*BY: KUROHIME**
(Meanwhile...)
(The sky was darkening over the horizon behind them, but the shimmering streak of water below told Kuro that Leviathan was there, restored to her full health. She breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the sea serpent gently skim the waves with Roy, Vivi, and Zidane as passengers. The powerful wings of the Dragon shifted under her, and Kuro turned her attention back to him. Dagger was watching Leviathan, as well.)
KURO: Thank Gaia for Healing Spheres. *sigh* Dag, I'm sorry I lost Leviathan. I just... didn't think about who we'd be up aginst when we went to the Invincible.
DAGGER: I don't think anyone could have known. It's not anyone's fault. We all lose summons in battle.
KURO: I know, but... this whole summoning thing is... it feels like it's spiraling out of control. If it were any other time, I might have felt differently, but now... *she trails off into silence*
(A beat.)
DAGGER: Have you ever read the inscription on your summoner's pendant?
KURO: Yes... it was part of my training.
DAGGER: Read it again.
KURO: Poetry isn't going to make me feel any better right now, Dag.
DAGGER: I'm serious. Read it again.
KURO: *takes the pendant off and reads the words inscribes on the back* "This is where fault lines collide. Listen to the planet's heartbeat. Breathe slowly.......... calm your mind.......... lt memories........ return........... to........ you............ "
(In a bright flash of light, Kurohime is suddenly in a globe of seafoam. Liquid, soft, letting the body float in it, but it still doesn't seem to really touch anyone's body. Forms of the Dragon King form from the mist, congealing, then fading into the seascape.)
WHISPER: *a soft echoing voice, not really coming from anywhere* Find.....
WHISPER: *another echo, less distinct* Listen.........
(Even as Kurohime looks around, and sees nothing she recognizes, it feels like she's not alone.)
WHISPER: *another echo* Listen.........
(Maybe it's the sound of breathing, or maybe the sound of gentle mist washing against an unknown shore. And then the rhythmic sound of a heartbeat, barely noticeable.)
WHISPER: *another soft, almost indistinguishable echo* Return.........
(The form of Bahamut begins to congeal again in the mist, ever-shifting, changing in the swirling lights.)
BAHAMUT: Your path is laid out before you. You are the summoner of the Dragon.
WHISPER: *a soft echo* .....destiny....
WHISPER: *a more distinguishable voice* Silence......
BAHAMUT: Do not fear my power. Do not fear your power.
(Bahamut's form becomes less intense, then disappears entirely. Then, an instant later, the foam explodes into an array of light. Bahamut's mighty voice, the draconic cry, screams through the void, and almost physically tears into Kurohime's body. The light grows into a liquid tendril, full of energy, and it swirls towards her at full force, slamming into her body and filling her entire view with whilt light......)
(...and then it's over. The dream is over.)
KURO: *gasps, finally realizing what had just happened* What the h*ll was that?!
DAGGER: That was your memories combining with Bahamut.
KURO: You could have warned me about what it would be like!
DAGGER: When I first trained with Bahamut, I had to do the same. It's never the same for anyone, so warning you wouldn't have done any good.
KURO: Ugh...
DAGGER: So how do you feel now?
KURO: *blinks, suddenly feeling more calm* ...like I have more answers than I did before. And I don't know why.
(The sky begins to grow lighter. Land is barely visible over the horizon.)
DAGGER: There's Hokkaido...
KURO: I have the feeling this isn't going to be the dream vacation I'd always wanted.
DAGGER: Haven't you ever been to Japan before?
KURO: Roy has. I haven't. And I have the feeling that we're going to be seeing a lot of subtitles soon.
DAGGER: At least we'll be able to understand everyone.
KURO: Heh. Yeah. Poor Roy would be playing translator for all of us, huh?
DAGGER: Actually, Zidane, Vivi, and I all speak Japanese, too.
KURO: *blink* D*mn localization...!
