Chapter 25: The Eternal Moonlight
"Ha Ha very funny." Cloud mumbled to himself. AVALANCHE had gotten a ride on a flying boat, or so says Cid. The Eternal Moonlight soared through the air, as its many propellers kept it adrift. This airship had a sharp nose, from which a canvas stretched all the way to the back. The canvas was a dark purple in color with a white moon painted in the center. The ship itself was constructed from wood and metal and resembled the blue narcissus. It had many propellers jutting out of anywhere they could put one. A fine cargo ship she was.
"So, where'd you get those chocobo boxers?" Barret could barley keep himself from bursting out laughing. Cloud ignored him as Barret laughed hysterically. Yuffie was over the rail, getting rid of her complimentary barf bag. Vincent was in the cabin, still pondering over Memoria's riddle. Red XIII walked up to Tifa, who was still steaming mad.
"How are you doing on this wonderful morning, Tifa?" Red asked, trying to cheer her up.
"Oh Red. Why can't they be more mature like you?" She sighed.
"Well, maturity is not necessarily a good thing. Sometimes everyone needs a break. But not at the expense of others."
"I guess you're right. These are pretty dire times." She glanced over the railing, at the majestic ocean below. The sun was a little below its zenith, because it had not quite reached it yet. Its rays sparkled on the sea surface as the waves rolled by. A whale leaped out of the sea and fell on its side, causing a huge splash. Several other humpback whales just like it proceeded to do the same. The seagulls laughed merrily as they skimmed the surface, searching for a bite to eat. Other seagulls soared alongside the Eternal Moonlight. The sky was a perfect blue. It certainly was a beautiful sight.
"The Eternal Moonlight is one of the few ships that can fly without a mist generator. She soars like a Zuu and handles like a dream." The captain, a tall thin man, about in his mid twenties with long brown hair and a black trench coat, said as he talked to Cid.
"I see. What's its top speed?" Cid said as he smoked his cigarette.
"She can go about 100 kilometers per hour. She's a fast one alright." The captain smiled.
"You call that fast?! A damn turtle could go faster than that! My airship can go three hundred easy!" Cid spat.
"That's preposterous! 300 is impossible!"
"Impossible to a bunch of dim witted engineers like you. I could build one that'll make you piss in your drawers!" Cid laughed.
"Hey Guys!" Cait Sith suddenly came to life. Cloud stepped over to him.
"Hey Reeve, you're back."
"Please call me…Roy." Reeve said depressed.
"What is it…Roy?" Tifa asked from afar.
"It seems Shera has thought up something." Roy said. "Get Cid."
** *
Zidane strolled down the cobblestone Alexandrian Street. The sun was setting to the west, casting an orange hue upon everything. The people were out in the streets. Children chased each other in the delightful streets as they laughed merrily. Adults sat on their old rocking chairs or at café tables and chatted amongst each other. Young men played Tetra Master while the women busily hustled between the shops, trying to get their goods before they closed for the night. Zidane had his hands in his pockets and faced the cobblestone road as he walked. He passed the statue of him and the others that was being erected in their honor. Zidane sighed as he approached the river. He never thought this hard and negatively about anything before. Perhaps Vivi and Violet were right. Face this like any other obstacle.
"It's nothing but a challenge." Zidane sighed as he lifted his head.
"Uncle Zidane! Uncle Zidane!" A small girlish voice cried from behind him. Zidane turned to see one of the black mage children running after him. As she ran, she stumbled over a loose cobblestone and fell to the ground. Zidane could hear stifled tears. He walked to her and helped her up.
"Gotta be careful Kuriko. Don't want to get hurt." Zidane patted her small hat and smiled.
Kuriko, obviously the black mage child, sniffed and wiped her eyes. "Yes, Uncle Zidane."
Zidane squatted down to be eye level with her. "Now, tell Uncle Zidane what's the matter, k?"
"Um... Oh yea! Daddy told me to tell you that you should talk to uncle Steiner first." She placed her big-gloved hands behind her and bent foreword. She then produced a flower out of her sleeve. "And give this to Aunt Dagger!"
Zidane grinned. "Thanks Kuriko. I wouldn't know what to do without you." He then fished in his vest pocket and pulled out a Tetra Master card. "Here you go."
She gazed at her new item. "Wow! A gargant card! Thanks Uncle Zidane! You're the best."
Suddenly they both were covered in a shadow. They both looked up to see a large airship fly over. The belly of the ship casted a large shadow over that section of the city. Zidane easily recognized it as the Eternal Moonlight. The large cargo ship brought with it a cool breeze that kicked up dust and paper on the ground.
"Wow! I never seen a airship that big before!" Kuriko shouted.
"That's the Eternal Moonlight, Kuriko. It's a cargo and trade ship. Hmm…Perhaps I should get something for Dagger before I go."
"Wow! Can I come! Please! Please!" Kuriko hopped up and down.
Zidane put a hand on his hip and smiled. "Of coarse you can! Let's see what we can for you." Zidane picked up Kuriko and placed her on his shoulders and headed towards the Alexandrian docking station.
** *
After a lot of talk and I missed you and how's the pregnancy going type chat, Cid finally sat down with the rest of AVALANCHE and waited for Shera to tell them what her discovery was through Cait Sith.
{We've discovered that EON has stopped absorbing mako. It's still sucking up some, but so little it's hardly noticeable. We have discovered though that EON has evolved to a state where it has created its own ecosystem. It has created odd creatures called EON Spawn. But for these things to work, they need souls. EON has someway found out how to draw souls out of the lifestream before they're reincarnated.} Shera said.
{We've also found out that it's searching for a "certain" soul.} Roy coughed {We don't know what or who's soul its searching for, but things are getting bad. We've completely lost the eastern continent.}
{We know if it draws certain souls that were strong in life, it'll be able to produce a strong willed super being.} Shera said. {We only know of so far possibly Sephiroth or Aeris, but we don't know for sure.}
"What if Aeris or Sephiroth have already been reincarnated?" Cloud asked.
{We know they haven't. It takes approximately 9 years to go through the life stream or soul cycle.} Shera said.
Vincent stood silently. That means Lucrecia is still in the lifestream, he thought.
"So, what are you proposing us to do? We're kind of stuck here on Gaia." Tifa said.
"Like, yea. This place is so weird." Yuffie sighed.
{We're trying to figure that one out now. Don't worry, we'll have you out soon.} Roy said.
"Is that some kind of weird radio?" The captain scratched his head.
"…EON will bring harm to both worlds. That's what that moogle said. EON's gonna do something here too!" Cloud shouted.
{I don't think it can move, it's like a big tree. We'll do more research, over and out. And Cid…I love you.} Shera said.
"Love you too honey." Cid said.
The radio transmission blinked out. AVALANCHE stood confused. Then, the airship docked.