Hello! I believe its taken me long enough to get back to the story. Sorry about that, lack of inspiration but I'm back with chapter seven and eight ready to go! I sincerely hope you enjoy them, I'd love hear your comments so don't be shy, okay? Thanks binasu
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Chapter Seven: Beneath the Stars
Gabriel stood next to Haniel with his hands on his hips looking out the window of the Oasis. Everyone on board was restless, and was questioning why Galatea was left behind. Nyx, Galatea's navigator was pacing in front of a large monitor and keyboard located to the right behind Haniel's seat. Nyx had short dark blue hair that she kept spike in the back with a few small stands on her forehead as bangs. She had pale skin with light blue eyes and small pointy ears. She wore black pants and white tube-top covered by two black straps that criss-crossed across her chest. Her feet were bare, but pair of black boots was under the keyboard. Nyx was never fond of Gabriel, too quiet, she said. Now that Galatea was being held as a captive by Isvara until Terra was brought to him, it was very disturbing.
"I still can't believe he left her! After everything she did for him and Terra." Leuce hissed softly to Minthe while combing through her hair.
"Leuce, you should trust Gabriel." Minthe said softly hugging her bear close to her.
Nyx turned to the two girls and kneeled down patting Minthe's knee. The blind girl looked up and reached out a hand and ran it over Nyx's face. Leuce stopped brushing Minthe's hair eyeing Nyx.
"Minthe you have a big heart. But I feel the same as Leuce, it doesn't seem right that he should be able to choose that Galatea should be held captive by Isvara." Nyx said standing up again turning to face her monitor.
Ever since they left Spira the maps had gone haywire. She finally managed to get a good map of the worlds they were passing by. Gabriel had lost his sensor bracelet so any hope of trying to get a fix on Terra's signal was a bust. She now was faced with looking through stars and strange worlds. They had to rely on Gabriel's instincts of where the girl might be.
"Hey Nyxie, Gabriel wants a closer look at the world coming up, the one with the funny building on top. Can you get it?" Haniel called.
Nyx balled her hands into her fists and scooped up one of her boots launching it at Haniel hitting him the back of the head. Gabriel jumped out of the way and held his hands up in front of him not wanting the other boot thrown his way.
"Damn it Haniel, call me Nyxie one more time and I swear you'll be drifting with the stars. And if Gabriel wants something from me he can ask himself." She hissed leaning over the keyboards typing something quickly.
"Ow. Gabriel, watch yourself she's never missed." Haniel offered rubbing the back of his head.
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Once again they stood in the forest; the clearing she and Kairi had come across was longer than she had seen. After reporting that the spiders were gone to Jack they followed Sora back into the woods. Now they were in a circle of trees each tree had a different door on it in various shapes; an elaborately decorated egg, a heart, a strange bird, a large clover, and oddly decorated tree.
"Wow, what is this place?" Kairi asked running a hand along the heart shaped door.
"Come on, I'll show you." Sora said taking her other hand.
He crossed over to the tree shaped down and opened and stepped through it taking Kairi with him. Snowflakes floated out from the door, Donald and Goofy stepped through next. Riku walked up to looking into, nothing but darkness and swirling snowflakes. Terra moved behind him to look into the doorway, Iole moved to sit on Riku's shoulder to get a better look.
"Well, let's go." He said grabbing her hand and pulled her through.
They fell down amongst the swirling snowflakes; they landed in a pile of snow. Sora laughed helping Terra up and then Riku. They stood on a snowy hill that looked down a path lined with strange decorations that lead into a brightly lit town. Kairi was looking around like a wide-eyed child.
"What is this place?" Terra asked looking around herself.
"Sora, this place is like the North Pole. Just look; candy canes and all the decorations. It's Christmas!" Kairi exclaimed.
"You're right. This is Christmas Town. See Riku, Santa is real." Sora laughed running toward the town closely followed by Kairi.
"He wanted to prove it to you Riku. Been waitin' for it I suppose." Goofy said as he and Donald followed.
"Feh, there is always a score to settle." Riku huffed dusting some snow from his shoulder.
Terra stopped scooping up a pile of snow. She looked toward the town still trying to figure out what this place represented. Kairi and Sora were both excited about it; Riku seemed somewhat intrigued by it. Another holiday celebrated by the outside worlds?
"Christmas," Riku started as he put a hand on his hip placing a hand on her shoulder and walking her toward the town.
"Is a winter holiday that is celebrated by giving gifts to people you care about. It's the one time of the year were everyone is kind to each other; "Goodwill toward men." Santa Claus is a figure that represents all things jolly I suppose. He flies around in his sleigh on Christmas Eve bring gifts to good boys and girls everywhere, all in one night. At least that is the gist of the holiday." He finished as they stepped into the town square.
In the center was a large circle object that had a stripe roof and various animals on poles and brightly colored. The others were standing in front of one house, Sora grinned as Riku and Terra reached them. He opened the door to the house and everyone followed him inside. It was very warm inside and the decorations that lined the square followed them in the house. Sora and the others were already in the room to the left, Terra and Riku stopped in the doorway to taken the setting.
A tree was decorated in a corner; beneath it were bright color boxes with bows. There was a large fireplace, tables and chairs; Over all a very cozy room, homey. Across the room was another door in front of it stood a tall, round man in a red suit with white trim, he had snow white hair and beard. He was laughing at something Sora had said, his voice boomed and echoed around them. And his belly…jiggled, he was a very odd sight.
"Santa Claus," Riku muttered in awe.
