Chapter 70: Fascination and Determination

Everyone prepared for their roles and the teens wanted to go to Wutai. The island's economy bustled due to Ramiel's changes in the whole world. More people have jobs and even the most remote villages are progressing ridiculously due to the meowfficers and portable nuclear reactors that are made in Midgar and shipped everywhere.

"Ramiel-nii, you turned Wutai into a tourist spot right?" Aerith got excited to see a new region. The other three were stoked too, all being country bumpkins that grew up in the country side. And they've been in Midgar for many years.

"Yeah, I've made extensive changes to the island. There's an airport there now, and they've been having tons of traffic there for the last couple of years, you guys ready? Wutai is beautiful." Ramiel smiled at them and patted their head.

Ramiel went to definitely not Hanz and tasked them with roaming around the continents and deal with terrorists. Midgar didn't quite need the protection of the battleship and the city is a fortress that is impenetrable. The meowfficers know everything that comes in and out.

Even if enemies tried a trojan horse situation, the inside was filled with so many turrets and defense systems that will deal with everything that comes in. And when a large horde appears, the flying fortress Alexander will appear and destroy their armies.

The gang started flying for Wutai and they arrived pretty quickly, the teens were awed by Wutai's beautiful atmosphere and it was just dominated by nature. Forests everywhere, lakes, and the mountains that oversee the village.

"Oh wow, this place is really nice. The atmosphere is so tranquil. I want to train here and become a martial arts master!" Zack was really pumped and he looked around like the country bumpkin that he was.

"Well, that's good to hear. I fought a war when I was 10 for this place. So you better appreciate it!" He laughed and Aerith stared at him. "You sound like an old man Ramiel-nii..." Ramiel flinched and squinted his eyes at her.

"Tifa, don't give her lunch later." Aerith despaired and they went to Fort Tamblin to meet up with Godo. When they arrived, they saw a little kid that was being chased around by Godo with a shinai. "Get over here Yuffie! Stealing, making trouble for me! Stealing money and spending it all on weapons!"

"Who is that old guy?" Cloud looked at Godo who was being outmaneuvered by his daughter. "Shut up old man! I will rebel against the regime and make Wutai great again!" She announced treason to everyone and the guards just shook their heads at her antics.

Yuffie wasn't looking where she was going and crashed right onto Tifa who was like a solid wall of metal to the normal Yuffie. Their bodies are so dense and hard, it's like kid running into a reinforced concrete wall. (pic)

"Rebel huh? Can you say that again kid?" Tifa put a hand on her head and raised her up. "Ow! Ow! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!" She wiggled around as Tifa did an iron claw on her face.

Godo saw them and immediately got nervous when he saw Cloud who was carrying a large ass sword. Thinking that they must be SOLDIERS from Midgar. And his daughter was spouting treason.

"Hmmm, little girl. You've got a problem with how I run Wutai?" Ramiel looked at Yuffie and she flinched. But she remembered the proud culture of her home and glared at him. "I'll take Wutai back! You turned my home into a tourist spot!"

Ramiel looked at Godo and he looked down on shame for his disapproving look. "Hah, Godo. You spoiled your daughter too much, I mean. Kids are delusional yeah, but you should teach her to look under the surface." Ramiel facepalmed and Godo sheepishly scratched his head.

"Sorry, Kasumi didn't want her to be aware of the war and politics early." Godo apologized and Yuffie got even more mad upon seeing her father being submissive. "Old man, you're whipped aren't you?" Aerith snickered at him.

"Where'd you even learn that?" Ramiel pinched her cheek and she sulked. "From the internet." Ramiel frowned and thought that he should be more careful before she gets corrupted by the internet further.

Ramiel crouched and ruffled Yuffie's hair with a smile. "Yuffie, that's your name right? Listen here, you better listen to your old man. Look at him, he's old already. He'll probably croak when you reach adulthood." He laughed and Godo gave him the stink eye, reminding him that he was getting really old.

Yuffie looked at Godo's form and his age was catching up to him, the stress of the Wutai war and micromanaging the politics of that time did a number on him. And then came the Leviathan battle that shook the island to its core.

Not to mention that Midgar will obviously be the first one to be fixed by Ramiel and Alexandra. So he was left to take care of Wutai that was at its lowest. Godo stared at Yuffie and gave a soft smile, his forehead that has wrinkles on them now that she didn't remember that was there before.

