Mother's Legacy
Chapter 21
The sights and beauty of the planet's natural wonders had often impressed Aerith as she got send out on missions. The vast, gorgeous ice plains on the northern continent, the massive skeletons of fossilized monsters in Bone Village, the lush and vibrant forests near Mideel, and even the massive serpents lurking in the waters near the Mythril Mines. But, for all she had heard of Cosmo Canyon, as a place of spiritual growth and meditation, she was very underwhelmed.
The landscape around the canyon was rough and uneven, full of cliffs and valleys and just general rough terrain that would surely make any expedition on foot a fool's errand. The settlement itself was built over a mountain. Even from the air in the Shinra military helicopter she could make out wooden supports and pathways connecting a series of small structures build on the mountain, with a larger home at the very top. And judging from the people clustering outside, they could see her back.
"Looks like the cat is out of the bag," she said, looking back into the helicopter. Aside from the two pilots, the group consisted of her, Zack, Angeal, Rude, and a new Turk, a woman with short blond hair named Emma. Aerith had spoken to her briefly during the boarding, she had been very strict and uninviting.
"Good," Emma nodded. "We want them to know we are coming. This is not an attack, there is no need to hide ourselves. They would be more concerned if we showed up unexpectedly."
"Won't this just give AVALANCHE time to hide or evacuate if they're here?" Aerith replied.
"Yes. Which is why this helicopter is going to continue patrolling the skies during our expedition. They may evade us on foot, but we have eyes in the sky they cannot," Emma said.
"Alright," Aerith nodded, appeased. The helicopter continued circling and finally set down on a comparatively flat stretch of ground not far from the settlement. The occupants jerked at the landing, and began unbuckling their harnesses as the exit ramp lowered.
"A reminder before we disembark," Emma called to them, standing behind the pilots. "This is a not a military operation unless we believe the site has a definite AVALANCHE presence. Do not harm anyone, do not resort to violence or intimidation under any circumstances, and do not act outside the bounds of Shinra policy. We don't want to cause an incident."
"If this is such a political situation and not a combat one, why send in three top SOLDIERs?" Aerith grumbled as she walked down the ramp.
"Because politics can be handled by Emma and I easily enough," Angeal said behind her. "If AVALANCHE is indeed here, that is another matter." Aerith silently yielded to the explanation, and the group set out to the settlement. From the ground the lands around Cosmo Canyon were much less impressive, it seemed a barrel, rocky wasteland rather than an awe-inspiring sea of cliffs and valleys. The trip to the cliff at the base of the settlement wasn't very long, and Emma let them up the stairs that led to the homes. As they approached the top, Angeal stopped in place and raised a hand for those behind him to halt. Aerith leaned around him.
Emma was at the top of the stairs, holding still, and Aerith could see why. Two large lion-like creatures were standing on either side of the stairs, glaring down at them and growling. One was bright orange, the other a more pale shade. Both had long, thick tails with small flames burning at the ends, and an assortment of beaded jewelry and bracelets on their limbs and hanging from their manes.
"We are representatives of the Shinra Electric Power Company," Emma said, looking between the two beasts. "We are here for investigative purposes." The two animals didn't move, but the growling died down somewhat.
"Nanaki, Diné. To heel." The two beasts turned at the sound of a soft, gentle voice coming from behind them, and the two stopped their growls and parted. An man with greying brown hair wearing pale grey and brown robes approached the tops of the stairs. "Well met, agents of Shinra. I am Elder Hargo," the man said, bowing slightly.
"Well met, Elder Hargo. I am Emma of the Turks," Emma replied.
"And your allies?" Elder Hargo asked. Emma moved for Angeal to come up beside her.
"I am Angeal of SOLDIER. Behind me are Zack and Aerith, also of SOLDIER, and Rude of the Turks," the First Class said. Aerith noted he had the same 'authoritative' voice she was used to hearing from Zack all the time.
