Chapter 48: Calm before the Storm
Kairi is relaxing in her and Sora's room in the hotel until Serah bust through the door with a big smirk on her face. "Hey Red, I have good news. We girls are going to hang out at the hot springs," she said.
"That is awesome, we can have some fun in the pool," Kairi said sounding excited to go.
"I got a private bath and its open air as well," Serah said.
"So, who is coming with us?" Kairi asked.
"There is Umiko, Prishe, Yuffie, Aerith, Tifa, Minfilia, Celes, Marlene, Brina, Lunafreya, Jessie, Lightning, Ulmia and Y'shtola will be there," Serah said.
"What about Rinoa, Terra, Lenna and Faris?" Kairi asked.
"Oh well Rinoa is spending time with Squall. Terra is on a date with Riku and the sisters Lenna and Faris are hanging out in the town," Serah said.
"Oh, okay let's go," Kairi said as Serah nods his head to go head off to the hot springs.
Elsewhere Sora is watching some TV for he hears a knock on the door to see Cloud appearing there. "Hey me and the guys are going to hang out at the arcade. You are invited," he said as Sora looks super pumped to go.
"Oh sweet, this is going to be awesome.. Who is coming?" Sora asked.
"Well there will be Noctis, Ignis, Vincent, Hope, Sazh, Calca, Cid, Biggs, Wedge, Prompto, Gladiolus, Locke, and Snow there but Nanaki is taking a nap while Squall is taking care of Rinoa," Cloud said.
"Oh cool, let's get going. What is the arcade called?" Sora asked.
"Well its Space's Edge. Its got games, food, and all sorts of things. We need to relax and get focus for our battle at Hollow Bastion," Cloud said as Sora looked confused. "Oh right, Squall, Minfilia and Lightning plan to assault the main base within the castle and grab the remaining Keystones and prevent him from summoning Ragnarök," he said.
"I wonder, where are you not a sub leader like Lightning or Minfilia?" Sora asked.
"Well due to my hang ups about my missions, it gets in the way of me doing something like that. Alright, enough of the mission. Today, we enjoy ourselves before the final mission against the Drake," Cloud said as the two walk down the street towards the arcade building.
Elsewhere Kairi and Serah meet with the other woman from Prishe goes up and gives Kairi a hug. "Good you showed up Kairi," Prishe said.
"About time, I need to wash my worries away," Yuffie said
"I hope none of the guys be peeking at me," Prishe said.
"Trust me, I doubt anyone would want to do that with you," Light said dryly as this made the dark elf upset.
"What was that pink hair, I am going to bonk you on the head," Prishe tries to punch but Lightning easily dodges her blow and she fumbles onto the ground.
"Yeah you and Yuffie share something in common. You look boyish," Celes teases the younger girls for both Yuffie and Prishe waves their arms in protest.
"What's that suppose to be. We are plenty womanly," both the girls said as Lightning rolls her eyes at this.
"Hey, our pool is ready to go," Kairi said as Serah got them all inside the place.
"Please calm down Prishe, Light and Celes were not serious," the taller dark elf said to cool down her best friend.
"I am going to get my ass nice and wet," Jessie said feeling happy about this.
"This would be so much fun," Aerith said as they go through the building heading for the bathing area.
"Can you resist water Brina?" Serah asked the blond haired android girl.
"I am built to be able to be within water, it will soothe my joints," Brina said.
"That is cool," Serah said as Tifa looks around to see the nice atmosphere the place is giving off.
"Well Serah, you certainly picked a lovely place for us to relax," Tifa said.
"Thanks. This is me and my sister's favorite spot to relax and I thought before the final battle. We ladies can sit back and enjoy ourselves," Serah said.
"That is lovely," Umiko said.
Within an hour, the women manage to reach the bathing area at the edge of the building to be greeted by the staff. "Oh, hello Miss Serah. We are grateful for you to arrival today. Are these your guests?" the staff member asked.
"Yes, these are my friends," she said
"Good, now enjoy the warmth of a good hot spring," the staff said as they go into the locker rooms to put away from their clothes. All the girls are enjoying the private bath along with a nice scenery with the vast sky in the background.
They are in towels to cover their bodies for Prishe and Yuffie looks onto the busty women's chests to look on with envy.
"Hey Yuffie and Prishe, is there something wrong?" Kairi asked as they were looking at Kairi, Tifa, Minfilia, and Celes.
"How big are you?" they both asked as the four women look on with confused. "How big are your tits are?" they both asked as all four of the busty woman look on but Kairi laughs at this.
"Why do you want to know?" Kairi asked as Prishe and Yuffie see the four busty women's breasts floating in the water with deep envy in their eyes.
"Because they are jealous, right?" Umiko asked in a teasing tone.
"A little," the both said as they know they are lying about it.
"Okay, I am 34E Cup," Kairi said.
