"It wasn't a dream! Or was it? I dunno."
Chapter Seventeen: The Eden Continent
"C'mon, Xion!" a preteen with red hair shouted.
His cohort, the azure-haired boy named Isa, rolled his eyes and said, "Lea, why are you shouting if we're supposed to be running away?"
"Because Xion's taking too long," Lea told him.
Their Animi, one a wolverine and the other a red fox, sighed and joined their other halves. They were in the metallic halls of an airship dock and the two preteens waited for the littlest of their company, Xion. The small seven-year-old wanted to run away…again, especially after seeing a very horrendous thing in the palace's basement.
Isa and Lea found her, as they were sworn to protect her, and were equally horrified. So, they took Xion's request to help "kidnap" her. But for a girl wanted to leave, she was sure taking her sweet time.
"Xion! C'mon!" Lea said, worried that they would get caught.
The raven-haired girl in black appeared, running while dragging a bag of something…
"What are you doing? And what's all that?" Isa asked.
Xion looked at the blue duffle bag and said, "Oh! These are all my toys! I can't sleep without them."
"Xion, we're running away, not moving to another palace," Isa told her.
"But!" Xion started.
The familiar sound of roaring Heartless filled the hall and Lea grabbed Xion, carrying her on his back. The trio took off, with their Animi following behind.
Present day, Eden Continent…
"What's taking her so long? She always does this," Lea, about seven years older and dressed in a jacket, pants and boots combo of black and red, said while pacing back and forth in a small room.
Isa, also the same age of 19 and dressed in black, blue and silver, watched and said, "You'll burn a hole in the floor if you keep pacing."
"Nah…" Lea replied.
Isa's wolverine Animus, Logan, said, "At least we were able to keep Vanitas off our scent this time."
Lea's fox Animus, Reno, stretched on the bed near Lea. He then added, "Well, we don't know how long that'll last anyway. Vanitas has always had a serious…prey drive. Especially for one of the Taka."
Another five minutes went by and Lea asked, "Seriously, where is she?"
The door to the room opened and a flustered fourteen-year-old in all black came in with a black hawk Anima diving in behind her. She slammed the door and Isa said, "Welcome back."
"Um, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Xion said, bowing at the two.
"Well, as long as you're okay," Lea said.
"Says the one that was the most worried," Isa muttered.
Lea glared and Xion asked, "So, do we know what we're supposed to do?"
"Finally, we get to why we're here in the first place," Reno said, yawning.
Lea muttered curses and Isa pulled out a small crystal. It was from their client, a mysterious woman known as Mal. It appeared one day on their small Gummi Ship, the Belmont. It was a recording, like the spheres of the World of Endless Seas, and Mal wanted the hidden treasure of St. Milo's Abbey. If they completed their mission and replied by crushing the crystal, then they would receive 20,000 munny each, enough to keep far away from their home world, the World of Ruin.
"So, the hidden treasure…?" Xion asked.
"Is a book she wants called the Book of Processes or something…" Lea said.
"'Prophecies.' It's a legendary treasure from the Old World. Supposedly, it belonged to the Master of Masters, a prophet who saw the past and the future," Isa corrected.
Xion remembered that the book had the power to tell the future. But who would want to constantly know the future?
"So, I was thinkin' that we go in there in disguise," Lea started.
"Disguised as what?" Isa asked.
"Well, me and you as SOLDIERs and Xion can go in as a nun," Lea said.
Isa didn't like the plan and his Animus said, "And you forget that those SOLDIERs are practically brothers, so they all know each other. And they have those rings, something that we don't have."
"So? We go and steal one from those in Cornelia and…" Lea continued.
"And you forget that they're highly trained in martial arts, including dismemberment, decapitations, Heartless hunting, etc.," Isa interrupted.
Xion's eyes went wide and Lea conceded, muttering, "Okay. Okay. Going in disguise isn't an option. Then what is?"
"I can go in for recon and see what I can find. You and Xion can check the perimeter outside the abbey. Since Chiharu can fly a long way from Xion, she can search the skies for any hidden entry points," Isa said.
"And if we're caught?" Xion asked.
"Then head back to the Gummi ship. We docked it near Port Eden in the north," Isa told her.
"Near the ruins, right?" Xion said.
Isa nodded and the trio left the inn, gathering more intel for their mission.
