A/N Sorry this is a little late, I had some writers block and couldn't think of a way to end Cosmo Canyon. However I got a good idea and i'm sticking with it. I hope it surprises people as much as I hope it will. I hope everyone had a happy new year, and here is chappa 19.
Ch 19
You know those pictures on the internet? The ones where it shows a town, then the state, earth and onward until the point where all you see is that tiny little speck in the thousands of other specks? They are supposed to make you feel insignificant and that your actions really don't matter in the grand scale of life. Sometimes enlightening or depressing depending on the person interpreting the picture.
But in here, you take up so much space in the universe. Sure the planets are still big and you're surrounded by the vast nothingness of space, but in here you feel like you're a part of something huge. All around us there was activity. Shooting stars, planets rotating around stars of greater magnitude, meteor showers shooting right by you. And the dome made it look so much bigger; my mind was trying to comprehend how we went from a dark room to somehow being able to stand on nothing, and in the middle of a solar system. I looked over and saw Aeris in almost the same state I was, even Cloud couldn't stop his jaw from dropping.
Hands down, the number one greatest, most amazing planetarium in existence, ever.
"Incredible..." Was what Aeris muttered.
"Ho ho ho, it is something isn't it. Well let's get to the subject then." He laughed, clearly enjoying our awe inspired looks.
"Eventually...all humans die. But what happens to them after they die?" No one answered, it was rhetorical anyway.
"The body decomposes, and returns to the planet. That much everyone knows. But what about their consciousness, their hearts and their souls?" He turned back to use...actually since he's floating I would classify that as rotating.
"The soul too returns to the planet, and not only those of humans, but everything on this planet. In fact, all living things in this universe are the same." He gestured to the worlds around him.
"The spirits that return to the Planet merge with one another and roam the planet. They roam, converge, and divide, becoming a swell called the life-stream. Life-stream, in other words, a path of energy of the souls roaming the Planet."
"Just like Nathan said." Mumbled Cloud, who was almost absorbed into the old man's words. The old man glanced at me with a knowing smile before continuing.
"Spirit energy is a phrase you should never forget."
"Energy from the planet," I mumbled, thinking about the concept.
"A new life...Children are blessed with spirit energy and are brought into the world. Then the time comes when they die, and once again return to the Planet."
"This is what happens for everyone?" Asked Aeris.
"Of course there are some exceptions, but this is the way of the world. I've digressed, but you'll understand better if you watch this." Then it seemed the universe lowered and showed us the Planet. I was a little surprised it was the exact same placement earth was in, along with all the other planets too. On it we saw a man start to turn into what seemed to be energy, along with a tree. Both circled and ended up on a completely different part of the planet and combined into a new person. Right then we saw all different colors of the energy circling the Planet.
"Spirit energy makes all things possible, trees, birds, and humans. Not just living things, but spirit energy makes it possible for planets to be planets. Now what happens if the energy were to disappear?" Bugen held out his hand and the energy flowed toward it. When it disappeared the planet fell apart, completely black and barren.
"These are the basics of the Study of Planet Life." He finished.
"So if the spirit energy is lost, our planet is destroyed..." Said Cloud. Bugenhagen just chuckled.
"Spirit energy is efficient BECAUSE it exists within nature, when spirit energy is forcefully extracted and manufactured. It can't accomplish its true purpose."
"You're talking about Mako energy, right?" Asked Cloud.
"Every day, Mako reactors suck up spirit energy, diminishing it. Spirit energy gets compressed in the reactors and processed into Mako energy. All living things are being used up and thrown away. In other words, Mako will only destroy the Planet..." Everyone was silent while the machine shut down. We were back on a regular looking floor and were lowered until we were leveled. I was really disoriented and actually felt a little sick at the sudden changes.
"The story of the planets...and those who lived with them. You want to know more? Then you must listen to the words of the elders." I'm sure Cloud and Aeris will talk to them, I'm good though. I could go for a bite.
"But what about Re...Nanaki?" Asked Aeris.
"Is something wrong with him?" Bugen asked.
"He told us about being the last of his kind, his mother being brave and his father a coward in something."
