**The usual disclaimers apply**
~In the last chapter…
"that was nice." he said. But just when he was going to think of something else again,
the sea wyrm appeared again, this time with a stick in its mouth.
The creature put the stick in the bubble.
Squall touched the stick and an idea popped into his brain. "fetch?" he asked the wyrm.
The sea wyrm moved in excitement.
"hmm... can you fetch a woman? and a man? there? in the deeper parts??" he asked, not
sure if the sea wyrm understood him. But then, the sea wyrm took off.
Notes:
~*~ - dream state
- thoughts
* * * - another place, time, space,...etc.
THE LEGEND OF ATLANTIS
By: Rhys Icewind
Chapter 13 - Return
~*~
Little Umi was sitting by the rails in their house, watching the waves lapping on the
shore, feeling the air.
"Atlantis, my home, please wait for me..." she said.
"She will always wait for you." another voice said. Umi looked to her left and saw
another kid watching the waves. Umi ran over to him.
"Hello. I've never seen you before." she said.
The young boy looked at her.
the little blue-haired girl thought.
He had a short, silvery-white hair and ice-blue eyes to match. He charming look on his
face, especially his smile. "I'm new around these parts." he said.
Curious about the stranger, she stayed, forgetting what her parents told her, over and
over again. "you travel a lot?" she asked.
"uh-uh. And I won't be staying here for long too, I guess."
"aww...that's a pity. Winter's coming up and you should really see the icicles that form
around by the shore. It's really beautiful. Especially when the sun shines on them! OH!
you should see all the colors of the rainbow reflected on the water!!" she said excitedly.
She then turned to look at the ocean again. "I love the waters."
The little boy looked at her and smiled a little more. "Me too. We often sail you know.
But we went by train this time."
"Why? where's your boat?"
The little boy laughed. he thought. It was obvious to him now
that she was younger also. Maybe by a year.
"what's so funny?" she pouted.
He stopped laughing ans smiled, looking at the ocean. "nothing." he said, "you've never
been out of this town before huh?"
Umi looked down and looked out the ocean, loningly. "uh-uh....I miss my home..."
The boy looked at her strangely. "why not go back there now?"
"No. You don't understand. Winhill is not my true home. My real home lies in the ocean."
he thought.
Suddenly, Umi remembered what he said a while ago. "what did you mean by 'she will
always wait for me'?"
Looking out the ocean he said, touching his chest where his heart was, "your home...
She will always stay in your heart. Never leave your side. Always waiting for you."
"I don't understand..."
"you will..." he said, "...wait....we haven't introduced yet. I'm Yue, age 5"
Umi smiled. "I'm Umi and I'm 4 years old already. You must know a lot." She added.
"my teacher teaches me all the time."
"There you are!" a male voice said. Both children looked to see a black-haired adult
heading their way. He had brown, friendly eyes. "Yue, what are you doing here?"
"I'm just talking to my new friend, sensei" he said.
The man looked at Umi and she shied a little. The man regarded her carefuly and smiled.
he thought happily. "You've made a nice friend, I could tell." he said.
Umi looked up and smiled.
"Oh yeah, sensei Makoto, this is Umi. Umi, teacher Makoto." Yue said.
"pleased to meet your aquaintance." Makoto said and bowed.
Umi bowed as well, lifting the skirt of her dress a little and bended her right foot
behind her left foot, like a true lady. "I'm pleased to meet you too." she said, smiling.
"ahh... a Little Lady." Makoto said and smiled, making Umi blush a little. "Oh, and
before I forget, Yue, we will be staying by a hotel near the church." he said, "Miss
Umi, will you be so kind to show Yue to the hotel? Because I see that you are having
quite a fun here and Yue just loves wandering around..." he gave Yue a reproachful
look, because Yue had left his side unknowingly.
"I will!!" Umi said excitedly.
"Wonderful. Now I'll be at the hotel if you need anything." He said, standing up and
turning to leave. "And oh, Yue, please be a gentleman." he added and left.
Both children laughed as Umi started to splash water in Yue's face.
~FLASH!~
"Yue?" Umi said.