The Eden continent in the southeast was a vast continent, filled with various regions, each with its brand of flora, fauna and Heartless encounters. Named exactly like the one from the Old World, it differed greatly from it as the towns and cities varied. One such place was the abbey of St. Milo's, a hub for the World of Twilight's SOLDIERs, the main guards of the Sanctum temples. There was also a kingdom on the northeastern side of the continent, the Kingdom of Fynn and its many small towns and villages. It took up nearly 1/3 of the landmass, with the regency of Lindblum to the south and the Sanctum-controlled St. Milo's region in the northwest.
Despite the continent being split into three, the ruling power belonged to the abbot of St. Milo's, the aged Abbot Mauricio. Thankfully, the man was known to all as a kind soul, taking in the wandering nomadic tribe of the Sea Wolves and Lupos' orphans into his fold. Some even became SOLDIERs and joined the fight against the Heartless. Despite their lineage, those that were among the SOLDIERs but of the Lupo tribe would fight to the end to protect their beloved abbot.
Or that's what Terra thought, anyway. He came out of his thoughts, seeing that he was nearing Port Eden. On chocobo-back and surprised that he arrived so soon, the nineteen-year-old hopped off the oversized, yellow bird once he was at the gates. There, he was greeted by the guards, with one saying, "Oh! Hello, Mister SOLDIER."
Looking at the blue uniform he wore that was more like an ancient martial artist's uniform than proper military attire, Terra gave an internal sigh of relief as he was sure that yellow feathers from the chocobo would stick to his tunic. At his left hip was a standard broadsword, blessed by the abbot and used to slay Heartless that would get in his way. At his right was a small satchel.
Next to him was his wolf Animus named Gaius. He approached, telling the guards, "We're here about those girls that showed up in a flash of light."
The guards' Animi, both small birds, piped up and one said, "Yeah! Yeah! They just showed up outta nowhere!"
"Yeah and they're really heavy sleepers, not to mention one looks like a noble!" the other said.
"And the innkeeper, she's not too happy that they destroyed her roof…" the second guard told Terra.
"Okay, I'll go check. And I'll have the munny ready for our next match," Terra said.
The gates were opened and the young SOLDIER stepped into town.
With Isa…
Standing at the doors of the large imposing abbey, Isa gulped as the thought of stealing from an abbey brought guilt and a bit of fear. His Animus snickered and muttered, "Wimp."
"Excuse me. If I'm a wimp, what does that make you?" Isa asked Logan.
The wolverine Animus felt silent and Isa said, "Though so."
He walked towards the gatekeeper, a monk dressed in brown robes, and was given a small greeting. Isa's fear and guilt became worse as the man said, "Hello and welcome to this refuge of the Goddess. For prayer, go inside."
Isa nodded and entered, stepping into the traveler's chapel. On the left and right walls were portraits of previous abbots, with prayer candles on stands in front of them. Pilgrims prayed in front of those pictures, hoping the old abbots would intercede for their prayers. Before Isa was a red and gold rug leading up to a large statue of the robed Goddess holding a staff. She smiled down on those that bowed before the statue and two monks, dressed like the one outside and their heads shaved, protected the stonework. For doors in two small alcoves on the right and left led to the outside and deeper into the abbey.
Heading to the door on the statue's right, Isa's left, the young man entered deeper int o the abbey and saw an open air courtyard with a large fountain in the center. Near the doorways was a smaller altar and pulpit, used by the abbot and was being used at the time by another monk, extorting a richer pilgrim. Around the fountain were spickets, where pilgrims could wash their hands, feet and face before seeing the abbot. They could also bottle some water up to take home as it was labeled "holy water". Isa didn't get how it was, but wasn't planning on asking any questions about it.
At the end of the courtyard were double doors guarded by two blue-clad SOLDIERs with dog Animi. Isa hoped that he wasn't being to suspect as he investigated the place. If they were on to him, then there's no telling what they would do.
Just as he started to leave, he heard a woman yell at one of the SOLDIERs. With a foot stamp, the dark-skinned woman in yellow yelled, "What do you mean, I can't see the abbot? I was granted an audience with His Grace!"
"Sorry ma'am. No exceptions," one said.
"You dare to impede a 'summoner's' pilgrimage?" the woman asked.
A rather burly man joined her side and the second Templar said, "Leave now, woman. Lest you wish to die by a SOLDIER's sword!"
