XXI
CHAPTER XXI
DESCENDANT OF SHINOBI
The party said their farewells to Kimaira the following morning and boarded the Buggy with the priceless addition of the blacksmith's Materia cache. First to wake, Cloud had taken time while the others slept to examine the mighty gift, little by little recalling his military training in the art of basic spell casting. The chest boasted orbs ranging from simple elemental types such as Lightning, Fire and Ice to significantly more advanced and unique charms, the likes of which he had never encountered.
Magic had existed since before recorded history; that much most people were taught as children. The nomadic Cetra tribes of the bygone millennia of [λ]-εγλ, prior to the emergence of modern-day humans, had the ability to wield powerful enchantments as a result of their communications and intimate understanding of the Planet. Their love for nature and interaction with the environment granted them access to secrets that still remained a mystery to later civilisations, especially as they could do so without the use of Materia.
Materia was the name given to crystals of condensed Mako, and said to contain a wealth of Cetran knowledge and wisdom. The normal conditions under which they originated was the gradual and delicate solidification of so-called Mako fountains. These were ghostly springs that had breached the earth, primarily at bountiful locations where the great rivers of jade ran too close to the Planet's surface. A true miracle, but a process that could last decades, and to witness it was extremely rare as the eruption of the beautiful swells was generally synonymous with seismic activity.
However, following the establishment of Shinra Manufacturing Works in the [μ]-εγλ 1950s, the arms producer discovered a relationship between magic and physical weapons. Quick to explore the possibilities of military applications, methods were adopted for hastening the crystallisation of Mako in the laboratories of Shinra. One such technique was to excavate small rocks and gems dubbed 'Mako stones' from around the fountains themselves, then compress and manipulate the ores to synthetically create Materia. Artificial spells began to exceed the guile of traditional weaponry, and a new style of combat was born.
A breakthrough unlike anything the Company had dreamed of came in [μ]-εγλ 1959 when scientists surpassed the expectations of an age-old series of hypotheses, unravelling the potential of liquid Mako as an energy source rather than merely being the building blocks of Materia. Despite the focus of the business shifting dramatically thereafter to monopolise the industry, the Manufacturing Works was eventually swallowed by the Electric Power Company as an individual branch: the Department of Weapons Development. It was in this division that advancements in Materia uses were seriously evolved.
From Mako guns and supercharged SOLDIER blades to airship engines and Reactor core catalysts, the laboratory technicians refined Materia production to such an extent that to see rough crystals in their natural state was akin to an urban legend. It was comprehensively deployed during the Wutai War, bringing the conflict to a swifter conclusion than may have been expected. By the end of the War and the advent of Fusion technology, some of the processed spheres were capable of storing an enormous amount of Mako inside, specifically modified to generate an unparalleled arsenal of devastating magic.
Compression capsules occupied whole research floors at Shinra Headquarters in Midgar. Cloud had visited them as part of his Army inductions, for the vast majority of Materia was utilised by the respective Departments of Security and SOLDIER. As was their privilege, First Classes could lay claim to any orb they desired, and their personalised weapons were often crafted with slots to accommodate them. The Buster Sword was no different; a pair of small circular hollows was cut from the steel and Mythril alloy near the gilded carvings at its butt.
It was unusual but not impossible to find Materia in civilian possession, though a lot might be considered black market items as Shinra, Inc. never publicly commercialised it. Such crystals were almost exclusively available in the darkest and least desirable bazaars of the Slums or from illegitimate peddlers around the world. Kimaira had explained that his particular collection had been rewarded to him for his services to the Corporation as a master craftsman, though it came with the added incentive of testing the magic on his blades. He offered the party his blessing nonetheless - he had no more need of it - and took one last glance at the trunk before cooing again over his precious metal shard as they departed.
Stuffing the chest under Tifa's bunk at the rear of the Buggy, next to the supplies and backup gasoline Kimaira had kindly sold them, Cloud knew it would be an extremely valuable acquisition, infinitely more than the amulet of Mythril. However, its worth would not be lost on prying eyes, and they would have to be careful. He mentally noted the power of their inventory, and hoped that his comrades would be familiarised enough with it to be sufficiently prepared should they be called upon in battle against Sephiroth.