She started reflecting and thought about life in Wutai. The guards always tell her off and the people don't appreciate her making trouble, spouting about a rebellion. "It seems you realize something. Do ask yourself why there are much more people in Wutai now, the natives have more income, the population is rising." Ramiel poked her on the cheek.

He then had an idea and took out a piece of metal, morphing it into a set of shuriken that he enchanted with spatial magic. They will always come back to her whenever she throws them after. Seeing her prospective skills in being a ninja.

"Here, these will come back every time you throw them. Be a good ninja and protect Wutai girl, hard times are coming." He patted her head one last time and they went to the fort with Godo to discuss the need for more guards and soldiers stationed all over the world because of Deepground.

Yuffie sat there and questioned her choices, thinking if the people even needed to be free. She remembered the bustling streets and new facilities. Kasumi then arrived upon hearing she was being a problem again.

"Honey, don't give trouble to your father." Kasumi chided her and Yuffie looked at her mother with a serious face on. "Mom... Are the people of Wutai free?" Kasumi raised a brow at the question and sighed.

"Do you see homeless people? Orphaned kids roaming the streets? People that beg just to have a few grains of rice?" Kasumi asked and she shook her head. "Then that's enough, that's what would've happened if Ramiel and Alexandra didn't intervene in the war for our home."

Yuffie went wide eyed and gritted her teeth. Her silly dreams as a child were getting dismantled. "Mom... Can I know more about what happened in the war?" Kasumi thought that it was about to come soon, but at least she would grow from knowing that war.

"You can, let's get you educated more about the 1st class SOLDIERs named Ramiel and Alexandra. The new guardians of the world." Kasumi helped her stand up and they went to the library of the classified files to learn more.

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"So? Ramiel-dono, what is your purpose in coming here to Wutai? You sent us a message that you were coming, that means that you're not here for a vacation." Godo furrowed his brows and was hearing messages about villages and cities being attacked and kidnapped.

"Based on your expression, you have an idea right?" Ramiel sighed and Godo nodded. "This is about those unsavory terrorists right? It seems that there are remnants of Shinra that have not been able to be cleaned up."

"Yeah! They're kidnapping people for whatever reason, so we're gonna kill them all!" Aerith shouted out and she squinted her eyes, remembering the time they were in the labs of Shinra. And her mother almost dying due to their chase on them.

Godo wasn't surprised that the teens around him were battle ready and eager to fight, but it was unsettling for him to hear the scrawny looking girl in a sundress to want to kill everyone. "We don't know their motivations, but Alexandra, Genesis, and Angeal are already tracking them down. Though there's a problem." Ramiel frowned.

"You save some, but more gets caught because there are much more of them and less of you." Godo groaned and thought that was a real dilemma. The SOLDIER program is still being continued, but they are obviously more careful about recruiting people now. Unlike in the past that they just screen everyone who was compatible with Jenova cells and Mako, accepting everyone who is compatible.

"We can't send out mechs and robots everywhere, they need maintenance regularly. Meowfficers can use firearms, but that just won't cut it against the abominations and augmented soldiers that they're using." Ramiel explained and Godo nodded.

"So it seems that we have another war brewing over the horizon. And because there are many warriors here, you came." Godo sighed and thought it was time to repay the debt. Midgar is an industrial giant that makes most of the produce being transported all over the world. He can't fault them for lacking numbers in the military. Especially with Bismarck floating over the city. You'd be out of your mind for even thinking of attacking the city.

"We'll be sending in airships, announce a conscription. Don't worry, we've been working on all the villages. So they'd be comfortable there, meowfficers can also take care of all the chores to keep morale high. I'd roughly say that this will continue for years. Until we can find their main base which we have no clue where it is." Ramiel got into the specifics and gave him a file.

"I still can't believe that those cats can be much more efficient than humans. Its one of the greatest inventions of mankind. Where in the hell did you have the idea to make those?" Godo was puzzled, thinking that Ramiel must have lost his mind when he announced the meowfficers to the world.

"What do I say? I'm a goddamned genius. Meowfficers even take care of all the paperwork and bureaucracy in Midgar. Might want to invest more on them if you don't want to leave your daughter too early." Ramiel patted him on the back and Godo laughed at the absurdity of them.