Just before things could escalate, the doors opened and Isa heard, "'Cuse me. Pardon me. Comin' through."
"What do you want, 'wolf boy'?" the first Templar asked, turning around to see a raven-haired young man in SOLDIER's clothing.
He was an oddity as his hair was spiked, like he had put on way too much hair gel or wax. There was a wolfish Animus walking beside him and he didn't seem fazed by the growling dog Animi. With a wave of his hand, the raven-haired one said, "C'mon, you don't want Auron writing another report on you guys, do you?"
"Well…I supposed not…" the second told him.
"What's it to you whether we get written up, Zack? This woman here is disturbing the peace in this abbey and we're the ones who shouldn't let any riff-raff…!" the first yelled.
"Riff-raff? I'll show you…!" the dark-skinned woman said.
Her muscled friend stopped her, saying, "Dona, let's just go. Tia Dalma doesn't want us to…"
"Shut it, Bartello! I'll show them the power of a Kilikan…!" Dona said before Zack interrupted.
"I apologize, but we're not lettin' anyone see the abbot right now. Really sorry about that. So, try again tomorrow?" Zack asked her.
Dona went silent and Isa wondered who or what she was. Was she like them, a Worlds Traveler? Kilika was an island in the World of Endless Seas and didn't exist in other worlds. So, how did she get there and what was she doing there?
"Isa, focus," Logan said, snapping Isa out of it.
Swiftly, he reentered the chapel, taking the door leading outside, but not off abbey grounds. Making sure that no one overheard him, Isa pulled out a small crystal and said, "Well, I was right. This place is heavily guarded."
"Crud," was Lea's response.
Xion sighed and asked, "So, there's no way to get in?"
"No. Apparently some idiots are guarding the only way in that can be seen…Going in the air would be a mistake too. So, I don't know how we can get in to find that book," Isa said.
"Well, we're still looking around the outskirts. All we came across is some ruins…" Lea reported.
"And Chiharu saw nothing in the skies that lead into the abbey except the main entrance," Xion added.
"Alright. We'll rendezvous in Port Eden. We have to find a way in to look for the book," Isa said.
Port Eden…
"Seriously, Mister SOLDIER, they just appeared out of nowhere, crashing through my roof and destroying it! Look!" the rotund woman told Terra.
She took him to the upstairs area, where more rooms were available for travelers, mostly pilgrims. There was a gasping hole in the roof in the hallway and the cold sea air poured in. Luckily, it hadn't rained in a while, so the floor and other items were dry. The innkeeper was irate and Terra asked where the people who destroyed her roof were.
She led him to a room at the end of the hall, opened it and Terra jolted as one of them was a familiar sight. Taking a step inside, he said, "Aqua?"
Aqua, the blue-haired Mysidian mage, was covered in bandaged, but seemed to be alright as she was wide awake. Her eyes widened at the sight of Terra and she said, "Um, how…?"
"You're in Port Eden," Terra replied.
"I am? How did…? We were in the tower and…" Aqua started.
She looked to her right, where a bed was and a little redhaired girl laid. She was asleep and her small white cat Anima was on her chest. There was a light, a soft white light that came from the girl and the effect was calming for Terra. He didn't know why, but it was.
Amalia, Aqua's Anima, was on her bed and glowered at Terra. She then told him, "Well, I don't know why you're here, but we don't need…!"
"Hmm? Who…? How?"
The redhaired girl woke up and her eyes widened at the sight of Terra. He didn't get why she looked so shocked and the girl said, "Um, are you…?"
"My name is Terra. Terra Aiolfi, a SOLDIER from St. Milo's," Terra told her.
Aqua shrugged, saying, "And I'm still wondering how. You're of the Lupo tribe, a Wolf Nomad."
"And an orphan too," Gaius added for Terra.
The girl introduced herself as Kairi Haseo and her little Anima was Naminé. The name sounded familiar, but Terra didn't get why. In fact, the mere sight of her had familiarity, but he never seen the girl before.
"How did we get here? The last thing I remember was that we were in the tower and that Lyon guy helped us and…" Kairi started.
"And we wound up here," Aqua finished.
Terra didn't want to question them any further as they seemed to not know what had happened. But, he didn't want to return to the abbey just yet. Especially without anything to report. So, maybe it was best to settle down and watch over the two as they recovered.
"We don't need you to protect us!" Amalia yelled, as if knowing what he was thinking.