Afterwards, they continued due south, negotiating the armoured prototype through the vibrant and glistening swamplands, bound for the secluded hillside village of Gongaga and its rainforest environs. Long-necked and dusky-feathered epiornii intermingled here with stout and scaly dragon-like bagrisks, as well as a spectrum of other elegant birds and lurking lime green reptiles, while a herd of giant crimson diceratopses and their calves occupied the westernmost banks. All creatures grazed on the tall grasses of the bogs or sought shelter from the sweltering heat in the coolness of the stagnant water and lazy trees, an existence free from the greedy clutches of the Shinra Electric Power Company and their destructive Mako Reactors.
It was a short while before the landscape returned to the prairies and sporadic groves of the Valron Plains, the Buggy easing to maximum throttle as the softer terrain allowed for greater speeds. The towering granite inselbergs to the east grew more frequent and vastly more rotund, some as long as they were tall, with flat and lofty plateaus caressing the azure heavens.
Aerith's attitude towards Cloud and his misarticulated comments about her first love had improved overnight from blatant sulkiness to silent indifference. She had instead busied herself with the selection of ancient tomes loaned by Kimaira, lost to the brittle pages of the Great Gospel. It was a heavy book bound in matured leather, but as well-preserved as any of the archived volumes that had once lined the shelves of the secret basement at Shinra Manor. Cloud pondered whether or not she would discover information that would be as damning to her as the classified files of the Jenova Project had been to Sephiroth.
As the day elapsed, evidence of farmsteads' cattle or the wild flocks of chocobos and cokatolii slowly declined, for the sizzling and sticky atmosphere was not to their taste. Soaring formations of giant redwood sprang up regularly and unpredictably, their pinnacles a tangled mass of foliage that were so high they hid the sierras of the Cosmo Mountains far to the west. What fields remained as the verdant woodlands thickened were those of sugar plantations and vineyards and other crops best suited to the tropical climate, though the impenetrable treeline that loomed on the horizon signalled an end to the domesticated provinces.
The swollen sun was dancing atop the rolling Cosmo batholiths by the time the Buggy had brought the group to the borders of Frog Forest, the northernmost offshoot of the larger Gongaga Rainforest. Little could be seen beyond the dense barrier of vegetation, and its canopy hung more than one-hundred feet above. A single dirt trail ventured into its midst, wide enough for the s-510 vehicle and no more, but the road sliced effortlessly through the armies of bulbous broadleaves and mossy bark, laying out an undisturbed stretch through the moisture-glistening underbrush.
It was in the shade a short way from the entrance of this route that Cloud commanded them to camp for the evening; to risk the unknown of the rainforest as twilight slipped stealthy into darkness would be folly, even for a swordsman of his talents. The soil at the site was dry and thin, encircled by tyre tracks to indicate its repeated use as a base, and a chain of plump knolls nearby. An adjacent rise offered a vantage point for sentries, the plantations and redwood groves visible for miles in all directions but south where the great evergreen bastion stood.
One by one, all but Cait Sith vacated the Buggy, sucking in the fresh air and warmth of dusk. Cloud was last to exit, sceptical of the cat's insistence of his need to meditate and hone his clairvoyance. Accepting his excuse nevertheless, he carried the Materia chest with him to a spot by a sunken boulder, urgency in his stride. Approximately sixty spheres rattled and clinked inside, the sound abnormal in such a place. Barret and Red XIII watched him with curiosity - the latter already sprawled on the cool grass so that the long strands tickled his underbelly - while Aerith whispered something to Tifa that made her giggle.
"So, this is your big plan?" Barret grunted with uncertainty as Cloud set the metallic casket down by the rock. "We're gonna use these tiny godsdamn crystal balls 'gainst Sephiroth?"
"If you have a better idea, let's hear it," he countered impassively, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"I just…" Barret hesitated, mumbling sheepishly, "I ain't got no damn clue how magic works."
"Neither do I," admitted Tifa, her cheeks reddening. "I've seen Materia a thousand times at the Mako springs on Mount Nibel, but I wouldn't really know what to do with it."
"You both fight well without it," Cloud shrugged. "It didn't matter before."
"Guess this is what makes you SOLDIER guys so great, huh?" snorted Barret with a sarcastic wave. "Hey, old timer, you ever used Materia?"
