Chapter 2: Familiar places, Familiar Faces

I disclaim the characters that belong to this game.

Please enjoy the second chapter.

Eiko looked at the crew for a moment. Amarant was staring at her with a stoney glare.

"Hey, princess. What're you doing here?" he asked. Eiko smiled at him and hugged him.

"Its been a long time, right Amarant?" Eiko asked. She looked around and noticed Baku, Blank and Cienna. "I sort of missed all you guys. Zidane's friends, remember me?"

Cherry smiled as she smiled.

"She's coming with us." Cherry announced.

"Oh, Gaia. . ." Baku sighed. "Another kidnap?"

"NO! I left a note!" Eiko said.

Cherry smiled again and walked away. Blank watched her leave and followed. Cherry smiled as he approached.

"Ya think Zidane will mind?" Blank asked.

"You told me stories about him, so no. He'll think its good for her. I do too."

Blank was silent. He watched the dark sea of clouds swiftly pass the theater ship. The sun was going to rise soon, and they'd be at Fossil Roo on the Outer Continent. But he knew Cherry felt something. Ir sensed it. She had been with them for about a year, but the crew loved her like she was one of the founders of Tantalus. But she tried to be nice and helpful. That's why she knew about bad things before they happened and she prevented them. She got great respect from the crew. He looked at the woman for a moment and shook his head. She was like a girl version of Zidane in some ways. She smiled and hit on men and women in fun. Mostly after everyone was gone though, Blank noticed how she wondered a while in her mind. Zidane used to do that as well.

The finger tips of rose started to taint the clouds. Cherry, brushed her hair form her face and saw their destination.

"Hey, Blank, I'll meet you guys there. I'm gonna go ahead and clear off the monsters. Get everyone ready to depart and we'll set off to Maiden Sari." Cherry said. She was smiling. Her energy filled Blank like Zidane's would. She then jumped off the rail of the air ship. He shook his head at her and di her bidding.

-----

Cherry watched the ship fly ahead of her, but that was okay. She lived for the thrill of battle and life. Cherry fell to the ground and landed nimbly on her feet. She grabbed her daggers from her belt and ran at break-neck speed. Few monsters. Only a few were in her way. Cherry smiled as her blades cut through goblin's unsuspecting necks and beetles. It was perfectly done with swift and sudden movements and stops. She then resumed running. When she got back to the airship, which had landed. Eiko had her flute and was talking with Blank. Cherry watched the way Blank reacted to Eiko. Sure, they had once met, but Eiko was Cherry's age then. Only five or so. But now, Blank was blushing viciously. Cherry smiled pleasantly and walked up to Baku.

"I'll protect Eiko. I promise." Cherry said. Amarant approached.

"She's piped down quite a bit from her suppressive life. I kind of miss her old self." said Big Red.

"Yeah, Zidane's life was also getting boring, so he said. I think someone should make an adventure for them, but people have duties to do in life. Well, make sure Blank doesn't make a fool of himself in front of Eiko. Bwahahaha! He'd do it. He was never as smooth in front of the ladies as Zidane was.. Take care of them both, Amarant. You know them better than Cherry does." Baku said. Cherry watched Baku go away. She sucked in her breath through her teeth. Amarant smiled at her and waited for Eiko and Blank to catch up.

The airship floated away and the four adventurers walked in the desert land. Cherry walked behind them while Amarant lead. Cherry had no real problem about being the one in the back. She liked being almost alone. She walked with leisure until she heard something. The wind had changed. Something had blocked it. Something that was now moving. Cherry turned around to see a large blue silver dragon flying ahead. Cherry ran up to it, prepared for it to swoop and land. Eiko and Amarant had noticed it and were preparing to attack. But the dragon didn't stop or swoop. It just kept on flying. Eiko and Amarant stopped and looked around. Blank was trying to catch up.

"Where do you think it came from?" Eiko asked.

"I would think Kuja." Amarant said.

Cherry chased it still. Why? She didn't know. She had had a feeling that she had seen it before. Cherry jumped into the air and landed on it's back. It yelled a warning as Cherry, stooped to avoid the swift winds. She saw in that a heap was laying near the neck of the creature. It had dirty clothes that were gray. It lifted its head and Cherry saw that it was a man. He had silver hair and eyes with the lights of the aura. He looked at her for a moment and started to talk, but he coughed up blood. Cherry crawled up to him.

"Hey! Are you all right?" Cherry yelled.

"You . . .You're not afraid of me?" he asked.

"No." Cherry replied. "I'm Cherry."

"Kuja. . . ." he said.

"Nice to meet you. Was your dragon going to hurt any body?"

"No. we're flying to the dig." he said.

"Why are you so injured?" Cherry asked.

"Monsters." Kuja said.

"Oh, right. I'd better go now. . ." Cheery said, and jumped off. There was a forest below, she noticed and cursed herself. Uh oh. Kuja gasped as she fell. He didn't want anyone else to get hurt! He looked to his dragon but they had already passed the forest of owls.

----

Eiko was in shock as they walked under Condie Peity. Where had Cherry gone?

"We'll find her Eiko. She'll catch up, I promise," said Blank.

"She's done even more idiotic things in her time with us. Kuja's dead, so don't worry about her." Amarant told Eiko.

"But, that was his dragon!" Eiko said.

"Don't worry! Cherry could slice that man up if she wanted to."

Eiko was still worried. Even as they neared the Black Mage Forest, she feared for Cherry.

------

Cherry fell from the branches. Smart girl, real smart. She landed on the ground. She coughed a little as she hoisted herself up. And then she noticed she was surrounded by black mages. They looked mad or confused. Cherry gasped and tried to back up. They started to enclose. Oh crap.