Wow. I was surprised to see someone commented on my fanfic! Thank you! :) (gives you pocky) That was enough to light a fire under my bottom and update the next chapter!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 4 "Preparations"

Everyone gathered at Bugenhagen's laboratory.

"Ho ho hoooo. Everyone here?" He looked around and about.

"Good. I've got a couple of more things to say to you people before you leave," he began,

"Up in my contraption, I saw a couple of men fly up through the sky. This is good news because the sky portal did not shut. So you are capable of coming back for the time being."

This seemed to be VERY good news for Barret.

"Hell yeah! Then I'm goin' wit you guys!" he shouted out loudly.

Bugenhagen continued, "There is bad news, too. Lifestream energy bubbles keep being attracted to the sky's magnetic force. I told you before how humans die and are reborn again. That is still the case, but it will only occur on the outerworld instead. Us, the core, will become extinct unless the people on the outside world would want to come and inhabit this place, which I strongly doubt. I don't think that this sky portal will stay here forever or for a long time for that matter. It will eventually close and who knows what that would do to us. When the water dries up and breathing seems to be greatly difficult due to the scarce oxygen left, we're in trouble."

"So what you're trying to tell us, grandfather, is to evacuate everybody to the outerworld as soon as possible?" Red XIII asked.

Bugenhagen turned to him, "Correct. It is urgent that your crew leave immediately. To explore the outerworld and make sure it is not a threatening or dangerous one. Who knows..." he said, turning his back to them,

"Maybe there are only monters living over us or aliens from another planet."

Yuffie let out a laugh, "Ha ha ha... Aliens."

"Ho ho hoooo. Yes, miss Yuffie. It is quite possible. Now," he continued on,

"Before you leave, I should tell you guys this... Those men who decided to go through the sky.............................died."

"How so?" Nanaki asked. Bugenhagen turned to face the red lion,

"...They drowned."

Everyone jumped.

"Ho ho hoooo. Yes... Beyond that sky portal is the ocean, beyond that is land and beyond that is space. We are the core and soon enough, it will be so. So you all must hurry."

Everyone nodded.

"And you, Nanaki, should go along with them."

Red XIII agreed. "Yes, grandpa. What will you be doing during our absence?"

"I've already sent people to go warn the others. I'm still researching on the sky portal, so I'll be very busy ho ho hoooo."

Cloud stepped up and gave a nod. "Alright, we'll be going now. But the Highwind will be a problem since it is not used to going underwater."

Cid put his hands on his hips, "Heh?? 'Scuse me, am I not a $#& engineer or what?! I'll reconstruct the airship to an air-sub ship in no time!!!"

He ran out of the room. Everyone sighed.

"Wonder how long it will take," Red XIII said to himself.

Bugenhagen started, "You must go with him and make your vehicle suitable for the conditions. Farewell, for now."