"Right I am 36G Cup," Tifa said.
"I am 36F Cup," Minfilia said.
"I am 36D Cup, are you happy now you two?" Celes asked as she looks at the two skinny women for them to be in the corner of the pool.
"Oh, why are some ladies are so blessed," Prishe said sounding sad as Yuffie pats her on the back.
"I know the feeling sister from another mother," Yuffie said as Lightning sighs at this stupidity.
"That was stupid," Lightning said as Y'shtola nods her head in agreement.
"I agree, they are being silly," Y'shtola said as the android taking in the warm waters easing her ball joints in her shoulders, elbows and knees.
"Wow, this feels so good," Brina said as her body is feeling quite relieved with the warmth of the water.
"Don't you rust from water" Kairi asked.
"My skin is quite durable and water resistance," she said.
"I see," Kairi looks at the android girl to see her long pigtails are now long and straight to be floating on the water. "Wow, you are so cute. You look like a doll with those ball joints," Kairi said as the robot girl doesn't look amused.
"I am a combat model, I am not a toy," Brina said.
"Oh sorry, its remarkable you look so human," Kairi said as the android looked confused.
"I am not human; my skin is very similar to yours but my frame underneath is made of metal and synthetic muscle," Brina said still looking puzzled by her line of questioning.
"I am happy you are with us, the more friends the better," Kairi said as the android nods her head.
"Yes, more friends. It's been so lonely on that rotting world and now we are here fighting a good cause. If you didn't find us, we would have been scrap metal in a junkyard somewhere," Brina said.
"No problem," Kairi said as the women talk among themselves for Kairi looks upon a new girl who has long blond hair, an angelic face and calm yet kind blue eyes with shapely figure clinging to her towel. "Oh welcome," she greeted the older woman.
"Oh; you must be Kairi. My name is Lunafreya Nox Fleuret or my friends call me Luna. Please to meet you," Luna bows her head gracefully as Kairi is awestruck by her grace and beauty.
"You are so pretty, you look like an angel," Kairi said as Luna looks away to have a meek smile.
"Well thank you, that is very nice for you to say," Luna said having a small smile on her face.
"Yes, its almost like you are a princess or something," Kairi said.
"Because I was," Luna said as Kairi's blue eyes widen by this for her to get closer.
'"You are a princess?" she asked sounding exciting.
"I was the princess of my home country Tenebrae but my nation was overtaken by a neighboring empire Niflheim. I was forced to flee," Luna said.
"That sounds awful," Kairi said feeling empathy for the princess.
"Indeed, it was, in order to unite my people. I need to be wed to my childhood friend Noctis for a treaty to be made but we were in love anyway so it worked out. Then before the wedding begin those Heartless came and ruined my world Eos," Luna said as she can remember the destruction and deep terror those black creatures rained on her world.
"Yeah, the Heartless seem to ruin everything to us. I loss my world too along with my best friend," Kairi said as Luna pat her on the shoulder.
"We can at least share in each other pain and use it to push forward to banish these creature back where they came from," Luna said.
"Yeah, with my light. We can do it," Kairi said.
"I agree," Luna looks over to see Prishe pull off Tifa's towel to show off her nude body with her trying to squeeze her breasts.
"Oh my gosh, how did you get them so big?" Prishe questioned as Tifa is panicking for she is runs away from Prishe from playing with her chest.
"Hey Prishe; stop it, my breasts are not toys," Tifa said with Prishe chasing after her.
"I bet Cloud doesn't think so, let me feel them," Prishe said as the other women are watching Tifa and Prishe running around them for some of them found it amusing.
"Hey Prishe, please stop," Ulmia said to her friend as Umiko cast a Stop spell to make Prishe freeze in place.
"You stand there and calm down," Umiko said as she let the warm water wash over her body.
"Well this is very lively here," Luna said as Kairi laughs along with Luna and the others.
"Yeah it does," Kairi said as she is enjoying herself.
Elsewhere Sora and Cloud meet up with the guys at the entrance of the arcade waiting for him. "Yo Sora, you made it," Snow said to have a big grin on his face.
"Yeah we are going to break those high scores on the game cabinets," Prompto said as they move into the huge building to see it has three floors filled with games of all sorts and a food court covered with different smells spreading throughout the building.
"Oh yeah, the sweet smells of chill dogs and nacho cheese in the air," Gladiolus taking in the rich odor of food filling up his nose.
"Well I am paying for everything. So, go nuts everyone," Cloud said as all the guys spread out to enjoy the entertainment inside.
Sora goes over to see Cloud, Snow and Gladiolus for they are on a machine with them doing some squats trying to outpace each other. "What are you guys doing?" Sora asked.'
"We are seeing who can do the most squats before the timer runs out. This machine is keeping track on our process," Cloud said with Sora looking at the screen to see the three are neck and neck.