She was 15 now and was at Balamb town, resting from the training she was having at
Balamb Garden. She was by the dock and was started to get bored when a ship unloaded
and out came a young lad, about 3 inches taller than her; with silvery-white hair that
reached his shoulders, tied to his back, ice-blue eyes and a charming face.
And smile.
She'd never forget his smile.
The lad looked at her and shifted his backpack a little. In his eyes, Umi saw a hint
of recognition.
"Umi?" he said.
Umi went over and smiled. "I thought you forgot." she said.
"Ahh... I see we meet again!" Makoto, now in his thirties, said from behind.
"Sensei Makoto!!!" Umi ran to him and embraced him.
"how you've grown, Little Lady." he said.
Umi blushed a little.
"I agree. And grown more beautiful too, I must say." Yue said from behind.
Umi blushed a little bit more. "not really..." she shyly told them. She then changed
the topic. "what are you doing here?"
"Us? just travelling again.." Yue replied with a smile.
~FLASH!~
"Leaving huh?" Umi said as they walked along the shore.
The sky was filled with reds and oranges as the sun began to set. The sea water lapped
on the shore, wetting the sand. The cool breeze blew through their hair.
"yep..." Yue replied.
Umi kept of walking but didn't notice that Yue had stopped and was looking at her
intently. When Umi noticed his absence, she looked behind her and was Yue looking
at her, just a few strides away. "what are you doing there?"
Yue walked closer until he was only a step away. "do you beleive in destinies?"
His ice-blue eyes staring deeply into Umi's.
The pressure and depth of his gaze made her nervous. "I...I..."
"well?"
Umi looked away and sighed. "I don't know..."
Yue gently placed the fingers of his left hand below her chin and pulled her face gently
to look at her deep blue eyes again. And with his free hand, he hooked Umi's right hand
pinkie with his. "will you promise not to forget me?"
Umi could have jerked away but Yue's gaze kept her locked in place.
"will you?" he asked more seriously.
Umi relaxed herself, held the hand that touched her face by the wrist and smiled.
"I will"
~*~
"do you remember now?" Yue said with a smile.
Umi's eyes filled with tears as she recalled those past meetings with this man.
"Yue... but... wings...?"
"This is the real me... Umi, she waits for you still. I wait for you still"
Umi's tears rolled on her cheeks freely. She ran to him and hugged him tightly.
Yue's strong arms hugged her back. Suddenly, he felt his limbs failing him. Umi
felt the weight shift abruptly.
"what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, but I have to go back....I'll always be waiting..." he said
as he gently caressed her face. He started to disappear.
"Yue!!" Umi shouted as she started to grab hold onto Yue's disappearing form.
"Come to me....I'll be waiting." he said as he finally disappeared.
* * *
Cloud slowly opened his eyes and noticed the wetness of his surroundings. And
suddenly, he noticed that he was underwater. He almost drowned if he didn't hold
his breath fast enough. His lungs immediately burned due to the lack of water
and he instinctively swam up.
Before he could ever start on swimming up, Cloud noticed a pale hand in the
corner of his eye. And swam towards it. When he reached it, he grabbed it and
pulled it up.
"Umi!" he said, forgetting that he was underwater.
Cloud immediately closed his mouth, making his lungs burn more. Holding Umi
tightly by her waist, he swam up slowly knowing that they might die if they
rose fast but also keeping in mind that they might drown if he was too slow.
In the darkness, he saw two golden eyes floating in the blackness. Moving
away from it, the thing followed and out came a golden sea wyrm. Cloud slowed
his movement and partially closing his eyes, playing dead. He then noticed
that the creature's mouth opened and it blew a bubble...
* * *
"Is she fine?" Rinoa asked Clef.
She, Shayla and Sakura had already recovered from their unconsciousness only
to discover the grave situation that Saturn was in.
Clef shook his head.
"there MUST be something you can do!?!?" she shook him.
"STOP!!! the moment she used that attack, she knew what the consequences will
be! There is NOTHING we can do!!!" he said, holding Rinoa by her shoulders.
"no..." Rinoa whined.
Clef let her go and went over by the shore. Shayla and Sakura comforted Rinoa
while Ellone went over to Clef and comforted him.
While the drama continued, Squall rose from the pool, followed by Cloud who
was holding Umi's unconscious body. Shayla was the first one to notice.