"And why does Shinra send a force of Turks and SOLDIER to us?" Elder Hargo asked.
"Surely you have heard here of the war gripping the Planet at the hands of AVALANCHE," Emma persuaded.
"Yes. Word has reached us of the siege of Midgar and the difficulties your city faces. My deepest sympathies for your plight, and my blessings to those in need of aid."
"Then you know that AVALANCHE claims they fight to free the Planet from Shinra, and proclaim we are killing the Planet and must be stopped," Emma continued. "Sentiments I'm sure are familiar to you." Elder Hargo frowned.
"I dislike what you seem to be suggesting, Miss Emma," he said warily. "We are a peaceful village, we have no part of wars for either side. If AVALANCHE is fighting wars in the name of the Planet, it is not with our aid."
"We've no doubt of that, and we accuse nothing, apologies if you thought so of us," Angeal cut in. "But surely you can admit that not all who come here seeking knowledge of the Planet would use that knowledge peacefully."
"Yes, I am very sure of this," Hargo said, glaring.
"That is why we are here. AVALANCHE may not be affiliated with you now, but we cannot rule out the possibility that some of their numbers have come from here. We're not here to arrest, accuse, or persecute. Merely to investigate and gather information," Emma said.
"I see. And were I to refuse you entry?" Elder Hargo said.
"Legally, you cannot. Not unless you wish to be arrested for obstructing Shinra investigations," Emma replied.
"So, that is my choice?" Elder Hargo said, irate. "Be arrested for doing nothing, or submit our humble refuge to your witch hunt?"
"It's not a witch hunt!" Angeal and Emma turned to see Zack step up behind them. "You offered blessings on those in aid in Midgar? They need that aid because of what AVALANCE has done. And they're going to do it more in the future if we don't stop them." Zack settled down slightly. "Please. We just want to stop them before they hurt more people, and in order to do that we need to know more about them. Their mindsets are based on the teachings of your people, so even if it's not fair to you, this is the best lead we have."
Angeal looked at Zack with a hint of pride, while Emma seemed annoyed. Elder Hargo took a deep breath.
"True words, true enough. Yet of course, if we aid you in finding them, you will surely seek to slaughter them, yes?" he replied. Zack began to reply, but stopped himself and said nothing. "Violence beget of violence shall inevitably beget violence once more. Of all our lessons here, that is one Shinra has not taken." Elder Hargo shook his head sadly, and then turned to the brighter orange beast beside him. "Nanaki. Take them to Elder Bugenhagen. We shall let him judge the validity of their claim." To Aerith's surprise, the beast called Nanaki gave a very human nod, then looked at Zack and jerked his head away, turning and walking into the camp. The other one laid down on her stomach to watch the group.
"Nicely done," Angeal smiled, patting Zack on the back. Emma didn't say anything, merely shook her head and followed Nanaki. Aerith and Rude follow the three as the beast led them up a series of staircases going up the cliff, leading into a cave. As Aerith crossed the cavern, she looked across the plateau that lay at the foot of the rock formations overhead. A large campfire burned in the middle of rings of tents, ladders leading to small huts that had been constructed on the sides of the cliff. Around the fires huddled people in ragged clothing. Some of them had children, others were children themselves. And most all of them had their eyes trained on the group of Shinra employees as they followed Nanaki up the stairs. Aerith turned away to focus on the group in front of her after only a few moments. The eyes that she met were full of hatred and despair, and she wasn't used to seeing those emotions directed at her.
The cave at the top of the stairs contained a shop counter, the manager looking up from a magazine as they passed and shuffling further down the counter away from them in a very un-subtle manner. Nanaki lead them up a flight of stairs next to the counter, out a doorway to another set of stairs up the cliff outside, to a larger cavern with several side paths branching out. The beast gestured his head to a ladder against the wall, then headed down a side path. Angeal went first, Rude bringing up the lead behind Aerith, who paused to see Nanaki slink out of view on his other path. Aerith climbed the ladder and stood up on the top of the cliff of Cosmo Canyon.