"Ramiel-nii, can we check out the hotsprings before we leave?" Tifa requested and the others agreed, wanting to relax a bit. "Hmm, you guys did train tirelessly. I guess we can get a soak and return to our missions tomorrow."

The teens were pleased as they prepared themselves mentally. They were going to go on missions nonstop and they would be losing time a lot.

Ramiel then gave them some pocket money for some shopping, Cloud refused and just stayed at their lodging, preferring to sleep. Zack wanted to exercise, but he got stopped in his tracks by an excited Aerith. He looked around for Cloud, but the blonde already escaped.

"Hey Zack! Come with me! Tifa ditched me, saying she wanted to learn more techniques from Ramiel-nii!" Aerith pulled him and Zack was unable to say no to the bubbly girl. He groaned and sighed. 'I guess this is why that traitor Cloud vanished.'

They roamed around Wutai's streets and Zack was pulled around, asked to comment on clothes and accessories that she would try on. "Ugh, you just wanted a commentator and a pack horse." Zack complained and Aerith giggled.

"Of course, dummy. Why would I carry all of these if a gentleman is right here?" She put her tongue out and Zack snorted. But he saw a pink ribbon on the side and with his enhanced mind due to his augments, he clearly imagined her in it.

"Hmmm, I think pink suits her. Hey mister, how much for that ribbon?" Zack let Aerith go on a shopping spree and while she was busy trying on clothes, he bought it for her as a gift.

After they returned to their lodgings, Zack hefted up the clothes she bought. Thinking it was fine because Ramiel can just store it in who knows where he keeps things.

"That's all mine, didn't see anything you like?" Aerith tilted her head and thought he would at least buy something. He was in Wutai after all, it might not be as far from Gongaga, but it was still pretty far away from his hometown.

"Ahhh, yeah I bought something. It's in my pocket." Zack took it out and Aerith looked at it curiously. "What? A ribbon? You gonna give it to a girl you like?" She wiggled her brows and Zack smiled a bit. "Kinda, yeah."

"Ooh! Who is it? Is it Tifa? I'm gonna tell you now, she won't like that. And it won't fit her aesthetic! She suits things more like Alexandra-nee's style. The cool and cold type." Aerith nodded sagely and imagined her in a cool suit like what Alexandra wears.

"Hmmm, it's not for her though." Zack laughed and Aerith tilted her head in confusion. "Stay still." He went up to her and reached for the base of her braids while they were face to face. She went silent and froze. Not expecting the ribbon to be for her.

"There, I guess it does suit you." Zack finished tying it up on her hair and she was still processing it. "What? Not even gonna look if my gift suits you?" Zack pointed at a mirror and Aerith looked at herself with it.

"Why though? Is it really for me?" Aerith thought Tifa was much prettier than her. Though her views were kinda skewed due to Alexandra and Ramiel being important people in her life. Thinking that they were the cool people that people would admire.

"Well, I just saw it and thought it would suit you. And it does, doesn't it?" Zack smiled and Aerith blushed a bit. "I guess. Thank you, I love it Zack." Aerith puffed it up and was quite happy with the simple gift.

"No thank you, because of you. I got in to SOLDIER and met up with Ramiel and Alexandra. Not to mention Genesis and Angeal as well. They're my heroes, and if you didn't haul me to HQ that day. I would still be farming in Midgar to get into the program." Zack sheepishly scratched his cheek and Aerith didn't know that he would be that grateful for it.

"Don't mention it! We're comrades now! And I'm glad that you came to the team." Aerith replied and Zack gave a wide smile. "Then how about one date. I still got to repay you for all the things you did, a single ribbon won't cut it."

Aerith chuckled. "I guess, though I'm used Ramiel-nii spoiling me. So you have to step it up." Aerith warned him and Zack realized that was true. "Then I just have to learn from the best!" He laughed and they unpacked the stuff she bought.

"Get a room you two, stop flirting in front of the door." Cloud groaned inside their room as they were sharing one. Used to being together all the time. He heard their flirting in front and got woken up due to the rustling of the bags.

Meanwhile, Ramiel was thinking of how to track down Deepground's extensive network once and for all. Killing Hojo would end their problems and the terrorist organization will collapse after they dispose of him.