"Squall! Cloud! UMI!!" she shouted as she ran towards them.
Before anybody could say anything, Clef spoke up. "Now's the time. We are all
complete. We must go back to the Temple. Rinoa, lead on."
"ME?" Rinoa pointed to herself. "b-but I don't know how!"
Ellone approached her and put a hand on her shoulder. "The way is within you.."
she touched Hotaru's pendant and it glowed slightly. "..she will always be there
to help you."
Rinoa mustered her courage and followed her heart. She went over by the edge of
the shore and touched the pendant. It glowed brightly, broke-off from the necklace
and floated above her head. She chanted:
Open portal,
To the seas.
Show the way
And make it clear.
Not looking back,
Never losing trust,
Open thy doors
And don't fail us!
Suddenly, a huge pentagon appeared below them, all of them fitting in the center
of the star. The outline of the star glowed and light bursted, going outwards and
suddenly, when the light faded, they disappeared as well.
* * *
"They are arriving." Emeraude said as they stood at the hall.
Ferio and Presea both nodded their heads.
"make way." she bade them and they moved to do as said.
With the blink of an eye, the group appeared and the Magical One collapsed to
the ground. Her knight in black ran to her side and casted a healing spell on
her.
Emeraude approached the couple and touched the knight's shoulder. "sir knight,
let me tend to her needs. For now, please go with King Ferio and Lady Presea
giude you through the halls"
Squall, though baffled by the greeting, just nodded and went over to Shayla's
side.
Clef stepped forward. "Emeraude, I'll proceed to my room." And he walked away.
"How 'bout Umi?" Cloud stepped forward, the unconscious Umi in his arms.
"Let me have her." Ferio said, extending his arms. "She's wet! what happened!?!"
"Fell into a very deep lake." Cloud replied.
"so I guess we all should dry up. Let's go." Presea said as she went down the
left tunnel.
And they all followed, leaving Umi in Ferio's arms.
"She's not doing good." Ferio commented.
Clef looked at him. "They do not know it, but, she's near dying. We have to
hurry."
* * *
END CHAPTER 13
~In the last chapter…
"that was nice." he said. But just when he was going to think of something else again,
the sea wyrm appeared again, this time with a stick in its mouth.
The creature put the stick in the bubble.
Squall touched the stick and an idea popped into his brain. "fetch?" he asked the wyrm.
The sea wyrm moved in excitement.
"hmm... can you fetch a woman? and a man? there? in the deeper parts??" he asked, not
sure if the sea wyrm understood him. But then, the sea wyrm took off.
Notes:
~*~ - dream state
- thoughts
* * * - another place, time, space,...etc.
THE LEGEND OF ATLANTIS
By: Rhys Icewind
Chapter 13 - Return
~*~
Little Umi was sitting by the rails in their house, watching the waves lapping on the
shore, feeling the air.
"Atlantis, my home, please wait for me..." she said.
"She will always wait for you." another voice said. Umi looked to her left and saw
another kid watching the waves. Umi ran over to him.
"Hello. I've never seen you before." she said.
The young boy looked at her.
the little blue-haired girl thought.
He had a short, silvery-white hair and ice-blue eyes to match. He charming look on his
face, especially his smile. "I'm new around these parts." he said.
Curious about the stranger, she stayed, forgetting what her parents told her, over and
over again. "you travel a lot?" she asked.
"uh-uh. And I won't be staying here for long too, I guess."
"aww...that's a pity. Winter's coming up and you should really see the icicles that form
around by the shore. It's really beautiful. Especially when the sun shines on them! OH!
you should see all the colors of the rainbow reflected on the water!!" she said excitedly.
She then turned to look at the ocean again. "I love the waters."
The little boy looked at her and smiled a little more. "Me too. We often sail you know.
But we went by train this time."
"Why? where's your boat?"
The little boy laughed. he thought. It was obvious to him now
that she was younger also. Maybe by a year.
"what's so funny?" she pouted.
He stopped laughing ans smiled, looking at the ocean. "nothing." he said, "you've never
been out of this town before huh?"
Umi looked down and looked out the ocean, loningly. "uh-uh....I miss my home..."