Up here, the view was even more stunning than the view from the helicopter. Above stretched a massive structure, a large telescope emerging from a domed roof at the top. From the construction work, it seemed that the telescope had been added onto with two more structures connecting to the sides. The horizon was what drew her attention though, for some reason ribbons of gold and crimson and lavender wove through the rays of the sun even during the early morning. Aerith stood at the top of the ladder and stared, her eyes wide. A warm breeze blew her ponytail behind her and ruffled her bangs.
"It's beautiful," she whispered. Was this what Cosmo Canyon woke up to every morning? She remembered her captivity in Shinra and waking up to skies full of sickly green fumes from Mako Reactors and chilly winds blowing through her window. How was it that the simple sight of a sunrise could be so drastically different between the two locations? Aerith felt a hand on her shoulder and looked down at it before following the arm up to the face.
"It's really something huh?" Zack smiled. "I was the same way when I came here the first time." Aerith nodded in agreement and looked behind him at the rest of their group. Rude had climbed up and the three were turned to the edge of the cliff. Aerith followed their gaze to see a pulley system raising a platform up the cliff, Nanaki waiting patiently for it to stop. Stepping off the wooden platform, the beast walked past the group and nudged open the door to the observatory, looking at them expectantly as he headed inside. Angeal followed first, Zack gesture to Aerith to follow suit. The female SOLDIER looked back at the distant horizon and followed her friend inside.
Contrary to Aerith's expectations for the leader of the settlement, the inside of the observatory had the look of a humble home. There was a door to another room half-ajar, while the main room had a fridge, some tables with books and cooking utensils strewn over them, and a main dining table with several stools. Nanaki left the Shinra operatives to loiter in the short hall from the door as he padded over to the door to the next room and nudged it open. Aerith heard voices inside speaking.
"Shinra operatives are here. They request information on AVALANCHE." The first voice was deep, and Aerith wondered if someone up here had been watching their entry to know they were already arriving.
"Oh-ho? They're later than expected. I'll take care of it." The second voice sounded much older, and Aerith was about to come closer to peek when the door swung wide open. An old man in a deep blue robe entered, his eyes obscured behind dark black glasses. Aerith blinked slightly at the sight of just how he entered. The man was cross-legged and sitting on a wide green orb that hovered off the ground. The floating orb carried him behind the table and floated down to rest on the ground. To Aerith's amazement, the man seemed perfectly balanced and the orb stayed put once set down.
"Welcome, agents of Shinra. I am Bugenhagen," the old man said, bowing his head.
"You are the leader of Cosmo Canyon?" Emma asked. Bugenhagen made a sound in his throat and tilted his head to either side.
"Well, on our quest for understanding and knowledge, I am further down the path than most. I suppose, if you must apply this 'leader' label to someone, I would be most qualified. Me or Nanaki." The beast from before slowly walked out of the room to sit next to Bugenhagen, the old man reaching out a hand to pat him on the head affectionately.
"Uh, what's with the orb-thing?" Aerith blurted out. Bugenhagen lifted a hand to his mouth.
"Ho ho. This? An old man like me needs aid getting around, my dear. This is Float Materia."
"Float?" Aerith muttered, more confused than before. Bugenhagen ignored her and looked back at Emma.
"So, to what do I owe the unique pleasure of hosting Shinra operatives in my observatory?" the sage asked.
"Cosmo Canyon operates outside the boundaries of the technological world, but surely word of mouth has brought to you news of AVALANCHE. We seek whatever information you might have on them," Emma stated. Bugenhagen stroked his chin as the green orb he was sitting on bobbed up and down slowly.
