At The Zoldycks

Space blurred in front of the Testing Gate at Kukuroo Mountain, and briefly opened just as a young girl who was 7 years old stepped in front of the gates out of seemingly nowhere. Although her figure seems like a child, her cold face and unsettling gaze said otherwise. She stepped up to the gates, and pushed.

As I teleported to Kukuroo Mountain, I decided to see how many of the Testing Gates I could open.

I hoped I could do at least 5, but because of my body's situation, there's only so much I could do.

Since nen is supposed to strengthen the physical body of the nen user, I'd imagine I'd be much stronger than an average 7-year old, plus all the weight training I did at the Zoldycks and Heavens Arena.

Honestly, if I used nen I might be able to do six or even seven, but I just wanted to test my raw physical strength for now.

I stood in front of the Gates, wondering if the Zoldycks already knew I was here and were seeing how many I could open.

I stared at the Gates, preparing myself as I glared in determination, and stepped up in front of them.

Planting my feet firmly on the ground, I put both hands on the Gates, and pushed.

Feeling my muscles bulging, I continued pushing as I heard the Gates start opening.

Slowly, one gate opened, then two, then three.

The fourth creaked open, and the fifth began to open, as well, before I started to lose strength in my arms and I quickly hurried through.

It seems like awakening nen really does strengthen the physical body, even if I didn't use it.

Having normally maintained ten, I had to forcefully stop using it in order to see my actual original physical strength.

Opening 4 and even a little of 5 was actually really good, especially with my tiny and young body.

Come to think of it, if I grow to my 30s or 40s, or whenever my "prime" is, would I still have that strength if my body is in a smaller or younger form?

I think so, since the nen wouldn't deplete....

I'll have to ask someone. I wouldn't want to lose strength just to look like a kid.

I put ten back up as I stepped onto the path.

Almost expecting to see Canary, I warily continued until I reached the place Canary would have met Gon, if this was a few good years in the future.

There stood the entire Zoldyck family, looking like a perfect portrait picture.

I continued on, before stopping in front of them.

Silence hung over us, and I wasn't sure what to do.

"..."

Unsure if I should talk first or if they had something to say, I waited.

"...Mizuki. You've made me so proud...."

My mother, Ahma, says softly, smiling slightly as her eyes sparkled with pride and joy.

"Indeed. I wasn't sure what to expect, but becoming a Floor Master certainly exceeded my expectations." Ankoku said, looking awkward but proud, as well.

I wasn't sure if it was because I'd learned nen by myself, but everyone who had gathered here seemed to be proud of me, or at least had high hopes for me.

Hopefully, they won't get their hopes up too high and expect me to become the future head, and then try to force me to when I refuse like with Killua.

Maha walked up to me, smiling. Although his smile had gotten less innocent and pure, I could still see genuine warmth and love in it. I smiled back slightly.

While I'm still a "child," I suppose I should act like one.

Plus, he's my "sibling" in this world, and this world is where I will spend the rest of this life in.

Actually, this world might just be an alternate dimension of the original Hunter X Hunter world... but for me, this is my world now - I'm spending my life in it - so I should treat it as if it's real.

Honestly, I might loosen up slightly when I'm with Maha or kids, and Killua and Gon might even get me to genuinely want to be with them.

That is in the future, though, so for now, I should focus on the present.

"Good job, sister Mizuki! It was so cool how you beat the strongest person there, and became the youngest Floor Master ever!" Maha says, smiling as he complimented me.

My lips lifted slightly as I patted his head.

Hanako chuckled, pulling me into a hug with Maha.

"That was amazing. You really went ahead and became a Floor Master, huh? Though the Floor Masters are actually pretty weak... not bad for your age, kiddo."

Hanako said, smiling amusedly at me.

Although I had to search for it, I managed to find a trace of pride and sincerity in her eyes.

I smiled, happy. I felt like I was officially becoming a Zoldyck.

Thank you, but before you all start putting too much responsibility on me, I have something to say; I'm not becoming the heir. You can forget about it, so don't get your hopes up on me. No way am I becoming the head of the Zoldyck family....

Is what I'd like to say, but I feel like the adults won't put it as much effort in teaching me nen if I immediately shut them down.

I'll learn what I need to learn, then talk to them about it and say Maha should become the head.

"Thanks... it was pretty fun, I guess. And I got stronger, so I feel like my time there wasn't a waste." I say, smiling.

"Can you guys train me, though? I need to talk to you all soon before we start to work on it."

Maha looked at me curiously.