"I am feeling the burn," Snow said.
"I am so beating you guys," Gladiolus said
"Yeah, in your dreams," Cloud remarked as the competition is going on with Noctis sitting nearby eating some nachos in a basket.
"Hey Sora right, I got some spare nachos. You want some?" Noctis asked as Sora sits at the table. He looks at the young man who seem to be gloomy with his black outfit but he seems friendly despite this.
"Don't mind if I do," Sora said as he takes a chip and slip into his mouth.
"Good right?" he asked as Sora nods his head.
"Yep, tasty. Are you new around here?" Sora asked for he never seen Noctis or the other four before.
"Well me and the others came here a shortly while ago. I came from a world called Eos where I was a prince of my nation Lucis," Noctis said as Sora looked surprised by this.
"You were a prince?" Sora asked as they were sharing the basket of nachos with the three men trying to get the high score.
"Yep, I was supposed to wed to my childhood friend Luna who was a princess of her own kingdom but they all fallen to darkness by those Heartless," Noctis said.
"That sucks, you got a girlfriend?" Sora asked as Noctis nods his head to dig into a cheesy chip.
"Yep Lunafreya or Luna for short. We have been friends since we were kids, we are fated together by the gods of our world. She is the Oracle and I am the True King, together we would have fought back against the darkness but it was too late for our world," Noctis said sounding somber.
"Well I loss my home too but we can't give up. Noctis, we will beat the Heartless. So, no other worlds will be destroyed like our worlds," Sora said with a bright grin as Noctis look on with interest.
"You and my friend Prompto would get along. You two are very cheerful people," Noctis said.
"You have any special powers?" Sora asked as they finished half the bowl of nachos.
"Its called Armiger or Power of Kings. This power is my birthright, pass down from kings of the past to me. All their knowledge and power flow through me at once letting me use great power and skill I don't normally have as well as wielding all the weapons of the past kings of my bloodline at once," Noctis said.
"That sounds pretty powerful," Sora said sounding impressed.
"Yeah but its very taxing on my body," Noctis said.
"Because you keep slacking off," Gladiolus said as he continues to do squats with Cloud on the verge of winning.
"And I win," Cloud said as he is ahead by Snow and Gladiolus by quite a bit.
"How did you go so fast?" Snow asked.
"Its all in the technique, my old friend Zack was the squat master and he taught me a thing or two," Cloud said.
"Well Gladio, he got you beat there," Noctis said as Gladio rubs his hand onto his head.
"Oh, I will beat him. Next time," he said.
"You two know each other," Sora asked.
"Oh yeah, my family has been protecting the Kings of Lucis for generation. We are their shield and I am Noctis's from beginning to end," Gladiolus said.
"That is pretty cool," Sora said as Gladio sits beside Noctis to see the nachos are gone.
"Hey where are the nachos?" he asked Noctis as the young prince shrugs his shoulders.
"You too slow there, pal," Noctis said.
"Did your father tell you to share with others," Gladio joked as despite Sora thinking this man has a very tall imposing frame he seems quite nice and friendly. "It's nice to see little Noct making new friends. Name's Gladiolus by the name, a friend of Noct is a friend of my," he said.
The day goes by with Sora going to the other side of the arcade to see Sazh, Vincent and Prompto playing a shooter game trying to get the high score with Ignis sitting at a table drinking tea while reading a book.
"What the hell Vincent?" Prompto wondered as their scores were tallied up with Vincent being the clear winner with Sazh being second place while Prompto is third.
"I got more experience with handling a firearm. You will learn kid," Vincent said.
"Yes; Vincent is right, your technique is worst for wear. You need to improve Prompto," Ignis said to fix up his glasses.
"Gee man back me up here," Prompto said.
"They are right kid, you need work," Sazh said.
"Oh well I guess, hey your Sora right? I seen you talking with Noctis and Gladio over there," Prompto said.
"Yeah I was hanging out with them before," Sora said as Prompto pats him on the back.
"Well friends of theirs is a friend of my, my name is Prompto," he reaches out to give Sora a handshake.
"Nice to meet you, you know how to fire a gun?" Sora asked.
"Loosely," Ignis said dryly.
"I am not that bad, here let me show you my skills," Prompto said with a goofy grin as he puts in another coin into the machine. He takes out the pistol as targets are appearing in front of him. He goes in and fires his shots knocking down the moving targets coming into his line of sight.
"That is pretty good," Sora said.
"See, I am not that bad," Prompto said to spins his pistol and blows on the barrel for Vincent and Sazh were not impressed at all.
"You didn't zero in your targets to hit the center to get a better score," Vincent said.
"You will need a better aim in the coming battle against Drake," Ignis said.
"I guess, but keeping mobile while aiming is super tricky," Prompto said.
"Indeed, Sora. I forget to introduce myself I am Ignis. One of Noctis's companion, its nice to see Noctis befriending other people," Ignis said.