"Yes, we have heard of AVALANCHE here. But I know nothing of the group other than what the words of the world bring me. I can assure you, if you fear they have sanctuary here, you may put your fears to rest. AVALANCHE's actions bring ruin and death to the Planet, and even if done in her name, the Planet does not abide such things, and neither do we. We follow the example of the Cetra, now and always, and war is not in our nature." As Bugenhagen spoke, Aerith's eyes widened slightly.
"If you really have nothing to hide, then you won't mind us looking around the settlement," Angeal suggested. "With all due respect, do you trust all your refugees here to have the same tolerance and understanding that the elders do?"
"Yes, yes, true enough," Bugenhagen conceded. "By all means, search as you wish, and should you find anything be kind enough to direct it to me." Emma turned and nodded out the door, but Aerith stepped aside as Emma walked past her and approached Bugenhagen.
"I'd like to discuss some things with you. If you don't mind, sir" she said as professionally as she could.
"Oh? And what things would that be, child?" Bugenhagen asked, the orb floating him around the table to hover in front of her. Aerith looked at her comrades, specifically Zack, and smiled.
"I'll be fine, I'll catch up," she offered. Emma nodded and put a hand on Angeal's shoulder to lead him out of the building, Zack and Rude following.
"Ho-ho, things we do not want our allies to hear, hm?" Bugenhagen accused. "You intrigue me, dear." Aerith slowly stepped back to the door.
"I just figure it can't hurt to ask the guy in charge the same questions as we'd ask anyone," she replied. The SOLDIER listened at the door and made sure no one was listening before coming back down the hall.
"You mentioned the Cetra. What do you know of them?" Aerith asked. She thought back to the books she had read about the Cetra and the Goddess of LOVELESS. If there was some connection between the two, then until she could learn more of the Goddess, she needed to know more about the Cetra. She had considered asking around Shinra, but had little hope of getting a straight answer with how much information was being hidden from her these days. Now, though, there was no one around to stop Bugenhagen from speaking freely, and she intended to ask questions that had been on her mind for weeks.
"The Cetra? Little more than I'd like, I'm afraid," Bugenhagen folded his arms into the sleeves of his robe. "Much of their knowledge and legacy has been lost to time."
"What made them so special anyway?" Aerith pressed.
"The Cetra were able to hear the voice of the Planet." Aerith jumped and looked down to see Nanaki looking up at her, still sitting on his haunches behind the table. The same voice she had heard speaking to Bugenhagen.
"You talk!?" she shrieked, unable to help herself. She had obviously been able to tell the creature was intelligent, that had been obvious from the way it took orders. But actual human speech was coming from its mouth now. How was that even possible?
"Most creatures are able to speak. Not so many are able to hear," Nanaki replied. To Aerith's relief he didn't seem annoyed or angry at her shock. "As I was saying, the Cetra could hear the Planet's voice. Many normal humans meditate for decades to achieve a fraction of the spiritual power they possessed. The Cetra understood the Planet and the Lifestream in a way we have yet to grasp."
"Hang on, back up. I'm still on the lion…thing, talking," Aerith muttered, looking at Bugenhagen and blinking. The elder chuckled and floated over to rub Nanaki's head through his mane. Nanaki let him, the look on his face – at least, if Aerith could reach his face properly, she wasn't used to trying in this type of being – indicating amusement at her surprise.
"Nanaki's tribe was once one of many. They were said to be spiritual guides to humans, created by the Cetra to aid mankind in walking the path to the Promised Land with them. Alas, over the centuries humanity's interest in spiritual matters has dwindled, and Nanaki's tribe has died out. Now only he and Diné remain with us, and his presence here at the Canyon is one of comfort and enlightenment to many."
"Grandfather speaks too highly of me," Nanaki said. Aerith wasn't sure she would be able to tell given the fur, but she thought Nanaki would be blushing if he were able to. "I am yet a child of my tribe, and Diné only slightly older. I must find the path to the Promised Land myself before I can lead others to it."