The boy looked at her strangely. "why not go back there now?"
"No. You don't understand. Winhill is not my true home. My real home lies in the ocean."
he thought.
Suddenly, Umi remembered what he said a while ago. "what did you mean by 'she will
always wait for me'?"
Looking out the ocean he said, touching his chest where his heart was, "your home...
She will always stay in your heart. Never leave your side. Always waiting for you."
"I don't understand..."
"you will..." he said, "...wait....we haven't introduced yet. I'm Yue, age 5"
Umi smiled. "I'm Umi and I'm 4 years old already. You must know a lot." She added.
"my teacher teaches me all the time."
"There you are!" a male voice said. Both children looked to see a black-haired adult
heading their way. He had brown, friendly eyes. "Yue, what are you doing here?"
"I'm just talking to my new friend, sensei" he said.
The man looked at Umi and she shied a little. The man regarded her carefuly and smiled.
he thought happily. "You've made a nice friend, I could tell." he said.
Umi looked up and smiled.
"Oh yeah, sensei Makoto, this is Umi. Umi, teacher Makoto." Yue said.
"pleased to meet your aquaintance." Makoto said and bowed.
Umi bowed as well, lifting the skirt of her dress a little and bended her right foot
behind her left foot, like a true lady. "I'm pleased to meet you too." she said, smiling.
"ahh... a Little Lady." Makoto said and smiled, making Umi blush a little. "Oh, and
before I forget, Yue, we will be staying by a hotel near the church." he said, "Miss
Umi, will you be so kind to show Yue to the hotel? Because I see that you are having
quite a fun here and Yue just loves wandering around..." he gave Yue a reproachful
look, because Yue had left his side unknowingly.
"I will!!" Umi said excitedly.
"Wonderful. Now I'll be at the hotel if you need anything." He said, standing up and
turning to leave. "And oh, Yue, please be a gentleman." he added and left.
Both children laughed as Umi started to splash water in Yue's face.
~FLASH!~
"Yue?" Umi said.
She was 15 now and was at Balamb town, resting from the training she was having at
Balamb Garden. She was by the dock and was started to get bored when a ship unloaded
and out came a young lad, about 3 inches taller than her; with silvery-white hair that
reached his shoulders, tied to his back, ice-blue eyes and a charming face.
And smile.
She'd never forget his smile.
The lad looked at her and shifted his backpack a little. In his eyes, Umi saw a hint
of recognition.
"Umi?" he said.
Umi went over and smiled. "I thought you forgot." she said.
"Ahh... I see we meet again!" Makoto, now in his thirties, said from behind.
"Sensei Makoto!!!" Umi ran to him and embraced him.
"how you've grown, Little Lady." he said.
Umi blushed a little.
"I agree. And grown more beautiful too, I must say." Yue said from behind.
Umi blushed a little bit more. "not really..." she shyly told them. She then changed
the topic. "what are you doing here?"
"Us? just travelling again.." Yue replied with a smile.
~FLASH!~
"Leaving huh?" Umi said as they walked along the shore.
The sky was filled with reds and oranges as the sun began to set. The sea water lapped
on the shore, wetting the sand. The cool breeze blew through their hair.
"yep..." Yue replied.
Umi kept of walking but didn't notice that Yue had stopped and was looking at her
intently. When Umi noticed his absence, she looked behind her and was Yue looking
at her, just a few strides away. "what are you doing there?"
Yue walked closer until he was only a step away. "do you beleive in destinies?"
His ice-blue eyes staring deeply into Umi's.
The pressure and depth of his gaze made her nervous. "I...I..."
"well?"
Umi looked away and sighed. "I don't know..."
Yue gently placed the fingers of his left hand below her chin and pulled her face gently
to look at her deep blue eyes again. And with his free hand, he hooked Umi's right hand
pinkie with his. "will you promise not to forget me?"
Umi could have jerked away but Yue's gaze kept her locked in place.
"will you?" he asked more seriously.
Umi relaxed herself, held the hand that touched her face by the wrist and smiled.
"I will"
~*~
"do you remember now?" Yue said with a smile.
Umi's eyes filled with tears as she recalled those past meetings with this man.
"Yue... but... wings...?"