"Nanaki? His father, a coward? So that's it...Nanaki's been thinking that all this time." The old man pondered. I left there since there wasn't much else to hear. Climbing down I got to the weapons shop and decided to look around. I was thinking of using another one of Tifa's weapons to help me out. I kept tabs on everyone's materia a lot, and found Nanaki's elemental was actually level two, and if I remember correctly that meant that elements wouldn't harm me. If I used it on Tifa's gloves it would let me do my fist based attacks, but all they had were tiger fangs and those blades would just get in the way. Smashing that idea, I went to the Shildra and got me some mineral water and quite surprisingly, rock candy. Turns out Cosmo Canyon is known to have some of the best. After a meal I easily had me a bag to enjoy. I went outside and decided to sit down with everyone else at the Candle, munching on rock candy next to Barret and Yuffie.
"You know I promised the guys when we saved the Planet, we'd come here to celebrate. But it seems so far away now."
"Don't worry; once Sephiroth is dead everything else will fall into place. Biggs, Wedge, Jesse, and you will all be enjoying a drink when this is all over."
"Now don't cut yourself short, you helped too. You're a member just like them. You're gunna be there too." I just laughed at Barret's vigor. I turned and offered some candy to Yuffie, she gladly took some.
"Hey, you know what those things are for?" She asked me. I looked and saw her pointing at the windmills.
"To make electricity." She actually looked amazed for a second. "What, you've never seen windmills used for generating electricity?"
"Wutai doesn't use electricity, and I thought Mako was the most popular."
"True, but this is cleaner energy. Unlike Mako, where you have to suck up stuff from the planet, they use wind power to make energy."
"Ingenious really." Said Cait Sith on Yuffie's opposite side.
"Why doesn't everyone use them then?" Asked Yuffie.
"Well not every location has wind, in fact Mako needs to be mined specifically too. It would be better for everyone if we just used all types of renewable energy."
"You mean there are more than just wind?" She asked.
"Oh sure, you have hydro power using water potential, thermal power using stuff like boiling water and steam, Solar energy is probably the best though."
"All of those are good for the planet?" Asked Barret, who was listening as well. I found him, Yuffie, and Cait all paying attention to me. I told them what I knew about them, I couldn't really describe the mechanics but I knew enough to get the ideas across. I was a little surprised Cait listened though. He was really interested in what I knew. But the conversation eventually died down and Cloud came back from what he was doing. He was restless and kept walking around though. He talked to Aeris, Barret, and Tifa. Eventually he settled down between her and Nanaki.
"Long ago, when I was still very small, we were all around this flame...No never mind." Nanaki started and very quickly ended.
"What happened?" Asked Cloud.
"When I talk about my mother, I am full of pride and joy...and that's fine. But when I remember my father, my heart is full of anger..." He almost growled.
"You really can't forgive your father?" Everyone turned to look at Bugen float by.
"Of course...He left my mother for dead. When the Gi tribe attacked, he ran off by himself, leaving mother and the people of the canyon." The old man seemed to stare at Nanaki before thinking of what he wanted to say.
"Come Nanaki, there is something you should see." Nanaki looked at him oddly.
"The place may be dangerous. Cloud, will you and Nathan come with us?" That surprised me a bit. It's odd being called out when you're not really supposed to be recognized.
"Where are you going?" Asked Tifa. Cloud and I shrugged and started walking with Nanaki. We followed the old man until we came into the room that had a huge metal door.
"Ho ho ho, are you all set?" We were, I always carried potions with me and Nanaki was given a cure and heal with his poison and elemental. Cloud still had sense and steal along with an ice materia with Shiva and Choco/Mog. With my level two fire and lightning, we were prepared enough. We all nodded and he turned to press a button that appeared out of a barrel. The door next to us clicked and opened.
"All right, come in, come in." He said, sounding not unlike he was inviting us into his home.
"Aren't you going with us, grandpa?" Nanaki asked.