"My fangs are my weapons," answered Red XIII, scratching the gold barrette behind his left ear as flies nipped at him. "Though, I do have a little skill in spell casting."
"You learned from Bugenhagen?" presumed Barret.
"Yes," the beast replied in a tone that forbade further inquisition, "and in Hojo's experiments."
"Aerith, you have some, right?" asked Tifa.
"Yup," she grinned, pulling the milky white sphere from under the ribbon of her plaited hair and lifting it up for them all to admire. "This one was my mother's. I've known how to handle Materia since I was a child. I could teach you if you'd like?"
"Dunno," Barret deliberated, "it looks kinda tough."
"Stop being such a baby!" Tifa rolled her eyes, turning to Cloud. "C'mon, Mr. Leader, why don't you and Aerith give us a lesson in magic?"
"We're a bit exposed here," he said, scanning the surroundings as he felt the Cetra's dogged gaze upon him, "but, this stuff is important."
"Agreed," declared Aerith, marching across the campsite to where the trunk rested, her buttoned frock skipping about her pale legs. "We'll start with the basics."
Kneeling to inspect her options, she finally grabbed a handful of emerald orbs, and retraced her steps to the centre of the pitch. She allowed all but one of the Magic Materia to fall to the ground, clasping the remaining sphere between her fingertips, its glassy surface shimmering in the soft colours of the deepening sunset. Carefully pressing the Materia against her opposite forearm, Aerith closed her eyes to focus, her lips moving as if mouthing a wordless incantation. Tifa let out a gasp as it merged organically into the girl's flesh, emitting a brilliant jade glow from beneath her skin.
"What the hell…?" spluttered Barret, his rugged features contorted in delirium.
"Don't be afraid," Aerith chuckled, stroking her arm to verify she was fine. "This is just what happens when you equip Materia."
"Equip it?" Tifa frowned.
"Exactly," she nodded. "You couldn't use it otherwise. It's pretty simple: you have to will the Materia to become part of you."
"You can actually attach it to weapons too." Cloud corrected her, motioning towards the Buster Sword beside him. "You see those two holes near the butt? Those are Materia slots. If I insert orbs there, I can use the blade in more advanced ways."
"How so?" queried Barret, staring at the twin hollows with intrigue.
"Well, for example," Cloud began, "arming it with Lightning Materia would cause the sword to act as a conductor, capable of generating electrical currents. Mixing and linking your Materia can get some interesting results; no two combinations are alike. The techniques can be quite complex, though, so most people just use magic on its own."
"Let's stick to that for now," suggested Aerith. "Here, you guys try it."
She reached down and gathered up another of the gleaming balls, tossing it into Barret's lap. Trotting forward, Tifa seized one for herself, rotating it in her gloved fist. Studying the swirling mist inside, she inhaled nervously, and attempted to force the Materia into her skin. However, neither she nor Barret were able to fuse the spheres with their bodies, and glanced pleadingly at Aerith in search of answers.
"It's rock solid!" protested Barret, aiming for the muscular bicep above his gatling-gun.
"Of course it is," she laughed teasingly, helpless to hide her smirk. "If you think the Materia's going to be solid, then it will be. You have to believe it'll join with you on command. The easiest way is to shut your eyes and imagine your Materia doing what mine did."
"I think mine's working," gulped Tifa, apprehensive as the orb sank into her forearm. Barret tried in vain to follow, grumbling with frustration, and eventually threw his Materia back onto the grass, cursing the Gods.
"Okay, now that it's equipped," Aerith instructed, dismissing his strop as apathetically as she had at the Gold Saucer, "all you have to do to unleash the magic is visualise in your mind what you want to happen."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll show you."
Taking a few paces from the group, the Cetra made her way to a secluded segment of lawn a short distance from the treeline. She paused in silence for a number of seconds, her concentration set on beckoning forth the power of her ancestors from the Materia. An effervescent green haze formed like an energy bubble around her outstretched arm, mounting in strength.
Without warning, a blazing stream of flames shot from her fingertips, erupting in a ball of Fira magic that hovered in the air mere feet from Cloud, driving him back in her own childish brand of fury. Lingering there for a moment, Aerith lowered her hand, and turned back to Barret and Tifa. Her attention wandering from the burning globe, it disintegrated into the atmosphere as quickly as it had appeared.
