up, finding it odd to obtain a rare spoil from some common monster in the outer edge of Midgar. To add to the suspicion, upon closer inspection he discovered it was a summon type he'd never seen before, and that in itself was impressive, as he was Shinra's top magic specialist, and therefore extensively well-studied in the area.
But alas, he was on a mission and therefore could not go back to headquarters immediately to further study this mysterious summon materia as his heart so desired, and instead must continue on sloughing through Midgar's filthy, monster-infested construction sites. He made a face. It should be a crime to order him, Commander Genesis Rhapsodos and SOLDIER First-class of the Shinra army, to do pest control for the plebeians. The nerve!
Genesis huffed, tucked the curious materia into his pocket, and continued his way.
"Hmm..." Genesis held up the red summon materia, pinching it between his thumb and forefinger and twisting it around in the light. He balanced perfectly on the back two legs of the chair he was lounging in, a foot on the table in front of him.
This was the scene that his companions arrived to, as Zack bounced into the kitchen, followed more sedately by Angeal and Sephiroth.
"Hey, Genesis!" Zack cocked his head to the side. "Ooh... What's that?"
Genesis craned his neck, glancing at the extra people in his apartment upside down before turning back to his materia. "Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess, We seek it thus, and take to the sky. Ripples form on the water's surface, The wandering soul knows no rest." He quoted his beloved play almost absentmindedly, most of his focus elsewhere.
"I don't get it..." Zack trailed off, then pointed comically at the red orb he was holding. "But I bet it has something to do with that materia!"
"Yes, what is it?" Sephiroth stepped closer to examine the materia himself. "I don't recognize it."
Genesis sighed rather dramatically, then sat up from his position. "This, my dear friends, is a summon materia." Though, that much they could tell even without him saying it. He frowned a little. "But it isn't any summon that I know of. I've never in all my life seen a summon that I cannot identify, and that is what makes it so fascinating."
That was then they noticed the books and piles of paper spread out on the kitchen counter in front of the man. They also knew that it was a rather important matter if Genesis didn't know what exactly the materia was upon touch, because Genesis was born for magic. He had a natural affinity for anything that had to do with it.
"Well, why don't you just activate it and see?"
Genesis froze in place, then turned to stare at Zack, who had spoken. Zack continued eagerly, "We could go to the gym and try it out right now!"
"Puppy..." Genesis looked utterly flummoxed at the moment, too busy berating himself for not thinking of such a simple solution earlier. "Alright, let's go."
Minutes later, they stood in one of Shinra's many gyms, recently cleared out by SOLDIERs who has seen the First classes approaching. Perhaps it wouldn't have mattered so much if it was only one or two of the elites coming, but the sight of General Sephiroth, Commander Angeal Hewley, Lieutenant Zack Fair, all headed by the Commander Genesis Rhapsodos, was altogether too much and they fled as soon as it was apparent the First classes intended to use the gym. They could go to another one.
Standing in the middle of the empty gym, Genesis looked critically at the harmless materia he still clutched in his hand. The others watched in anticipation.
Having decided that if anything went wrong he at least had three decently-capable SOLDIER First classes to back him up, Genesis gathered his magic, and gave a gentle tug at it. He was testing out the new waters first, because summon materia, unlike simple fire or cure materia, had temperaments to them. There were some that responded with just a touch while others took an incredible amount of magic to summon.
He frowned when nothing happened, not even when he put in enough energy to normally summon Odin. The frown deepened into a scowl as he drew all his magic into himself. The others felt it in the air, when it thickened like paste and sparked with static electricity around Genesis, who poured everything into a final push/pull. It dispersed instantly once it was done. The materia still hadn't budged.
"Having difficulties?"
Genesis turned and glared at the General. "I am quite fine, thank you very much."
"You certainly do seem like you need some help," Angeal remarked quietly, then winced when it wasn't quiet enough, and turned the redhead's wrath upon himself.
"If you two are oh so knowledgeable, then be my guest!" The materia thrown in the air moments later, and Sephiroth caught it neatly just before it flew over his head.
He held it in his palm, then activated it. Or at least tried to. A slight narrowing of the eyes were the only signs of frustration as he exerted his magic again and again. Genesis stood by smirking, watching him. "Defeated by a mere materia, Sephiroth?"
The General spared him a glance, hiding his dismay. "Quiet," he muttered, and tossed the orb to Angeal. "Perhaps you may have some luck in it."
Angeal held it to his eye and inspected it closely, but found no flaws in it, other than the fact that it refused to activate, even with Genesis's and Sephiroth's individual efforts. Still, not all was visible to the eye.
"Perhaps it is faulty? Or even a dead one?" He suggested.
Genesis scoffed. "A dead summon? I highly doubt it. The summons themselves exist outside of our dimensional barrier, and materia are almost impossible to break."
"Hmm..." Angeal hummed, and gathered his magic. Nothing, as expected, happened.
"Ooh, I wanna try! Can I try?" And so it became Zack's turn.
"Have a go." Angeal handed the orb to him.
Behind him, Genesis laughed. "The puppy has absolutely no skill with materia, Angeal. What can he do that we can't?"
Zack only grinned, holding it with both hands. "You never know unless you try. Well, here goes nothing!"
And the room exploded.
Not exactly. The materia suddenly emitted a bright, blinding light, and they were all thrown back by a giant wave of energy. All was silent once it ended, a ringing noise starting up in their ears as they struggled to open their eyes.
"Eurgh..." Zack groaned, trying to get out of the pile of training weights he had impacted with. He pried his eyes open, and blinked in surprise.
Because, the first thing he saw, besides the otherwise wrecked gym, was a white-haired boy standing in the center of everything.