"What are you, crazy? It's dangerous in there, I told you that! You want me, an old man, to go in first? I'll be right behind you." I laughed hard. Leave it to the old guy to lighten everything up. Cloud and Nanaki both shook their heads. We went inside and saw a small cave with a large hole in the ground. Bugen just floated down to the bottom and Nanaki jumped down after him. Cloud and I were left to use ladders and poles to get down. As we got lower, the texture of the rock started to change. There would be cracks with glowing green insides. Finally getting down we left the opening and came into a larger cavern. The thing that stood out the most was that there was a thick miasma all around us. Nanaki had it bad, actually looking like the smell was making him tear up, and I coughed a little and tried to breath slowly. I looked over and saw both Bugen and Cloud were perfectly fine, though the older man simply observed Nanaki and me.
"There is a switch here that will let us into the next area." He noted. While we walked through the area, I mentioned seeing something shiny on a higher platform and Nanaki got it. I traded him the new added effect for my elemental back so now Nanaki was protected from poison. Afterwards, I "accidentally" stumbled on the right rock and opened the door to the next area. I really wanted to leave; the stench of the place was killing me. Bugenhagen stood at the entrance.
"Everyone here is a ghost of the Gi tribe. Killed in a certain battle."
"A certain battle?" inquired Nanaki.
"The vengeful spirits of the Gi didn't disappear, and couldn't return to the Life-stream. But we still have far to go, ho ho hoooo." The old man said. He got behind our ground and we continued. Coming into the new room I looked over the edge and saw the large pool of what looked like...blood? I wasn't sure, I knew well enough to not fall in, but the stuff added more to the stench in the air. I was almost tearing up when I looked at Cloud and Bugen, and they were both fine.
"How the hell are you guys not getting this stuff in your system?" I whined.
"I can't feel all that much, it's uncomfortable but tolerable." Cloud admitted. Seriously how in the hell is he not affected? I heard Bugen chuckle and I glared at him.
"You and Nanaki both have problems here, it is funny." He admitted. That pissed me off a little.
"At least it isn't just my nose smelling this stench." Nanaki piped in. We couldn't continue though, we all were on guard when we heard deep growling around us. Around us were three wolf-like monsters with zombie-like faces. I couldn't remember their names, slippery something, I don't know.
"This place is also a den for monsters, the miasma attracts them." Bugen said at the back of the group. Red was ready to pounce while Cloud and I pulled out our swords. I still wasn't comfortable using my Masamune, so I had fusion and a spell ready while the three monsters were inspecting our group, looking for weak links.
"Get ready, they'll attack who they think is weakest." Cloud said. Since we had the entrance covered, Bugen would be hit. Eventually the largest of the three monsters, most likely the alpha, had lunged at Nanaki. He attacked and knocked him over while the other two came charging at us. I cast a fire spell and was able to fend off one, Cloud moved to the front while the third attacked; he just had a materia flash on his sword and swung down, cleaving the monster in half.
"I have got to get me a deathblow materia." I thought out-loud, too bad I was unconscious during that time. The Alpha tried to hit Nanaki again, but he clawed its face forcing it to retreat. I cast a level two fire spell on the remaining beta, and it was burnt enough to stop moving. Nanaki finally finished off the alpha when it attacked again only for him to land a bite on its neck and crush it.
"Stupid mutts." I muttered.
"Agreed. We should get through here fast." Cloud stated. Bugen started leading the way.
"As you can see, this cave leads to the back of Cosmo Canyon. It was unfortunate the Gi were larger than us. If they attacked through here, we wouldn't have stood a chance. Now let's move on." He said as we went deeper inside of the cavern. We came upon the multiple caves.
"Which one?" Stated Cloud.
"Second from the right," the old man stated. We all went through only to see a gigantic web in our path.
"Some monsters have stayed here so long that they grew more powerful from the Gi's influence." The web started moving when we saw something start coming down from the ceiling.
A giant spider.
"Like I am about to wait for that bullshit!" I cast my fire spell onto the web, making the spider fall while it was caught in the mess. Cloud was concentrating until he opened his eyes.
"Everyone get out the way." He moved to the side of the path for some reason along with Nanaki. I did too while looking back to see he had used one of the summoning materia. A Chocobo ran past the group and into the giant spider. I thought it didn't do any damage until I felt the air in the room get heavier. The crash somehow caused air to compress onto the monster. The sudden cloud of dirt flew everywhere. When it dissipated, we saw the Chocobo pick up its Mog rider and fade out of existence. The spider was downed easily since we took it by surprise.
