Sorry it took so long to update. I've been kinda busy with homework and my other story, unexpected friends. Not to mention I've been having a massive writers block. I will try to make this chapter longer than the last one was at least. Hope it is up to your expectations! And I would like to thank Ice 73, Wind Seal, and whoever reviewed with the name, 'anon'. A million thanks for the name corrections. That was really useful! Also the support you gave inspired me to continue. So enough with the delay, right? On to the story!
Disclaimer: I forgot to put this in for the last chapter. Oops! Well, here it is now, I do not, nor have I ever, and don't ever intend to, own Nausicaä or any of the other characters.
Last chapter: "Yes, Asbel, I'm fine! Come in! I have an idea of how to save the valley! But I'll need your help."
Chapter 2: Preparations
"Sure. What's your idea?"
"We have to move everyone in the valley."
"What?"
"We have to move them all. The toxins of the forest are doing more and more harm, and I know that if we just stay here it will eventually kill everyone, and I can't just sit by and watch that happen. You remember the first time we met?" the question took Asbel off guard. 'what does that have to do with anything?' he asked himself before answering the question.
"Yah, of course I do. Why?"
"the cavern under the jungle, do you remember how clean the air was? How the sand and water were so pure?"
"yes, but… Oh! I see now! you want to move the Valley under the jungle!"
"Yes, but I will need your help convincing everyone. I don't think the idea of moving into the Toxic Jungle to get away from the toxins will make much sense to them, and they will need more convincing than just me. I think I know how we might be able to convince them though."
"Really? How?"
"Come with me, I'll show you." Said Nausicaä as she started to walk off to a corner of her room. Asbel followed her, knowing that this was going to be something important. He stared as she pushed on a part of the wall that had seemed no different from the rest until it moved aside and in its place was a long, dark, twisting stair case which she immediately started to walk down. Following her through the previously hidden entrance wondering what he would find at the end of the tunnel. Looking around him as he descended he found piles of armor, and a few things that he could only assume had been there before the days of fire. There were various other debris around the path, but it was a large door at the end of the hall that truly caught his attention. There was a soft glow coming from it and the faint sound of trickling water as Nausicaä stepped inside. A moment later Asbel entered the room as well, drawing a gasp of amazement.
"You've created your own forest! And the air is clean in here, so you must be using the water from underground and the soil from the bottom of the well! This will prove that the Jungle can be safe too! Once we convince everyone we will have to get them packed up and have enough animals that can carry the load. The people can't possibly carry all their belongings all that way by themselves."
"You have a point. We will need something to use to transport the people and their possessions. The older people such as Obaba could never make such a long journey by foot! But this is the only way we can save them. There must be a way." The two sat in silence for awhile thinking about what they could do. The gunships had both been destroyed that night when the ohmu stampeded, and not everyone could fly gliders, especially not the elderly and the sick.
"I'VE GOT IT!" Asbel said suddenly.
"Yes, what is it?" asked Nausicaä, hoping that there was a way around this problem.
"You remember the barge that the Toulmakians had taken when they had come the first time to the Valley? We still have that, don't we?"
"Of course! Why didn't I think of that!" she exclaimed, hugging Asbel, and giving him a peck on the cheek. "Asbel, you're a genius! I'll go tell Lord Yupa!" she yelled as she ran off, leaving a slightly stunned Asbel in her wake. They had been going out for a while now, but it she still managed to surprise him. he laughed to himself as he left the room.
Lord Yupa had just been told of the plan. He wanted to see Nausicaä and discuss this plan of hers before he went around and told the people. They would certainly need some aid in understanding this. he knew that the people all loved and trusted her as their queen, but when it came to a matter such as moving them to the Toxic Jungle and away from their home that they had worked so hard at restoring, he knew that they would question her, as she was after all only a child herself. She would certainly need his help, but first proper preparations would need to be taken care of.
"Lord Yupa. Thank you so much for coming. It means a lot."
"Nausicaä, Asbel has told me of your plan."
"Lord Yupa, before you say anything I—"
"Don't worry, Nausicaä, I agree with you."
"You do?"
"Of course. I know what you have been going through can't be easy. I also know that we will need a plan on what to do once we show them your room. Even if they do believe us that it is safer under the Jungle, it will be hard for them to leave the only home they've ever known. The Pejitei people will not have as hard a time, as this is not their actual home. They have dealt with this mass movement of people before. They will probably even let us use their airship. None the less, getting the people of the Valley to move will pose a challenge. How do you suggest we convince them to move?"
"That's a good point. I hadn't quite thought of that." Nausicaä mused as she stared out the window into the starry night sky (remember that she had just gotten this idea at night). "I guess I'll have to think about that more. –yawn—I'm sure the children would be –yawn—excited about the idea about going on a trip. Besides, they all know how mu—YAWN—how much I like it there. They have all heard my stories about it. But—" Just then Asbel, who had been listening intently this whole time cut her off.
"Nausicaä, you should get some rest. I can tell you're tired. Besides," he continued before she had a chance to protest, "you will probably come up with a wonderful idea once your mind is relaxed. You have been thinking hard about this problem for a while now, and I've noticed you have lost a lot of sleep. It isn't good to do that, you know. We can talk more about this in the morning. Perhaps Obaba will have an idea about what to do in this situation. She has seen more than any of us can and knows more about the mentality of the Valley than we do. Her wisdom will be useful." He mused. "But for now you must get some sleep." Lord Eupa nodded his agreement.
"Most certainly. I am still quite groggy myself. Shall we all meet to discuss this more around, say, seven?" he asked. He would have suggested later, if he didn't already know that this matter was of utmost importance as well as the fact that the Queen would never agree to wait that long. Finally Nausicaä nodded in agreement.
"Seven it is then. Goodnight you two." Said Lord Yupa as he left the room, leaving the two young people alone together. Asbel walked over to Nausicaä and put his arm around her, guiding her to her bed, with her protesting the whole way.
"Asbel! Really! This is not necessary! I don't want to go to bed now! I have so much to think about! All the planning."
"I know you don't want to go to bed, that's why I'm making you. You need your rest." 'If only she wasn't so stubborn. She knows that she needs her rest. I care just as much as she does about her people, but if she keeps this up she won't be around much longer to watch out for them.' He finally managed to get her into bed with much protest and resistance, which included him getting hit in the head once, but he didn't mind. He picked her up and placed her down on her bed, leaning over and gazing into her eyes, trying to display as openly as possible his worry for her. This managed to quiet the fiery young queen enough for her to give in with an audible sigh. "Asbel, why do you always have to be so convincing." He laughed at this.
"I guess that just comes from worrying about you giving yourself a heart-attack half the time." He said with a smile. She smiled too before saying goodnight to him and thinking to herself, 'I really am lucky to know him so well. I just wish mother and father had gotten to meet him too. I know they would have loved him just as much as I do.' She thought before drifting off into a peaceful sleep.
A/N: well, there you have it! An update at last! Sorry I took so long, but with the fore-mentioned homework and list of other excuses I have already told you about, it took me a while. You know, when I was putting in Nausicaä's yawns I yawned myself! –yawn—look, there I go again! Lol. Thanks for sticking with this story. I will try to update sooner with the next chapter. Questions, comments, and flames are all welcome, and spelling/ grammar help is worshiped! I have gotten a much better response with this fic than I thought I would get, and that makes me happy! Thanks again for reading this story of mine, and have a great day! Or night, or whatever it just so happens to be in your part of the world. Lol. Se ya!
