"All I have to do is- Wait, I'm not going to reveal my brilliant plan yet. Villains always make that mistake by explaining it too early. Now, get back to the other ship!" Kuja ordered.
Eiko's ship…
"Moodon, are we almost there?" Eiko whined.
"Yes, it's only 10 minutes away, kupo."
"Alright. What exactly am I supposed to do when we get to that galaxy?"
"You're going to have to perform the traditional Chocobo Polka."
"Chocobo polka!? What does a chocobo have to do with anything?"
"Don't ask me, kupo."
"Is that all?"
No, then you have to summon an eidolon, remember?"
"Oh yeah… Inside the ship? Isn't that a little dangerous?"
"Not really, kupo…"
"How do you know that?"
"Uh, guess work, kupo…"
"Excuse me, Commandress, kupo, a black mage wants to speak with you in the airlock," Gumo informed her.
"A black mage? Okay, bring me to him."
"A-are you sure?" Mogki asked.
"Black mages are nice. Remember Vivi?"
"Yes, but these are Kuja's mages, kupo."
Eiko nodded. "You're right, but I have to see what he wants. It'd be rude not to. Let's go, Gumo."
Gumo showed Eiko to the airlock where the black mage was waiting.
"I have to go help Artemicion in the engine room," he told Eiko.
"Space ships have engine rooms?" Eiko asked in surprise.
"Well this one does, kupo. I hope everything's going alright. After the Mognet episode he hasn't been acting like himself," he answered as he ran towards the engine room.
"So Mr. Mage, what do you want?"
"Um, Mr. Kuja would like to meet with you."
"What? No way! I'm staying right here."
"I'm sorry. I have no choice. If you don't come with me, he'll take away my allowance."
"You guys get paid?"
"Yes, but it isn't worth it in the end."
The black mage created a portal that would take them to Kuja's ship. He then used some of his sleep magic on Eiko and jumped into the hole with her in his arms.
Kuja's ship…
"Wha-? Where am I?" Eiko asked as she sat up. She felt like she had been asleep for three days, but it had only been three minutes.
"You are on my ship," Kuja answered.
"Oh, hey Kuja."
"What? You are not afraid me?"
"No… Should I be?"
"Yes! Everyone is to fear the mighty Kuja of Terra!"
"Well, …I'm not…"
"You will be after I tell you my brilliant plan."
"Can I ask you something first?"
"Fine."
"Are you wearing a dress or a skirt?"
"How dare you! …Actually I'm not quite sure…"
Eiko's ship…
"Where's the Commandress, kupo?" Mogki asked.
"She hasn't been gone that long," Moodon answered.
"Hey guys!" a voice called.
"Hmm? Stilzkin, kupo?" Mogki questioned.
"Yup, it's me," he said as he entered the room.
"Stilzkin, how did you get out here, kupo?"
"You know me, my travels take me everywhere. Anyway, I have another ripoff-I mean value deal for you. So, where's Eiko?"
"She's supposed to be in the airlock talking with a black mage," Moodon confessed.
"A black mage!? That's not good… We better see if she's still there."
The three moogles rushed to the ship's airlock.
"Oh no, Eiko's gone, kupo," Mogki exclaimed.
"But she left us a piece of paper. How thoughtful," Moodon said as he picked it up.
"That's not just a piece of paper," Stilzkin told him, "it's also … a ransom note! Look on the back!"
Moodon flipped the paper over. "Boiled owl, seasoned oglop, fried rootbeans… What kind of ransom is this, kupo?"
"… I guess it's not a ransom note… It's a grocery list… But now we have to save Eiko!"
"How do you know she's in trouble?"
"Kuja and his black mages spell trouble."
"I didn't know that's how you spell trouble…"
"… …Let's just save Eiko!"
* Will the moogles ever save Eiko? Is Kuja ever going to reveal his brilliant plan? Stay tuned and next time all these questions and more will be answered *
Thanks to Nicole Sabatti for suggesting Stilzkin be in the story. Keep reading for the third and final chapter.