"Surprised you reacted so quickly," stated Cloud. I sighed.
"I hate spiders, and I am not dumb enough to let one with legs twice my height get anywhere near me." This seemed to get a chuckle out of the old man and he started leading the group again.
"This warrior went through this cave. Fighting off attackers one after another." Said the old man. Nanaki finally asked what was on his mind.
"Grandpa...that warrior..." Before he could continue Bugenhagen kept moving forward.
"We are almost there."
"I'm beginning to think this is more trouble than it's worth." Said Cloud following.
"We're almost done with what's happening, just keep calm and alert." I said. Full well knowing what was in the final room. We went through more tunnels until we arrived in the last room. The air was now heavier than before. Evil felt like it was surrounding us entirely. I noticed Cloud was very on edge compared to last time, and Bugen was very surprised to see a giant statue with a demonic face on it.
"What is this..." He questioned, examining it. Nanaki immediately got into his attack position. Somehow knowing what was going to happen.
"Grandpa, is this..."
"After death...the ghosts of Gi...like stagnant air. This can't be!" He got away from the statue. Immediately it started warping out of shape. Seeming to smile evilly until it dissipated, revealing a shaman dressed ghost.
"How is it alive?" Yelled Nanaki.
"Enough hatred and even death can't stop you." I said.
"Nathan, call Shiva. I will use my ice spells. Nanaki, prepare your sled fang." Cloud yelled, already summoning ice to hit the creature. It yelled and waved its staff, making two pieces of fire come to its aid. I finished my spell and felt a familiar chill. Shiva appear and shot ice at our opponents, getting rid of the mini flames and angering the shaman. It waved its staff to drain energy from Nanaki, looking stronger than before and our ally looking worse for wear.
"Attack! Keep it up." Cloud yelled again. Nanaki attacked and bit onto the spirit before taking a good chunk of its rotten flesh off. The shaman drained him again.
"It keeps focusing on Red, Nathan you need to distra..." Right before he finished I decided to make this easier. Even though we didn't get the X-potion, I still had plenty of high potions. I took one out of my back pack and threw it at the Gi. It hit is face and shattered, the healing components causing it pain, making it swing its staff in my direction.
"That will do." He said, now getting the idea. "Red, cast cure on it." Nanaki started healing the monster. The more it was healed, the more damage it accrued. Most likely purifying the rotting flesh. The monster drained me the next time. It felt horrible actually, like my very life was being sapped away. When it was done the Gi summoned three fire spawns and launched them at us. All of us unable to guard, we were all hit and the fires disappeared.
"That didn't hurt as much as I expected." However looking at the other two I could see I was very wrong. Both Cloud and Nanaki looked very sickly. Cloud tried to ignore it and cast an ice spell at the undead Gi, only to suddenly be burned and the flames disappeared just as fast as they came.
"They're possessed, the Gi must be killed or they will die," stated Bugenhagen from behind me. I growled.
"Nothing in this world can be easy for me can it? Nothing will ever go the way it's supposed to or be less difficult than it seems." I said getting angrier. The shaman attacked me but I pushed Bugen out the way and went with him.
"I should just try to blow up everything we run across; it's the only way to make any of this easy!" I yelled at the ghost.
"Nathan calm down, you're losing focus." Cloud called, still trying to attack.
"No, I hate everything that keeps happening! I hate giant spiders, ghosts, and Sephiroth. It's just gunna get harder and harder and I'm sick of it!" I clenched Fusion in my hand. It glowing a very bright purple. Next to Cloud I saw Nanaki get up, he looked over and saw the animal with a dangerous glare in his eye.
"My mother protected Cosmo Canyon from these monsters; I will not let it win." He snarled.
"Nanaki.." Mumbled the old man. Nanaki let out a loud primal howl that seemed to shake the room. He charged the Gi faster than before and took a good chunk of flesh with him again. He used Lunatic High. I looked at Fusion and concentrated hard on my negative emotion.
"I hate this game..." I whispered.
"I hate being separated from my family." The swords glow grew more.
"And everything's just going to get worse." I held the sword out.