"On what?"

I sighed, looking down at him and doing my best to smile.

"It's nothing, Maha. You'll learn when you're a bit older."

Maha pouted slightly, before he huffed, saying

"you're only three years older than me, Kuki."

'Kuki' was Maha's nickname for me. When he was younger, he had called me 'Kuki,' and he liked to call me it sometimes, though he called me 'Mizuki' more nowadays.

"I know, but I'm older mentally."

The adults watched this exchange, before my great-grandfather answered.

"Of course. We'll talk right after dinner. We'll add this training to all your other training, since you haven't completed the Zoldyck family training yet. You have so much potential, it'd be a waste not to give you guidance."

I turned his way.

"Yes. Thank you, grandfather Kane."

I say, bowing in respect of the eldest person present and his decision.

What would the training include?

I should tell them some of what I already know so they don't waste time trying to make me learn it.

After dinner, where none of the food was poisoned - I suppose it was a "welcome home" meal, and they didn't want to make it stiff or unwelcoming by poisoning it - I went up to the room my great-grandfather used for when he summoned someone from the Zoldyck family.

Only Zoldycks were allowed in there, so it was a private place.

I remember hearing that Maha started his "sleep" training - where he learned to function for days with no sleep - and so I didn't bother to tell him where I was going.

I knocked gently, hearing the knock reverberate slightly before great-grandfather Zane said, "Come in."

I pushed open the door, and stepped inside.

The last time I had been here was when I had been informed of going to Heavens Arena - back then, it was positioned for four people; me, my parents, and Zane.

This time, it was made for the entire family minus Maha, so it looked different from the last time I had seen it.

In the center of the room was a table, with 3 chairs on each side.

At the head of the table was Zane, and on the other side was great-grandmother Chie.

I sat down in the only empty chair, and waited for Zane to announce the start of the meeting.

Zane was still extremely powerful and capable enough to continue to serve as the head of the family.

He had announced earlier (before I was born) that he would be the head while I was learning so that the rest of the family could help me be Maha become powerful and skilled.

My father, Ankoku, was technically the head of the Zoldycks, but since he had also wanted to train me, he had willingly agreed to the temporary arrangement.

"Mizuki. This meeting is to determine how much stronger you have become after Heavens Arena. Usually, your training would just slightly increase and there would be no need for this. However, you requested for additional training, and seeing as you've learned nen on your own, we must hold this meeting to determine how much you've learned and how much your training will need to be adjusted. Are there any objections so far?" Zane says, looking at me.

"None, great-grandfather. Would you like me to list what I have learned and how I've trained first?"

"Yes, do." He replies, looking at me in expectation.

"Alright. So, I've obviously learned nen. I learned the basics and some advanced techniques. I can maintain ten all the time, like I'm doing now. I can maintain zetsu easily, and I've also trained while being also using zetsu. I can also hold my ren for 5 hours," I say.

I had practiced holding ren for 3 hours, like Gon and Killua, but since it was easy for me to hold it for 2.5 hours, I decided to push myself further and aimed for 5.

"I also developed hatsu. I actually wanted to make several. I know I'm not supposed to, but one of my hatsu makes it possible. Do you want to see me use water divination? Since I'm a specialist," I add.

The adults, who had been listening patiently, murmured their agreement, and my aunt went to get what was needed.

Everyone waited in silence until Hanako came back, and watched me as I slowly poured my nen into the glass.

The same thing happened as before;

The leaf began to vibrate slightly before it shrank until it became a leaf bud.

Then, it slowly opened up and then changed into a baby flower.

Next, another glass appeared right next to the glass, and started teleporting place to place. I imagined a chocolate bar, and as soon as I imagined it, the clone glass turned into that chocolate bar.

As I continued applying nen, the water began to slowly rise, spilling slightly before the flower bud turned back into a leaf.

The water began to evaporate, and then the air around the glass turned into water, splashing on the ground.

"I've analyzed it, and came up with some basic ideas. But some of it I'm not sure how to use, like the air turning into water. When I had done water divination for the first time, I had become happy and felt joy. Then, the air around me turned pink, like a mist. And then the pink mist turned into strawberries, which I like. Hundreds - I don't even know how many, actually - of strawberries came raining down from a few feet above. I don't think they disappeared, too."

I look expectantly at the adults, waiting to see their response.

The adults silently thought about it, before my grandmother said, "what if you can turn air into objects or natural elements? Since air turned into water and strawberries, you might be able to control natural elements like fire, earth, and wind. And you might also be able to create things, almost like a conjurer, depending on your mood. Say, if you hate roses, if you felt hatred, roses might appear in the air. I think it would be possible to control it if you trained hard enough."