(The city had seemed strangely quiet. That in itself was disconcerting. There were people, but it still seemed as if there was less than there should be. Roy, Zidane, Vivi, Dagger, and Kurohime had regrouped in a small area just outside of Tokyo. Kuro is still sitting on Bahamut's shoulders.)
ZIDANE: Well, we made it.
VIVI: Anyone know what we're supposed to do next?
KURO: *finally getting down off the dragon* We've found them. The two summons that we came for.
DAGGER: Two? Are you sure?
KURO: Yes. Well, heh, if I'm wrong then we'll find out soon enough. *she takes the pendant and dismisses Bahamut from their party* Thank you, Bahamut.
(A familiar voice echoes in her mind.)
BAHAMUT: Do not fear my power. Do not fear your power. Others will need to learn that, as well.
KURO: *softly* Others....?
ROY: Did you say something, sweetie?
KURO: *shaking her head to snap out of it* I... I'm not sure I... *stops* Eh, never mind. I'll figure it out.
ROY: *a beat* Are you sure? What happened?
KURO: It's just something Bahamut told me. It doesn't quite make sense. *shakes head* I'll figure it out.
(They begin to make their way out towards a more rural area. They stop at street sign reading TSUIKIMORI - "The Moon Forest Road")
KURO: Why are we walking? I can drive! Why are we walking? Why does everyone walk now?
ROY: Dramatic irony?
KURO: I'm still....
ZIDANE: *running ahead of the party* Hey, wait a minute. I really don't remember a there ever being place called Moon Forest in Japan.
ROY: *joining him* You know, you're right. There was never anything like ths before.
VIVI: I don't remember that, either.
KURO: I don't get it...
ZIDANE: Well, anything really weird is worth checking out, right? Shall we?
ROY: I'm for it.
KURO: Heh. Sure. Why not? I've seen it all. Might as well add "mysterious forest road" to the list.
VIVI: Are you sure about that, Zidane?
ZIDANE: Of course I am!
(And off they go, following the Moon Forest Road!)
(Meanwhile...)
(The sky was darkening over the horizon behind them, but the shimmering streak of water below told Kuro that Leviathan was there, restored to her full health. She breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the sea serpent gently skim the waves with Roy, Vivi, and Zidane as passengers. The powerful wings of the Dragon shifted under her, and Kuro turned her attention back to him. Dagger was watching Leviathan, as well.)
KURO: Thank Gaia for Healing Spheres. *sigh* Dag, I'm sorry I lost Leviathan. I just... didn't think about who we'd be up aginst when we went to the Invincible.
DAGGER: I don't think anyone could have known. It's not anyone's fault. We all lose summons in battle.
KURO: I know, but... this whole summoning thing is... it feels like it's spiraling out of control. If it were any other time, I might have felt differently, but now... *she trails off into silence*
(A beat.)
DAGGER: Have you ever read the inscription on your summoner's pendant?
KURO: Yes... it was part of my training.
DAGGER: Read it again.
KURO: Poetry isn't going to make me feel any better right now, Dag.
DAGGER: I'm serious. Read it again.
KURO: *takes the pendant off and reads the words inscribes on the back* "This is where fault lines collide. Listen to the planet's heartbeat. Breathe slowly.......... calm your mind.......... lt memories........ return........... to........ you............ "
(In a bright flash of light, Kurohime is suddenly in a globe of seafoam. Liquid, soft, letting the body float in it, but it still doesn't seem to really touch anyone's body. Forms of the Dragon King form from the mist, congealing, then fading into the seascape.)
WHISPER: *a soft echoing voice, not really coming from anywhere* Find.....
WHISPER: *another echo, less distinct* Listen.........
(Even as Kurohime looks around, and sees nothing she recognizes, it feels like she's not alone.)
WHISPER: *another echo* Listen.........
(Maybe it's the sound of breathing, or maybe the sound of gentle mist washing against an unknown shore. And then the rhythmic sound of a heartbeat, barely noticeable.)