Kairi was glowing, and smiling at the man, Donald and Goofy had settled down in a couple of chairs near the fire with smiles on their faces. Sora was talking animatedly; he turned to face Riku grinning ear to ear.
"See Riku, he does exist!"
"Ah Riku so nice to see you, are things well with you?" The man asked.
Kairi snickered whispering something into Sora's ear, he too giggled pointed over Riku's head.
"Yes I suppose, what is it Sora?" Riku looked up his face going slightly pink.
Terra looked up as well. Above them was a type of greenery with white berries held by a red ribbon.
"What is it?" She asked looking confusedly at Riku who cleared his throat stepping into the room.
"Ho ho ho." The man chuckled.
Terra stood there quite confused looking from Riku to the others. Yes, people in the outside
worlds were very odd indeed. Iole jumped down from Terra's shoulder and wandered over to the tree picking up one of the brightly colored boxes and began to shake it.
"Oh! Iole don't do that, it might be breakable." Terra said walking over to the creature scooping her up from the floor and setting the box down gently.
"Don't worry Terra; it's perfectly natural for her to be curious." Santa Claus said chuckling again.
"How…how did you know my name?" She asked straightening up and turning around slowly.
"Just because you don't know me doesn't mean I don't know you." He winked.
"He's Santa! He knows everyone's name!" Kairi beamed.
"That seems impossible. How can one man know everyone's names?" Terra replied scrutinizing the old man.
"Yes it does seem impossible. But I've had many years of practice. But tell me this, why are you so far from Spira and without Gabriel? You two are joined at the hip; it's odd to see you without him." Santa said settling himself down into a chair grabbing a cookie.
Terra stood there staring at him clinging Iole to her. Her first instinct was to scream, someone outside those who actually knew her asking her something quite personal was creepy. Her second instinct was to ask him where Gabriel was, he did know everyone, right?
"Terra?"
"I don't know." She muttered looking down.
Guilty, she felt guilty. If she hadn't gone up to the deck she would be with Gabriel. While Riku and the others were being so understanding and willing to help, she still didn't feel right. She had known Gabriel since she was little and as this Santa person had said…they had never really spent a day apart. For all she knew…, no she didn't want to think like that. Gabriel was strong and more than likely looking under every rock in Spira for her.
"Maybe its best we go, Terra are you ok?" She looked up and Riku was next her again smiling at her in a comforting way.
Gabriel, whoever he was…it was bothersome. He was starting to like Terra and every time he was mentioned she became detached. Maybe he was out of his mind thinking that he ever really had a chance. Girls…were trouble…and sometimes more than their worth. But
still, there was just…he sighed putting and arm around her shoulders pulling her into a hug. Everyone was quiet, well except Iole who squeaked in protest and wiggled free from between them. Terra didn't move, but she felt tears rolling down her cheeks. Without a second thought she wrapped her around Riku and began to sob. She seemed to breaking down easily these days, but at least these people were understanding.
"It's my fault! If I had gone up there…he could be hurt…or worse. And it's my fault! He's spent his whole life protecting me! I always put him in danger…it's entirely my fault."
"Things happen, you can't control everything. Don't beat yourself up about it." He said lifting an arm patting the girl on the head.
"That's right, I'm sure your friend is fine and just waiting for you to come home." Kairi added glancing at Sora.
Terra didn't reply, she felt guilty and that was that. But, she had a lot to feel guilty for right now. Something was bothering her in the back of her mind. She buried her face into Riku's chest, who straightened up in alarm. For once in her life she had begun to question her meaning. She had failed at be a summoner, and she was failing at being a sphere hunter. Worst of all, she was failing as a friend. Everyone around her was working a thousand times as hard trying to be there for one another. She was just being selfish. She could find her way home by herself if she tried. But instead she was relying on people she barely knew.
Riku cleared his throat pushing her back lightly. Her eyes were red and puffy with tear stains down her cheeks. But her expression was blank, maybe she had gone numb. No, she pulled herself away from him and scooped up Iole. Without a word she was out the door, it took them all a minute to react. She was halfway back up to the tree; Iole was buried against her chest. She stopped as she reached the tree; she turned her head watching them running toward her screaming for her to wait. She sat Iole on the ground and flung out her arms.
There was no use in waiting. She could get there on her own, she just had to try. A circle formed around her feet writing etched around the outside, the energy flowed up sending everything around her flying upward in a spiral. Sora, Riku, and Kairi stopped a few feet away their hair and clothes pulling up around them. Kairi held down her skirt looking to the boys as if to ask what she was doing. Her staff appeared in her left hand, Iole was knocked out from the circle, and Sora dived and grabbed her before she was blown away.
"Yevon, help me." She muttered looking upward twirling the staff in her hand before driving one end into the ground.
"Enough!" Riku yelled forcing his way through the energy.
Standing behind her he grabbed the staff and tried to pry it from the ground. The energy around them swelled, he looked up the stars had all disappeared; it was a hollow sky. Sora handing Iole to Kairi brandishing his keyblade, emerging from the darkness beyond Terra's magic were heartless.
"Riku, the heartless!" He yelled.
Riku tried to see behind the energy but he couldn't, he couldn't pry the staff, and he couldn't get Terra to respond. He could hear Donald, Goofy, Sora, and Kairi fending off the heartless and calling to him. He let go of the staff, wrapping an arm around Terra's waist and pulled. This got a reaction; she clung tightly to her staff.
"It will work!" She yelled.
The energy grew lifting them both off the grounding only being held to the ground by Terra clinging to her staff.
"What is going to work?" He yelled.
"The gateway!" She replied.
She let go and both of them swirled upward and into the darkness overhead.