"Nathan?" Asked Cloud.
"Let's see if that stupid technique will work now." I said through gritted teeth. The Gi was summoning more fire minions.
"Bankai, Power Burst!" The sword swelled and let out its energy just like before. I felt lighter and stronger. The Gi got hit by the sudden explosion of what was left of my magic power. I couldn't cast Shiva anymore. But the strength and speed would easily compensate.
"Nanaki, you and me. We can take this thing down" I said. He just nodded and attacked again. Attracting the Gi's attention. The fire souls tried to hit him, but Haste allowed him to avoid the attacks. He took another bite at the Gi when I ran up and sliced at its staff arm, almost cutting it in half. Cloud cast another ice spell, causing the Gi to roar. All of the fire minions disappeared.
"It's getting weaker!" Bugen yelled. Nanaki and I kept attacking while Cloud backed us up with magic. The spirit kept losing flesh left and right. Eventually it was torn worse than it was before, Nanaki and I down from our respective powers and Cloud mentally exhausted.
"It's still up?" Cloud blurted out.
"It must... really...want to kill us." I joked in between breaths. Nanaki, not having to worry about after effects like myself, made the final attack. He prepared a Sled Fang and ran at the spirit. He jumped and took a good chunk of its head with him. The Gi started to disappear. The whole room's air suddenly got cleaner. I was able to breathe again.
"Fucking finally." I sat on the ground, downing a potion right away and tossing Cloud one. The old man came up to us.
"Thank you Cloud...Nathan...because of you, we survived." He looked over at Nanaki who looked just as bad as Cloud and me.
"Nanaki, I can see you have grown too."
"Oh yeah?" He asked excitedly.
"Now I know it wasn't a mistake bringing you here. Come, I have something to show you." Despite wanting to argue, I got up and helped Cloud so we could all get to the end of the cave, after getting the gravity materia. Eventually we got into a cliff area with Nanaki running up the rocks and looking up.
"This is..."
"The warrior who fought against the Gi. He kept them from taking even one step into Cosmo Canyon." Bugen came out, a somber look on his face.
"But he was never able to return home. Look Nanaki, look at your father. The warrior, Seto." Everyone looked at the petrified remains of Nanaki's father. Arrows striking out of his body, him facing away from the cave as if blocking it.
"That's...Seto?" Nanaki murmured in disbelief.
"Seto continued to fight the Gi tribe here...to protect this canyon. Even after the Gi's poisonous arrows turned his body into stone...even after they all ran away...Seto continued to protect us. He even protects us now"
"Even now..." Mumbled Nanaki.
"You thought he was a coward and ran away. But he alone risked his life to protect Cosmo Canyon. That is your father, Seto." The old man said with pride.
"That...that is Seto? Did mother know?" Nanaki almost demanded. Bugenhagen chuckled.
"She knew... the two of them made me promise to keep this cave shut. They asked me to seal it myself and never tell a soul. They said we should forget about this cave." Nanaki looked down. Wide eyed at the revelation. Bugen turned to Cloud and me.
"Would you two leave us alone?" He asked.
"Of course," I agreed. Cloud nodded and we both walked back into the cave. With the miasma gone, the monsters wouldn't bother us anymore. We sat at the entrance, waiting for the other two.
"Pretty wild, he believed his father was a coward, yet he was the strongest there was in the canyon." I said. Cloud just nodded.
"Nathan...let me look at your eyes." I looked at him bewildered. He looked relieved.
"I thought you may have changed, you were getting angrier. It was hard to tell." He answered. It made sense. The last time I used that attack was with the Zolom. There wasn't much to go on.
"S'alright, you're our leader. You're just making sure." I nodded again. I threw him another potion and drank one myself. We didn't talk all that much. I heard a howl come from outside and smiled. Both Bugenhagen and Nanaki came in and we left the cave. Tifa and Aeris were hysterical when we came back looking tattered and beaten. Barret and Yuffie were mad they didn't get any good fights and Cait Sith just waved at us and asked how it was. It was the middle of the night so we all got some rest. In the morning I felt a little better but I still wanted to stay in Cosmo. Cloud said we needed to go, that we had already spent too much time there.