WHISPER: *another soft, almost indistinguishable echo* Return.........
(The form of Bahamut begins to congeal again in the mist, ever-shifting, changing in the swirling lights.)
BAHAMUT: Your path is laid out before you. You are the summoner of the Dragon.
WHISPER: *a soft echo* .....destiny....
WHISPER: *a more distinguishable voice* Silence......
BAHAMUT: Do not fear my power. Do not fear your power.
(Bahamut's form becomes less intense, then disappears entirely. Then, an instant later, the foam explodes into an array of light. Bahamut's mighty voice, the draconic cry, screams through the void, and almost physically tears into Kurohime's body. The light grows into a liquid tendril, full of energy, and it swirls towards her at full force, slamming into her body and filling her entire view with whilt light......)
(...and then it's over. The dream is over.)
KURO: *gasps, finally realizing what had just happened* What the h*ll was that?!
DAGGER: That was your memories combining with Bahamut.
KURO: You could have warned me about what it would be like!
DAGGER: When I first trained with Bahamut, I had to do the same. It's never the same for anyone, so warning you wouldn't have done any good.
KURO: Ugh...
DAGGER: So how do you feel now?
KURO: *blinks, suddenly feeling more calm* ...like I have more answers than I did before. And I don't know why.
(The sky begins to grow lighter. Land is barely visible over the horizon.)
DAGGER: There's Hokkaido...
KURO: I have the feeling this isn't going to be the dream vacation I'd always wanted.
DAGGER: Haven't you ever been to Japan before?
KURO: Roy has. I haven't. And I have the feeling that we're going to be seeing a lot of subtitles soon.
DAGGER: At least we'll be able to understand everyone.
KURO: Heh. Yeah. Poor Roy would be playing translator for all of us, huh?
DAGGER: Actually, Zidane, Vivi, and I all speak Japanese, too.
KURO: *blink* D*mn localization...!
(The city had seemed strangely quiet. That in itself was disconcerting. There were people, but it still seemed as if there was less than there should be. Roy, Zidane, Vivi, Dagger, and Kurohime had regrouped in a small area just outside of Tokyo. Kuro is still sitting on Bahamut's shoulders.)
ZIDANE: Well, we made it.
VIVI: Anyone know what we're supposed to do next?
KURO: *finally getting down off the dragon* We've found them. The two summons that we came for.
DAGGER: Two? Are you sure?
KURO: Yes. Well, heh, if I'm wrong then we'll find out soon enough. *she takes the pendant and dismisses Bahamut from their party* Thank you, Bahamut.
(A familiar voice echoes in her mind.)
BAHAMUT: Do not fear my power. Do not fear your power. Others will need to learn that, as well.
KURO: *softly* Others....?
ROY: Did you say something, sweetie?
KURO: *shaking her head to snap out of it* I... I'm not sure I... *stops* Eh, never mind. I'll figure it out.
ROY: *a beat* Are you sure? What happened?
KURO: It's just something Bahamut told me. It doesn't quite make sense. *shakes head* I'll figure it out.
(They begin to make their way out towards a more rural area. They stop at street sign reading TSUIKIMORI - "The Moon Forest Road")
KURO: Why are we walking? I can drive! Why are we walking? Why does everyone walk now?
ROY: Dramatic irony?
KURO: I'm still....
ZIDANE: *running ahead of the party* Hey, wait a minute. I really don't remember a there ever being place called Moon Forest in Japan.
ROY: *joining him* You know, you're right. There was never anything like ths before.
VIVI: I don't remember that, either.
KURO: I don't get it...
ZIDANE: Well, anything really weird is worth checking out, right? Shall we?
ROY: I'm for it.
KURO: Heh. Sure. Why not? I've seen it all. Might as well add "mysterious forest road" to the list.
VIVI: Are you sure about that, Zidane?
ZIDANE: Of course I am!
(And off they go, following the Moon Forest Road!)