"Likewise," Sora said.
"This is it, I am working with Squall, Minfilia and Lightning to make a plan that will use our numbers and skills to work well in our siege of the Hollow Bastion castle where Drake is held. Be prepared for it Sora," Ignis said as he sips his tea from his cup.
"Yeah, it's not too long from now," Sora said as Ignis place his hand on the young man's shoulder.
"Relax, we go to the desired location and we go on our assault to stop Drake along with his madness," Ignis said.
"Gee Ignis, you make it sound easy," Prompto said as Ignis shows off his usual stern expression.
"It will not be, there will be struggle everywhere you turn on that world," Ignis said as they enjoy the rest of the day in the arcade.
Elsewhere Faris and Lenna are through the town to enjoy the sights of Traverse Town. "Man, I been on that world for so long, I forget what normal civilization looks like," Faris said to see all sorts of people enjoying themselves.
"Yeah but being around pirates for so long would do that to you," Lenna said as Faris laughs at this.
"Indeed; little sis, so how is life treating you lately?" Faris asked.
"Its good, I made good friends with Kairi and the others. They are very good people who took care of me when I was loss within the sea of darkness," Lenna said.
"I am grateful to them and now we have a shared enemies with this Drake fellow and his demon horde destroying our worlds for his own benefits," Faris and Lenna are by the pier to see the sea before them. She is wielding her new magical saber to raise it above her head. "With this new sword, I will avenge our world from those monsters," Faris felt her hand get grabbed by her little sister.
"No, we will avenge our kingdom and world together," Lenna said as Faris has a rough smirk.
"I know, I know," Faris said as they both look out onto the sea to be each other's company.
Elsewhere Squall is beside Rinoa within her room as she is recovering quite nicely. "Oh Squall, you are here," she said as she has a bright expression on her face for her body has fully recovered.
"Yeah I was here waiting for you to wake up," Squall said.
"Gentlemanly as always huh? You got a good group of friends here," Rinoa said as she begins to get out of bed to only be in a white nightgown.
"Yeah I do," Squall said as he looks at his girlfriend who has a cheeky look on her face. "What's wrong Rinoa?" he asked.
"Oh, you have changes for the better. I remember you being very anti-social not making many friends and look at you now. You manage to get lots of people to fight for a common cause with you at the helm," Rinoa said sporting a smile at his change of character.
"Yeah I managed," he said to give Rinoa a hug. "I wanted to look for you for so long and now you are here. By my side where you belong," he deepens the hug with Rinoa kissing him on the lips.
"I place with miss you my love," Rinoa said as they embrace to be happy of their reunion.
Within the 7th Heaven, Riku and Terra are inside with people manning the shop. Terra and Riku are drinking milkshakes with Terra feeling very nervous about her feeling. "I had a fun time, Riku," Terra said as she gives him a hug.
"Ditto," he said as he thought of something slyly. "Hey Terra, close your eyes. I have a surprise for you," Riku said.
"What is it?" she asked with her green ponytail brushing against the breeze from the nearby window.
"I am not telling you. Close your eyes," he said as she follows his request waiting for her surprise.
"I wonder what he is going to do," Terra said feeling her cheeks getting red feeling a bit nervous as Riku thought the expression on her face is quite adorable. She feels his hands on her cheeks with her face blushing to feel a warm breath. She feels something soft on lips as she opens her eyes to see Riku kissing her.
"Oh, you ruined the surprise," Riku said as Terra is left breathless. "Terra, I want you to be my girlfriend," he said as she is beginning to cry. "Wait a minute. Why are you crying, did I do something wrong?" he asked sounding worried
"No. It's just I am so happy," Terra giving him big hug. "I never had a boyfriend before. So, this is new to me," she said as Riku embraced her.
"Don't worry, I will help you ease into it," Riku said as Nanaki looks from the corner of the room.
"Get a room you two," Nanaki said playfully for Terra kisses him on the lips.
"Maybe we should before the battle starts," Terra said for she holds his hand with a big blush on her cute little face.
"Let's," Riku takes her to one of the spare rooms to get some 'alone' time with Terra as the hybrid girl has a nervous giggle.
"I am so nervous," Terra said as they were in a room together with Riku at the door with Terra sitting on the bed.
"Don't worry, I will be gentle with you," Riku turns off the lights to be with Terra on the bed as they enjoy each other's company.
On top of a building Xion is looks up at the sky to sense something darkness happening here. "So, our mistress's plan is about to begin and when Drake is killed, she will make her move and bring true balance to these broken worlds," Xion said to disappear into the shadows for the final battle against Drake is about to begin.
A/N: No more fluff chapters, the next chapter is the start of the final part of this storyline called Xehanort's Legacy which will be broken into multiple parts since this ending of this story arc is quite big.