"The Cetra were seeking some land?" Aerith asked, remembering her original train of thought. Bugenhagen's orb set down on the ground, and he tilted his head back, eyes closing.
"The Cetra believed in a realm of eternal happiness, of life and energy and magic," he whispered. "A world that, after a long journey, all Cetra would be destined to find. This is the legend of the Promised Land, child. A world the Cetra would spent the entire lives searching for."
"Did they ever find it?" Aerith's curiosity had been aroused by this tale. It sounds silly on some level, some sort of fairy tale a parent would tell their child. But the way these two spoke, it sounded plausible. Nay, it sounded real.
"Yes. No. Perhaps. There are many interpretations of what the 'Promised Land' is, and I am not so arrogant as to presume to understand the Cetra's teachings as well as they did. The last of their number lived among us many years ago and told me that even among themselves, the Cetra could not tell one another how to find the Promised Land. Everyone has their own path through life, and everyone has their own path to the Promised Land. It is said, however, and I believe it, that the Promised Land is not an absolute concept. To find a realm of magic, and knowledge, and enlightenment, one does not need to search the Planet. One can create their Promised Land wherever they wish, if they have the will and the mindset to do it."
"The most common perception is that the Promised Land is the Lifestream," Nanaki spoke up. "At the end of a long journey, a long life, the Cetra will become one with the Lifestream. But that is but one perception. Grandfather speaks truly, if there is a singular answer to that mystery, we do not know it, and there may not be one to know."
"Infinite in mystery…" Aerith recited under her breath. Bugenhagen looked at her curiously. "Um…one of the AVALANCHE agents we're pursuing. I've read some things on what he studies, LOVELESS. I was wondering if there's a connection between LOVELESS and the Cetra," she explained.
"Oh? Well, it's not impossible, to be sure," the elder said slowly, thinking it over before he spoke. "LOVELESS has been around for centuries, but no one knows where it originated from. So, it isn't impossible that the Cetra gave it to us. But I would deeply doubt it, most of their writings and works have been lost to us, and the few that have not are mostly with us here. If there were such a connection, it's a mystery to me, the last Cetra who lived with us never made any mention of the story. Of course, we never asked, either."
"I see…thank you," Aerith nodded. "One more question then. You said the last of the Cetra once lived here. What happened to them? Can I speak to them?"
"Afraid not, my dear," Bugenhagen opened his eyes and shook his head. "Dear Ifalna left us many years ago, and we have not heard of what has become of her. By the will of the Planet, may she be continuing her journey to find the Promised Land, or have found it already."
"Where did she go?"
"She left us to see the Shinra Electric Power Company." As the elder spoke the familiar words, Aerith's hopes dropped. If anyone would know if Genesis's LOVELESS ramblings and their connections to the Cetra had any meaning, it would surely have been a Cetra. But if Ifalna had gone to Shinra, then she was either dead or was not in a position to speak to her.
"It was this time that Shinra was first beginning the widespread usage of Mako energy, and the construction of their reactors," Nanaki explained. "Ifalna was concerned that Mako production might harm the Planet, and went to Midgar to speak to the company about their actions. We have not heard from her since."
"…well, we can take a good guess about what happened to her then," Aerith said bitterly. "She was it? There are no others?"
"Not that we have ever heard of. Ifalna herself seemed of the opinion that she was the last Cetra living," Bugenhagen said, shaking his head again.
"I see…thanks for your help." Aerith turned to leave.
"A word, miss," Nanaki called behind her. "I would please keep the knowledge of my speech between us. I have duties here to fulfil, and widespread knowledge of my abilities would attract undesired attention."
"Right. No problem." Agreed to the secret, Aerith pulled open the door of the observatory and stepped out onto the cliff. Nanaki sneezed and shook his head, the beads in his mane making a musical rustling once she was gone.
"Curious girl," the beast murmured, laying down and putting his head between his pawns.