"Watch it!" snarled the ex-SOLDIER, angered by her deliberate provocation and the demonstration's incitement of his nightmares at Nibelheim. Aerith responded with a look that left him in no doubt that she had claimed retribution for their night beneath the stars.
"That was amazing!" Tifa cheered, her jaw opened in awe, oblivious to Cloud's discomfort.
"See?" Aerith beamed, bowing playfully. "I equipped Fire Materia so as to manipulate that element; I imagined making the flames move the way they did, and it just happened. Piece of cake."
"Okay, I think I get it," said Tifa excitedly. "Let me try."
She scampered hastily to where Aerith stood on the periphery of the camp, and together they began to practice magic. For someone so unaccustomed to these ancient arts, Tifa warmed to the theory as rapidly as if she were a seasoned veteran. She brushed the side-swept fringe of her silken black locks from her face, channelling all her thoughts into activating the Materia. The strain was evident in her expression.
Aerith continued to encourage and guide her, releasing more and more fiery globes in her tutorial, and all the while Tifa copied her actions with tenacity. As the martial artist let out a determined roar, a sizzling burst of jade materialised around her forearm, and a wave of cold frost left her fingers. Cloud watched as the tentacles of frozen air wrapped themselves around one of the fireballs, transforming it into a spherical ice crystal. Unable to maintain her focus, Tifa drew her arm back, and the crystal dropped to the ground, shattering over the parched soil and melting immediately without trace.
"Godsdammit, girl," applauded Barret, slapping his huge palm against the chain-gun, "you're a natural!"
"I can't believe I did it," she stammered, smiling proudly and hugging Aerith.
"Promised you it was easy," she winked.
"Maybe in the end," Tifa sighed as she massaged her skin to coax the orb back out, "but why did it take so many attempts?"
"Using Materia is the same as everything else," replied Aerith, patting her friend's shoulder reassuringly. "The more experience you have with a type of magic, the stronger that magic will become. My real mother once told me that by repeatedly calling on the accumulated knowledge and memories of the Cetra inside the Materia, they will merge with your consciousness, and your own understanding and capability will grow. Only then can you freely interact with the Planet the way my ancestors did, with the Materia as a kind of conduit."
"But, there are side effects," Cloud warned them. "Practice all you want, but be aware of your limits. Whenever you equip Materia, your condition will change. The more you access it, the weaker you'll become, both mentally and physically. Drawing on magic triggers specific mind waves, which in turn shock your body and can make you drowsy. It's a bit of a double-edged sword, so be careful."
"Is that the same for all Materia?" asked Tifa.
"Pretty much," he nodded.
"Even that red one Aerith has?"
"You told her?" snapped Cloud, glaring irately at the Geomancer. The two had agreed to keep the ruby locket a secret from the others until the time was right; it was a dangerous item to possess, for many reasons.
"Maybe," Aerith answered unapologetically.
"Told her what?" Barret glanced between the three in bewilderment.
"About this," she reached into the breast pocket of her denim jacket and pulled out the Shiva Materia on the silver pendant that Priscilla had gifted to Cloud. Red XIII's eye widened with astonishment as he saw the vermilion crystal.
"It cannot be…" the beast muttered.
"What's goin' on?" demanded Barret.
"It would appear that we have a Summoner in our midst," Red XIII said, comprehending. His snout twitched eagerly, his heavy paws folded atop one another as he peered at her respectfully. "A very rare attribute; a blessing. Tell me, to which Aeon do you speak?"
"Shiva the Ice Queen," Aerith divulged softly, her face reflecting the glow of the crimson mists that churned inside. "A small part of the Goddess."
"Yes," acknowledged Red XIII, entranced by the jewel, "Grandpa explained it to me once. An Aeon is a fragment of the great prehistoric entities that are often named 'Gods'. It is a sliver of celestial consciousness held in the Materia that, when summoned, can manifest itself for a period in the original physical form of the entity to which it belongs. It is said that these otherworldly beings are as stunning and majestic as they are devastating. It takes a strong mind to summon an Aeon, and an even stronger mind to control it."
"She can do it," Cloud remarked bluntly, prompting queer looks from both Aerith and Tifa.