"Don't worry. Terra's not a perv," Gaius told her.
The cat Anima hissed, saying, "Well, he's a guy and you guys are usually…"
"And ladies can't be pervs? I beg to differ, 'Mali'," Gaius argued.
"Hey, I told you not to call me that!" Amalia yelled.
"AHEM! So, what're you gonna do about my roof? Is the Sanctum gonna help pay or what? Especially since it seems that you know these girls," the innkeeper asked, growing impatient.
Terra quickly found his munny satchel, handed it to the owner and she looked inside. Disappointed, she handed it back, saying, "I make more munny than that in a week…Just…hurry up and leave my inn. It seems that the girls are healed up enough."
"Well, when we talk with the abbot, he can help you out," Gaius said.
She wasn't buying it and told them, "Hurry up and get out. Taking munny from poor monks isn't my thing."
"So, so?"
"So, what?" a younger Chao asked, seeing the little princess from Radiant Garden standing in front of him.
The redhead in pink pouted and said, "You didn't answer my questions."
"Oh, what was it?" Chao asked.
"Um, why are you in Zanarkand? Aren't you one of the Heim princes? And why are you so pale? You look like Death!" she asked.
Chao nodded and told her, "Well, I'm…sickly. And the doctors from my country don't know why I get so sick. And I haven't seen the sun a lot. Was in bed most of my life, you know."
The princess Leonora kept pouting, not finding his answers sufficient. He didn't know what else to tell her. He didn't get why he was so ill most of his life and why he was practically banished to Zanarkand. The city's doctors didn't seem all that capable.
"Chao! Leonora! His Majesty wants you at 'High Table'!" the princess' governess shouted from down the hall.
Princess Leonora ran off, yelling, "This isn't over! I'll find out sooner or later!"
'Seriously, why is she looking for answers? I told her all I know,' Chao thought.
He got up from his chair, one near his room on the palace's 3rd floor, and started off towards the dining room on the 2nd floor. As he passed by windows, dark from the night sky, he saw his reflection and paid it no mind. Not until he came to the window near the main staircase.
Just as he was about to turn, he saw his reflection had changed. Jumping, Chao saw someone else there, staring back at him and it was terrifying. It was of a man with silver hair, grey, scaly skin and black and fire red eyes. Horns protruded from his head, like a dragon's, and he stared with an expressionless gaze. Chao jumped, nearly falling down the stairs when someone caught him.
"Are you alright, Your Highness?" a guard asked him.
"Y-yeah…" Chao muttered.
Ruins near St. Milo's…
"So, you two found a way in?" Isa asked over the crystal.
Xion nodded, despite Isa not being able to see her, and said, "Chiharu found an old SOLDIER's ring near this stone marker. And…"
"An old map of the place," Lea added.
Xion pouted, muttering, "Way to spoil my report…"
"Okay…what's so good about this map?" Isa asked.
Lea opened it and said, "From the looks of it…there's some kind of tunnel running underneath this place. Almost like someone was trying to excavate here and found it."
Xion looked around, seeing that most of the area was rubble. There was a skeleton of a chapel, a few gravestones and a large empty field with a partially exposed archway. Signs of a recent campfire were near it and that was where they found the map, mostly buried in the dirt. The skies above were dark and Xion felt a chill in the air.
"That's because it's kinda cold here. We are near the northern continent," Chiharu told her.
"Yeah, but it's Summer here. Or at least that's what the almanacs say…" Reno said, noting that the southern continent's weather wasn't that much warmer for summer temps.
"So, what's with the ring?" Isa asked.
"I think…it's a key or something…" Xion said.
"How'd you figure that?" Lea asked her.
Xion went up to the stone marker and saw that there was an impression on it. It was in the same shape as the heart-shaped sigil of SOLDIER and Xion wondered if it would react to the ring. Just as Isa warned them to return to Cornelia for a new strategy, Xion placed the ring into the impression, turning it and hearing a click.
Mist rose up from the field and black and white flames burned. A wave of dark smoke and Lea and Xion turned away to protect themselves. The vision of a horned man sitting on a throne, clad in armor, came to Xion and she gasped. As the black mist died, Lea and Xion were nowhere to be found, only the crystal left behind.
And they're gone…Anyway, Aqua and Terra has been reunited and Kairi's with them. But what about Sora, Riku, Ven and the others? Stay tuned!
-miano53