Tifa who lied to Aerith in wanting to train snuck up to him, but he of course knew she was there. "What is it Tifa? Is there something you need from me?" Ramiel looked at her and Tifa froze mid-step, trying to be sneaky.

"Ahh, you found me." She walked up to him and sat beside him, looking at the shishi-odoshi bamboo that filled up and tips once filled with water and makes a knocking sound.

"Any problems? You're usually full of questions and curious, but you're silent now." Ramiel patted her head and was worried that she was having problems.

"Hmm. I don't necessarily think of it as a problem, but... Are we really going to be useful in your endeavors?" Tifa dabbled in seeking out more information and learned about the threat of Omega and the black Materia. She also remembered the fight they saw in person with the titan and Alexander. And she easily concluded that they were just not going to reach that level.

"What's this about?" Ramiel raised a brow and thought that she was probably having doubts, which was natural at their age. Tifa looked down and frowned. "I... We are getting strong yes, stronger than even what I thought possible. But it will take years, even decades to be as effective as you guys. I can't imagine fighting something like the Leviathan, and I can't help but think that threats like those will come."

Ramiel sighed and caressed her hair to make her calm down, putting energy into his palms to make her relax. Tifa felt a warmth on her her head and she nuzzled on to his hand. "Honestly, I can't say don't worry about it. You'll just keep on worrying more and it will eat you in the inside." Ramiel chuckled and Tifa nodded. She won't be satisfied with that kind of crap.

"I guess you guys are great moral support?" Ramiel laughed and Tifa puffed her cheeks at him. "Take this seriously Ramiel-nii." She huffed and he ruffled her hair. "Why do you want to be as strong as us then?"

Tifa didn't quite know the answer to that, so she winged it. "To protect my family and be useful to you guys. Be just like you who protected the world from Shinra." Ramiel frowned at her answer and she thought that she was wrong, that he was disappointed in her.

"You shouldn't quite compare yourselves to us. We were bred to be at the apex Tifa, I wouldn't wish that upon you or the others." He thought of all the painful experiments and stress of scheming.

"Then what should we do? What should I do?" Tifa was spiraling into anxiety and an inferiority complex. Thinking that she and her friends will never be like them. And they were just in for the ride because they were there in the first place. And when it is time to step up, they would just fail and the twins will have to pick up their mess.

"You know, I'm proud of you guys. Even Genesis and Angeal weren't as strong as you guys in your age. Can you imagine yourselves beating them?" Ramiel asked and Tifa shook her head. "They're much more experienced and stronger than us. They can even pressure you back in your spar."

"Exactly, now imagine what you could do when you guys reach their age. You're young, don't stress about the future too much. But if you want to go above and beyond, then put in the effort and I promise that you'll reach heights you didn't think was possible." He patted her head and Tifa nodded.

"Great things take time, develop yourself and be the best version of you. I believe in you and all of you. I won't train some noobs that will not improve. Focus on yourself, not me, not Alexandra, nor anyone for that matter. We can be your motivation to get stronger, but we've walked on entirely different paths. It's only natural the results will be different." Ramiel pinched her cheek and she chuckled.

"I guess. Thanks for that, I'll train harder then. Even more than the others all combined." Tifa hugged him and he smiled, patting her hair. "Atta girl, you are surely my disciple. The grind never stops." He laughed and Tifa nodded with motivation.

"Your parents and I are already proud of you, don't forget that. Now rest and be on your way, we'll be trying to track down Deepground all over the world tomorrow." Ramiel stood up and helped her.

He handed her some milkshakes to share with everyone so they could enjoy it and have a good rest. Tifa returned to their room and saw Cloud was nursing a bump on his head as Aerith whacked him with her staff because of his comment.

"Hey Tifa, had a great training session? What's Ramiel-nii's training like? It must be super hard right?" Zack asked and she smiled. "Yeah, it sure is. But it's the best thing in the world. So you guys better catch up to me."

She handed them their milkshakes and was in a really good mood, all smiles as she swung her legs while sitting beside Aerith that was having a brainfreeze from drinking the coveted milkshake from Ramiel in an instant.

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Thanks for reading everyone, nothing much here. But a timeskip once again next chapter and tracing Deepground will be successful.