"I hope so," the former shrugged bashfully, gesturing towards the Materia chest. "We also have a second Aeon that Kimaira gave us. I think it's Ramuh."
"The Lord of Thunder," supplemented Red XIII. "According to Cetran lore, he was alive during the crossover of the [κ]-εγλ and [λ]-εγλ ages, and responsible for educating the first of their clans."
"Anything that helps us is welcome," said Cloud. "With this arsenal of magic and a Summoner among us, we stand a much better chance against Sephiroth. Shinra produced Materia to harness the power of the Gods, but it was considered dishonourable by SOLDIERs to use them in battle with worthy opponents. I didn't have-"
His sentence was unexpectedly cut off by a quick-fire series of blinding explosions at the centre of the encampment. Several things happened in that moment: Cloud recoiled as the brilliant flashes of the smoke bomb hampered his vision; a targeted kick to his stomach knocked him off balance; Tifa screamed as a flurry of pale cream-white zoomed past; there was a clinking sound from the Materia casket; Barret roared in confusion and swung his mighty fist aimlessly; shadows danced in the smog as sparks of Fire magic flared at Aerith's fingertips.
"Hey!" yelled Tifa at the heart of the commotion, to Cloud's left. "My Materia!"
Everything was a blur of colours and movement, distorted by the stinging tears that welled in his eyes. He grabbed clumsily at the Buster Sword by his ankles, snatching its leather handle, and stumbled after the intruder. Ignoring Red XIII's whines and dodging Barret's awkward attempts to load his bandolier into his gun-arm, he found his childhood friend on her knees. Her hair was dishevelled and she seemed in a daze, but she was fastening the metal knuckle studs to her gloves.
"Ow!" shrieked a young girl's voice from beyond the glare, near the Buggy; it was one that Cloud recognised instantly. "Let go of me, you stupid cat!"
Storming from the cocoon of smoke and taking a few seconds to let his sight adjust, he was met by a scene almost too bizarre to grasp. The rotund toysaurus stood a number of paces from the hatch of the vehicle, its tusked grin as vacant as ever, while its bat-like wings flapped animatedly. Within the constricted embrace of its mechanical arms was a petite figure, squirming wildly and clad in a ragged beige poncho with a hood that concealed her face. The head of the garment was crudely stitched to resemble a demented moogle or a hungry monster, around which Cait Sith had wrapped himself so that his hands covered the trespasser's eyes and his tiny boots tightened across her neck.
"Don't worry!" he shouted confidently, gripping the girl as she writhed this way and that, dropping the stolen Materia orbs at her feet: Magic and Support and Independent. "I saw this wee lassie sneakin' up from them knolls over there. She's no gettin' away!"
"You're gonna pay!" she threatened petulantly. "I'm gonna rough y'all up!"
"Whatever," dismissed Cloud, waiting for the others to stagger one by one from the enduring dust. When all four comrades had gathered aside him, their ruffled features a mixture of puzzlement and anger, he spoke again. "Remember her?"
"Should we?" croaked Barret.
Slotting his greatsword onto its magnetic holder, Cloud strode slowly forward, signalling for Cait Sith to release his cloaked captive. With a nod of obedience, the little feline climbed up on the girl's shoulders and leapt onto the skull of his bodyguard, but the toysaurus retained its clamp on her. She moaned and cursed, swiping her legs randomly as he approached, hitting nothing but air. Evading the strikes, Cloud stretched over and yanked the hood back, revealing her identity to the party.
"You!" barked Tifa.
"S'up, Boobs?" retorted the teenage Ninja with a sneer. "Y'all miss me?"
Flicking a wayward strand of her bobbed black hair from her cheeks, the mysterious Wusheng scowled at her audience. Beneath the poncho, she still wore the same outfit she had when she attacked them at the Materia Pillar in Capparwire Forest: a cropped, sleeveless green turtleneck and small khaki shorts, her left side protected by the armguard of polished bone. Her beautiful but deadly four-pointed shuriken was strapped to her spine, and a selection of accessories and espionage items clung to her belt.
"Seriously, what's wrong with this dumb kid?" Barret exhaled, scratching his sooty beard as he observed her cache.
"Shut up, gramps!" she spat, startling him. "You want a piece o' me?"