"Yes, quite curious, that you'd speak to her," Bugenhagen agreed, looking down at her. Nanaki looked up at him. His grandfather was growing older and his memory wasn't as sharp as his, still in the relative youth of his species.
"Grandfather. Did she remind you of anyone?" he asked. The physical resemblance seemed to have gone over the elder's head, but not the beast's. Bugenhagen stroked his chin and thought.
"Hmm…" after a few moments Bugenhagen tilted his head from side to side. "I suppose she does not look all that dissimilar…" Nanaki looked back at the door and put his head back down.
"Yes…a most curious girl indeed."
"I've never seen these types of Materia before," Zack mused, turning a purple orb between his fingers and holding it up to the light.
"That Materia increases one's endurance and physical vitality," the merchant explained. "We also carry Materia that boosts one's spiritual vitality, allowing greater usage of Materia, and some magic Materia that shapeshift the body and affect the mind."
"You don't sell conventional Materia here? Like, Fire, or Thunder?" Zack asked, handing the orb back to the merchant.
"No. Materia is a tool given to humanity by the Planet, and we use these tools in our studies of the Planet and her species. We do not use them to kill." Zack made a face. The merchant seemed almost indignant as he lectured Zack, as if the warrior had suggested some appalling sin.
"Materia doesn't have to be used to destroy, even specific spells," he objected. "What if, like, you had Fire Materia to power your machines, or create fires, or cook?"
"We can make fire without Materia," the merchant said simply, stating it as if it were an obvious fact. Zack made a face. "Materia is like any other tool. We must use it properly and not pervert its purpose into one of destruction and death," the merchant continued. Zack let the matter drop, seeing a familiar red uniform climbing down the ladder above the merchant's stand and climbing the stairs next to the booth.
"Hey. So what'd you ask about?" he asked. Aerith shrugged.
"Stuff that might help lead us to Genesis. Mostly about the Cetra," she replied. "I think there's some connection between them and the Goddess of LOVELESS. I've been trying to find that book I was reading before about them, but it's vanished from the library." Aerith wondered if Sephiroth might be behind the oh-so-not-mysterious vanishing of the text, but decided against it. Based on what she'd heard these days, he was probably suffering similar prohibitions.
"Right. Find anything useful?" the two began walking outside, following the path back to the main settlement below.
"Maybe. I have some leads to follow up on at least, which is more than I had before coming here," Aerith said. "A woman lived here, Bugenhagen thinks she might have been the last Cetra. Said her name was Ifalna, and she left the canyon years ago to travel to Midgar and speak to Shinra."
"Really? She never came back I presume."
"No. They don't know what happened to her. But Shinra does."
Aerith licked her lips. The name sounded familiar, she was certain she had heard it before. She had spent years around Hojo, perhaps he had mentioned the Cetra sometime and that's why she recognized the name, if only vaguely. That wasn't very encouraging, if Hojo knew who this Cetra was then Aerith was sure that the woman's fate was sealed. Either way, she had a name to go for. No doubt she'd be told to back off or find people unwilling to discuss it with her, but just the knowledge of who knew these things would be enough to uncover even more.
"Yeah, but they're probably not going to be willing to spill for you," Zack pointed out, voicing her unspoken thoughts.
"I know, but it can't hurt to ask, right?" Aerith replied. "I've got immunity with Shinra, remember? I'm 'too valuable' for them to kill or something like that."
"Well, I'm not, so if you wanna investigate you'll have to do it alone."
"Was already planning to. If I find out something I shouldn't, it'll be simpler if they just come after me. You don't need to get involved in any of it."
"If you keep me in the dark, that's up to you, and I guess I'm grateful. But don't expect me to stand by while you get yourself into trouble. We're friends and comrades, right? We need to watch out for each other. That's what SOLDIER does."
"…right," Aerith said slowly. The two had emerged on the plateau, and Zack looked around, spotting Angeal speaking to Elder Hargo at the entrance of the canyon.