"They said they finished the Buggy," stated Tifa. We were all sitting by the fire, sans Nanaki.
"Shall we get going?" Cloud asked. Everyone nodded.
"So this is it...Red." Said Aeris sadly.
"That's just the way it goes...You came in handy at times." Barret said. Everyone got up.
"Guys, I want to say bye one last time. I'll be right back." Everyone nodded. I turned and smiled. I climbed all the way to the observatory. I went inside and saw Bugenhagen by himself.
"Sorry, thought I'd say goodbye to Nanaki." The old man chuckled.
"There will be no need, he'll keep traveling with you all, I'm sure he's telling your friends now." I acted excited.
"Really? That's great!"
"Before that, would you sit down with me?" I was a little confused. But I complied and sat in one of the chairs while he floated in his usual position.
"I have been meaning to ask you something." He said. "Where do you come from?" I gave a confused look.
"Mideel. An island southeast of the main continent."
"I see. That is what you told your friends. But where are you truly from." I saw him narrow his eyes. I did the same.
"I am from Mideel. Why would you think otherwise?"
"The planet is quiet around you." he stated. I was confused.
"I hear the planet's cries Nathan, I have heard this world suffer. But around you it is confused. It doesn't cry; it doesn't speak as Nanaki has told me. You influence it. Please, I ask politely. Where are you from?" He finished looking me directly in the eyes.
What was hard was I wanted to lie to him. I wanted to keep up what I had told Cloud and everyone else. But the way he looked at me...I just couldn't
"I don't know if you would believe me." I said.
"I have been here for 129 years, I believe I can take what you can tell me," he stated.
"Would you believe you're just a work of fiction? As well as Nanaki and the rest of the group? Your whole world?" I asked. His face softened after what I told him.
"How would that be?" he asked curiously.
"I do come from a different world, as you so subtly implied. But in my world...this place is nothing more than a game...a fantasy role playing game." He held his gaze with mine, as if trying to figure out if I was lying.
"Tell me your story. How you got here...what your world is like...I want to know if you are telling me the truth." He said.
So I did. I told him about Earth, the general knowledge I had about the planet. My own life and how I loved games. How much I loved FF7. Explaining the plot behind it. Describing the events that had gone on, went on, and would pass. What surprised me was that Bugenhagen never interrupted me. He just floated there, listening to every word I said. Never changing facial expression or even commenting. It felt like hours before I was done. He thought the information over.
"It does explain your eyes and spirit."
"What?"
"Your eyes are much like mine when I first met you. They have knowledge that many others do not know; you have seen what can happen and what could be stopped."
"Okay, I get that but what does that have to do about my spirit?" I asked.
"I have been around in this world long enough to feel differences in the planet. I am most likely the only human who can besides Ancients, but they can communicate with the planet." I nodded my head.
"I know how spirit energy feels, for it to age and gain experience. Each soul is unique."
"What makes mine special?" I asked.
"You have spirit energy that has never been taken from the Planet. You have never experienced the cycle this planet goes through. You are young, but your spirit gives off energy as if it was only born a few weeks ago."
"The same time I was transported here." I said. He simply nodded.
"Ho ho hooo, you have told me so many things my friend. But why do you deceive your friends?"
"Two reasons really, are they as accepting as you? Would they so readily absorb what I told you? I'm still skeptical you believe me."
"It is the explanation you gave me, you were honest. You believed what you said, and it answered my questions how I wanted them to. However, your friends aren't an old man such as me; I can see why you wouldn't say."
"The other is...because they would hate me if I had knowledge of something bad happening, and not preventing it." I looked down.
"It's one of them..." He mused. I nodded. "You are afraid if you don't prevent one of their deaths they will blame you because of your knowledge." Again, I nodded. We both sat there for some time before I spoke up.
"In all honesty I'm glad I told you, it's been bugging me a little. It's nice to have a person to talk to." Bugen smiled.
"You are one of Nanaki's friends; it is my pleasure to help you." I got up and walked towards the door.
"I guess it's time for me to go. I can't keep everyone waiting." Bugen chuckled.
"I guess we are done then, it was nice talking to you...and Nanaki, it's impolite to eavesdrop on private conversations."
tbc...