"Well, you do not hear that every day," said Red XIII, smirking at Barret's speechless and blustered manner. Tifa and Aerith were both lost somewhere between being amused and being offended.
"This is now the second time you've ambushed us," Cloud growled, standing in front of the toysaurus with his arms folded, staring at her intimidatingly. "Why?"
"I already told you before," she hissed, unafraid. "'Cause you're a SOLDIER."
"Attacking SOLDIERs will probably get you killed," he responded blankly.
"Yeah? Well, you ain't my first, pretty boy," boasted the Ninja. "Anyways, I got a score to settle with the Shinra Company."
"So do we," countered Aerith.
"Huh?"
"I'm not a SOLDIER," explained Cloud. "Not anymore."
"But, I heard you," she gazed at him suspiciously. "When I was hidin'. You said somethin' 'bout SOLDIER honour. An' how else would you have all this Materia?"
"It's a long story," Cloud sighed, turning to Cait Sith. "Okay, let her out."
"Sure," squeaked the cat. Clasping his megaphone, he gave the instruction, and the toysaurus relaxed its embrace. "For the record, I've no idea what's goin' on."
"I…I dunno what you punks are tryin' to pull," the girl stammered warily, "but I ain't buyin' it."
"So, you're fighting the Shinra, huh?" asked Cloud, granting her space. "How do you intend to do that?"
"You makin' fun of me?" she countered defensively. "Watch it or I'll get mad!"
"I'm serious."
"I have my methods," was her defiant answer. "I'm a treasure hunter. The Single White Rose of Wutai."
"Treasure hunter?" frowned Barret. "Didn't I see a wanted poster for you in Kalm?"
"Maybe," she shrugged. "A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. But, I can look after myself. Just ask your spiky-haired buddy. I bet he remembers what I did to him last time we met."
"You've got some skill in battle," acknowledged Cloud, pausing for a moment as he contemplated his next move. Though he was reluctant to admit it, the young Wusheng possessed incredible technique for her age, and she would no doubt be an asset in a brawl. The question was not her abilities or self-assurance; it was whether or not she could be trusted in the crusade to defeat Sephiroth. However, to acquire her loyalty, she had to be motivated; she needed a reason not to betray them. "We could use your help against Shinra."
"What?" gasped Tifa, astounded by the request.
"You want me to go with you?" the Ninja narrowed her grey eyes, studying Cloud. "Is that what you're sayin'?"
"Yes."
"Thought so," she placed her palms on her hips. "You've sure put me on the spot here. What's in it for me?"
"Let's see…" the former SOLDIER peered at her; he knew exactly which carrot to dangle. Crouching, he picked up one of the Magic Materia that lay on the ground between them, and passed it to her. "How about we share these with you?"
"Well, if you want me that bad," she snickered, licking her lips as she accepted the emerald sphere, "how can I refuse? But…I just gotta ask: what's to stop me from runnin' away again?"
"Faith," replied Cloud.
"In that case," she pondered, then held out a hand, "the name's Yuffie. Good to meet ya."
The sun was smothering the great forested plateaus of the Cosmo Mountains, casting the land in a glorious hue of gleaming ochre as the companions introduced themselves. The new recruit seemed somewhat shamefaced as she was greeted in turn by the members of the company, conscious of her previous rude behaviour and the grudges borne by Aerith and Tifa in particular. While they may not have liked their leader's resolve to attain her talents, they did not protest.
At Cloud's command, arrangements were subsequently made for the evening's supper, and the seven separated to begin their respective tasks of cooking or cleaning or collecting wood. Yuffie lingered behind a few seconds, reflecting on her choice to join these renegades' war on Shinra, Inc.; she had much to gain from their trust, and she would take full advantage of that.
"All I need to do is a little bit o' this and a little bit o' that," she muttered under her breath, grinning covetously. "This is goin' better than I'd planned-"
"Yuffie, hurry up and help unload the equipment," Cloud interrupted her musings, dumping a bundle of bracken on the driest section of the pitch and setting it alight with Fire magic. He glanced up at her with a demeanour that indicated he was not one to be messed with, the flames flickering in his sparkling yet hardened Mako eyes. "Oh, and by the way, you still owe me two-hundred gil."
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