I mulled over her words, processing the information.

"That actually might be what it is! Thank you, grandmother Yuki!" I exclaim, happy a mystery I hadn't been sure about was solved.

"Okay. So, I've learned I can sort of manipulate time and space, and I can also swap objects with the same matter. I could take a bill of Jenny and swap it with a bill of Jenny worth more. It's kind of like how a conjurer does it, but it's easier and has to be the same matter, so I'm not creating it out of thin air. I can use space to teleport, and I can use time for healing, slowing down time, and even reversing or fast-forwarding age on myself." I say, thinking about my powers and if I should keep the part about being able to make other people younger a secret.

"Those are quite the abilities, Mizuki. If the age part is why you feel like you can learn multiple hatsu, it certainly isn't wrong. But for now, focus on mastering three hatsu. When you show them to us, you can move forward. Anything you want to ask? Or any suggestions for training?" Hanako says, looking impressed.

"Actually, yes. Is there any way I can use nen to understand animals? I think I have really good hearing, so I might be able to speak to animals if I can understand what they're saying."

Hanako, and my mother, look shocked and taken aback.

My great-grandmother is the one who answers.

"Hmm...I believe so. You can create conditions and limitations on the nen, and even if your determination isn't that strong, I'm sure you would at least be able to understand what animals say, if your nen is powerful enough. And from what I've heard, you're very skilled in nen."

I blink, repeating the information in my head. I hadn't thought of that.

Since Kurapika had such a strong motivation to achieve his goal, his conditions and limitations were so strong they risked his life constantly.

He threw away his life to create powerful nen, but I didn't think about the fact that I didn't need to do that.

I only wanted to understand animals, maybe even communicate with them; I didn't want to get rid of one of the strongest group of nen users in the world.

Plus, this family definitely knew how to create conditions.

"That's actually a really good idea! Thank you!" I say, excited to have found a solution.

"Did you have any suggestions for training, then?"

My father asks, looking at me.

"I just wanted you guys to train me, honestly... but I also want to make my en really advanced, at least a few hundred meters, and I also want to strengthen my hearing. And if it's possible, can I be taught how to copy other people's hatsu? I have good enough memory for it to be possible, but I was wondering if there was an easier way." I say.

I had been wondering if there was an easier way for me to be able to copy other people's hatsu, and if there was, I would try to master that.

"I'm not certain... but you could create condition for that, as well, I'm sure." Grandfather Tsurugi said.

"Okay. Thanks, grandfather!" I say. I would have to spend time thinking about the conditions and limitations, then.

"Okay, so now that that's done...should I talk about what else I've learned and trained in?"

I ask, looking around.

After receiving agreement from everyone, I began to talk about how I had gotten good at throwing needles at pressure points, how I had learned to teleport short distances in a fight, how far my nen reach so far (about 75-80 meters), and some other abilities.

I left the part about being able to make people over 50 younger, since I wasn't sure if I cared about the older people here enough to use it on them.

***

"That was a long meeting. It's been several hours already," mother said, sighing as she glanced at her watch.

"Indeed." Ankoku replied.

"Say, Mizuki... I haven't asked you this yet, but how did you come to learn so much about nen? And how did you know how to train it?" Asks Zane, looking at me with curiosity.

No doubt he had his own theories, but I couldn't exactly tell him the truth.

"Oh, I just read a book."

I say.

"..."

Zane sighs, saying "Alright, fine. It's your secret."

I smile, nodding in return.

I doubted there were actually any books about nen where someone could simply find one in this world, but I was grateful Zane had decided to drop the topic.

Today had been productive. I had found several solutions to some of my problems, and I was going to be trained by some of the strongest current nen users.

I was going to be trained earnestly, and unlike Killua who began to feel bored, I felt excited as I thought of how this training would prepare me for a life of adventure and excitement ahead.

In this life, I wouldn't merely work for money and influence - I would work for an eventful and exciting life filled with fun.

I could see a bright future ahead of me.

Author's Note:

I'm taking a short break, so I'm sorry for sort of rushing the ending.

I'm just taking the day off, but I wanted to write a quick chapter for everyone. I hope it wasn't too boring...

I know it was mostly dialogue, and even I got bored writing it.

But this chapter did have some solutions to some of Mizuki's problems, so I don't think it was entirely a waste.

Thank you for reading and understanding!