"I'm gonna talk to Angeal and see if there's anything specific he thinks we should check out," Zack said.
"I'll be...around, then," Aerith muttered, shrugging. Zack nodded and jogged over to Angeal. Aerith took a breath. She wasn't sure how to respond to the idea of Zack referring to her and all of SOLDIER as watching out for one another. Training with Cloud and Angeal and the other Thirds had made her feel an opening in the group she wasn't used to. She was waved too in the halls, people treated her with respect, occasionally they asked for advice. They were all Thirds, rookie nobodies, but the simple fact it was happening was exciting. Aerith wasn't sure what it meant, but she liked it.
"Wiping out AVALANCHE, commanding the army, that's not what I want. I'm already getting what I've yearned for."
Aerith had asked Cloud once why so many Thirds seemed to want to talk to her and socialize with her these days while Angeal and Sephiroth had never gotten the same level of attention, at least, not that she had seen. As she was coming to expect from the blond, he had laid it out for her simply and direct.
"Angeal is a paragon of what it means to be SOLDIER, he's an idol, a hero. Sephiroth even moreso. But you're not them, you're you. You're not a hero, and nobody idolizes you. You're not their mentor they feel they need to learn from, and you're not a media darling they look up to. You're their friend and their comrade."
Aerith had been ready to grab her staff and knock the Third onto his ass when he had said to her face "you're not the hero". He had said it so matter-of-factly, as if it was obvious and something he thought she knew already. But thinking back on it after the fact, Aerith realized he had a point. Angeal had said that even with her progress in her attitude and social skills, she wasn't becoming the SOLDIER he and Lazard had been expecting when this plan was first conceived.
And Aerith was happy with that. She had declared proudly once she was not a puppet that Shinra could manipulate as they liked. She was her own warrior, her own SOLDIER. She wasn't following the examples of Sephiroth or Angeal, she was her own example to follow. These days especially, with Sephiroth confined to a desk job, the shadow that the silver-haired soldier had cast over her her entire life didn't seem so large anymore. The Thirds no doubt still idolized Sephiroth. But now, they idolized her, too. And now because she was some 'version two' Sephiroth. Because she was her.
"Being my own person at last, having comrades that look out for me…it's a good feeling."
Smiling, Aerith headed over to the group of refugees to speak to some of them about AVALANCHE. They might have been banking on Angeal being Shinra's poster boy for the company to win them goodwill, but she was no such thing. And she could use that in her own right just fine.
Apologies for the late update. As I'm sure some with me on author alert noticed, I've begun, of all things, a My Little Pony fanfic, which I have devoted a lot of energy too. Mostly this is late because I struggled writing this chapter. Visiting Cosmo Canyon had the potential for Aerith to learn a lot of things I'm not ready for her to know yet, but there are some things that I have to get out here so the story can progress. So I had to play out the interactions and the conversations carefully so I could have the cast learn what I need them to learn while also avoiding them discovering too much. Many concepts that will be revisited are being established on this visit, hence it's been split into two chapters. I didn't anticipate this, but it'll work out well. Lots of exposition is going down, but the extra room of two chapters will hopefully let me make it interesting to read.
Emma is based on the Before Crisis character "Gun (Female)", and while it likely will not come up much, in both the game and my fic, she is Elena's older sister. Diné is a second member of Red XIII's species seen in Before Crisis. Many translators have gone with "Deneh" for her English name, but the Japanese is "dine", and Diné is the name of the Navajo people. Given what we know of Cosmo Canyon's general aesthetic, I went with the idea Deneh/Diné was named for the tribal group.
As for Bugenhagen's floating orb, a little joke – for those who haven't played in a while, FF7 and its spinoffs never had Float Materia, or any form of the spell or status effect. Hence Aerith's confusion at the explanation, which is still better than the explanation SE has never given us. Seriously, the heck is that thing?