"This is the real me... Umi, she waits for you still. I wait for you still"
Umi's tears rolled on her cheeks freely. She ran to him and hugged him tightly.
Yue's strong arms hugged her back. Suddenly, he felt his limbs failing him. Umi
felt the weight shift abruptly.
"what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, but I have to go back....I'll always be waiting..." he said
as he gently caressed her face. He started to disappear.
"Yue!!" Umi shouted as she started to grab hold onto Yue's disappearing form.
"Come to me....I'll be waiting." he said as he finally disappeared.
* * *
Cloud slowly opened his eyes and noticed the wetness of his surroundings. And
suddenly, he noticed that he was underwater. He almost drowned if he didn't hold
his breath fast enough. His lungs immediately burned due to the lack of water
and he instinctively swam up.
Before he could ever start on swimming up, Cloud noticed a pale hand in the
corner of his eye. And swam towards it. When he reached it, he grabbed it and
pulled it up.
"Umi!" he said, forgetting that he was underwater.
Cloud immediately closed his mouth, making his lungs burn more. Holding Umi
tightly by her waist, he swam up slowly knowing that they might die if they
rose fast but also keeping in mind that they might drown if he was too slow.
In the darkness, he saw two golden eyes floating in the blackness. Moving
away from it, the thing followed and out came a golden sea wyrm. Cloud slowed
his movement and partially closing his eyes, playing dead. He then noticed
that the creature's mouth opened and it blew a bubble...
* * *
"Is she fine?" Rinoa asked Clef.
She, Shayla and Sakura had already recovered from their unconsciousness only
to discover the grave situation that Saturn was in.
Clef shook his head.
"there MUST be something you can do!?!?" she shook him.
"STOP!!! the moment she used that attack, she knew what the consequences will
be! There is NOTHING we can do!!!" he said, holding Rinoa by her shoulders.
"no..." Rinoa whined.
Clef let her go and went over by the shore. Shayla and Sakura comforted Rinoa
while Ellone went over to Clef and comforted him.
While the drama continued, Squall rose from the pool, followed by Cloud who
was holding Umi's unconscious body. Shayla was the first one to notice.
"Squall! Cloud! UMI!!" she shouted as she ran towards them.
Before anybody could say anything, Clef spoke up. "Now's the time. We are all
complete. We must go back to the Temple. Rinoa, lead on."
"ME?" Rinoa pointed to herself. "b-but I don't know how!"
Ellone approached her and put a hand on her shoulder. "The way is within you.."
she touched Hotaru's pendant and it glowed slightly. "..she will always be there
to help you."
Rinoa mustered her courage and followed her heart. She went over by the edge of
the shore and touched the pendant. It glowed brightly, broke-off from the necklace
and floated above her head. She chanted:
Open portal,
To the seas.
Show the way
And make it clear.
Not looking back,
Never losing trust,
Open thy doors
And don't fail us!
Suddenly, a huge pentagon appeared below them, all of them fitting in the center
of the star. The outline of the star glowed and light bursted, going outwards and
suddenly, when the light faded, they disappeared as well.
* * *
"They are arriving." Emeraude said as they stood at the hall.
Ferio and Presea both nodded their heads.
"make way." she bade them and they moved to do as said.
With the blink of an eye, the group appeared and the Magical One collapsed to
the ground. Her knight in black ran to her side and casted a healing spell on
her.
Emeraude approached the couple and touched the knight's shoulder. "sir knight,
let me tend to her needs. For now, please go with King Ferio and Lady Presea
giude you through the halls"
Squall, though baffled by the greeting, just nodded and went over to Shayla's
side.
Clef stepped forward. "Emeraude, I'll proceed to my room." And he walked away.
"How 'bout Umi?" Cloud stepped forward, the unconscious Umi in his arms.
"Let me have her." Ferio said, extending his arms. "She's wet! what happened!?!"
"Fell into a very deep lake." Cloud replied.
"so I guess we all should dry up. Let's go." Presea said as she went down the
left tunnel.
And they all followed, leaving Umi in Ferio's arms.
"She's not doing good." Ferio commented.
Clef looked at him. "They do not know it, but, she's near dying. We have to
hurry."
* * *
END CHAPTER 13