Ahh, falling dreams. We've all had 'em.
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter!
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Adelle gasped, her arms flying out to her sides to catch her from falling. She looked around panting, and after a moment of getting her bearings, she realized she was not longer at the castle, but in the back bedroom in Merlin's house. She sighed with relief, and sat up. "Just a dream." She murmured, but the words were sour on her lips, and she knew deep down the dream had been something more. Whatever the case may be, she had lingered in Radiant Garden too long, and needed to get back out to the other worlds to continue her search for the source of her dreams; the source of her unchained memories.
It was still dark when Adele crept out of the bedroom holding her shoes. She wanted stealth, and her boots made sickeningly loud clopping sounds on the wooden floor.
"Did you honestly think you were going to sneak away?" Cid's hoarse voice asked as Adelle passed the computer.
Adelle sighed, and turned. She looked at the blonde man then the brunette woman next to him, and the short-haired ninja girl on his opposite side.
"Honestly, yes." Adelle said then sat down to pull on her boots.
"You can't get away that easy." Aerith shook a playfully scolding finger at the red-haired girl, smiling.
Adelle gulped guiltily, and stood up now wearing her shoes. "Well, g'bye!" She turned to leave.
"Don't be a stranger!" Yuffie beamed.
Adelle turned, and looked at the trio silhouetted against the glowing screen of the computer. "I'll try." She paused, looking back to the door. "So, where's..."
"Leon's waiting at the gummi ship bay," Aerith smiled. "But Cloud would like to see you before you leave, I'm sure."
Adelle sighed again. She had made too many connections in this place, and she feared they would all meet an untimely end if her enemies were ever to find them.
"Adelle?" Aerith's soft hand grasped her shoulder.
"Spacin' out again." Yuffie laughed.
"Huh?" Adelle started. "Oh, right," She opened to door. "See you guys." She trotted down the two stairs leading from Merlin's house, and paused on the cobblestone street. She looked right, and could envision the stairs leading up to the Bailey. She could go that way to the Postern, knowing Cloud would probably be in Ansem's study.
Adelle turned her head to the left, and looked at the corridor leading to the market place, and beyond that the gummi ship hanger. She took a step toward the corridor then turned, and ran toward the stairs leading to the Bailey.
Cloud stared out at the castle, recalling the events of the day. "They're here", Adelle had said. Had someone arrived? He folded his arms, and leaned against the wall. If someone had come to Hollow Bastion, who and why this world? Was it Adelle?
Hurried footsteps drew Cloud out of his thoughts. He looked up, not at all surprised to see the red-haired girl running toward him. She was leaving tonight, and Adelle could never resist saying goodbye.
"So you're leaving." Cloud said.
Adelle nodded, panting slightly. "I'll come back, though."
Cloud looked at Adelle. "What happened to that guy in red?" he asked.
Adelle started then sighed. "Oh, you mean Ingus." She folded her arms. "He's still looking. I should have met him already, but you were there when I passed out."
Cloud stood up from the wall. "Will he wait for you?" He asked.
Adelle shrugged. "I hope so." She smiled worriedly. "He said he would be in Traverse Town. I'm going there tonight."
"Strange place to go, I thought it was deserted." Cloud murmured thoughtfully, frowning slightly at the ground.
"It is for the most part, but the heartless don't go there, so it's a safe place to meet." Adelle twiddled her thumbs distractedly. "I still can't find the smoke ball." She murmured. "Could you-"
"I'll keep an eye out," Cloud interrupted. "But," He paused. "I'm looking, too."
"That's alright, do what you have to do." Adelle smiled. "Find your light, destroy your darkness, whatever you need. I'll even help you once I find-..." She stopped. She couldn't say his name, she wanted to see him the first time she said his name again. "Once I find him."
Cloud walked toward the stairs leading to the Postern. "Go. I can't guarantee I'll be here when you get back." He said as he left.
Adelle smiled, and shook her head.
Leon stood by the large red dragon-like ship called Ragnarok. Adelle walked up to him, and stared expectantly.
"Can I have-?" Adelle started to ask.
"Where will you go if I give it to you?" Leon frowned.
Adelle started. Leon never asked where she was going before, not even back then...She turned her head away, and sighed. "Around."
Leon held out a rectangular key like a computer chip. He had never really been angry about Adelle taking the ship, but he did worry what the girl got herself into most of the time. With the Organization in play now, and Nobodies everywhere along with Heartless, there was no telling when he would see the girl again.
"Just take care, and check in once in a while, would ya?" Leon folded his arms, a slight smile taking over his face.
"Wow, Leon, a smile." Adelle teased. "You're either really pissed, or..." She smiled slightly. "Worried about little ol' me, maybe?"
"Hm." Leon patted Adelle's shoulder. "Don't destroy my ship, okay?"
Adelle rolled her eyes, and climbed the stairs into the ship. It was the same as it was when she had left it, but still missing something.
"Computer!" She called out; her favorite part of the ship being its voice activation, it made it easier to get away fast when she was being pursued. "Initiate launch sequence." She walked as she talked, heading up to the room she had claimed as her own. She keyed in a code to unlock the door.
"Adelle!" An orange creature with large white paws, long red mane, and whip-like tail pounced on Adelle gleefully. "Adelle! Adelle! Adelle!" It jumped up and down next to the grounded girl.
Adelle coughed, and cursed the creature silently for knocking the wind out of her. "Moombas." She coughed. "How long have you been in there?" she asked, rolling over so she could see into the room. Nothing was out of place, but the bed sheets were tangled up into a nest; a characteristic of moomba sleeping habits. Adelle managed to pick herself up, and staggered into the room, and toward a vanity. She looked at the top of the table then picked up a green tiffany glass box, and carried it with her to the bridge.
"Sleeping aaaaaaall daaaaaay!" The mooba announced joyfully.
Adelle sighed. "Well at least you're awake now." She muttered. "Leon would have a fit if he knew you were in here." She glanced at the moomba as she walked down a flight of metal stairs. They continued through a corridor, and up another flight of stairs that lead to the flight deck. A small elevator led to the bridge of the Ragnarok. Adelle looked up as they neared the top, and a large, ornage beak stuck out in her face.
"Oh." The red-head sighed. "I forgot about you." She pushed past the large yellow and black chocobo.
The chocobo turned, and cocked its head. "Kweh?" The black crown feathers on its head perked up.
Adelle looked at the chocobo, started to say something then shook her head. "Strap yourselves in, we're leaving."
-Approaching gate- A mechanical voice said.
Adelle belted herself into the pilot's seat; the seat sliding forward automatically so Adelle could reach the controls.
The moomba jumped into the co-pilot's seat, and strapped itself in.
Adelle turned, and looked at the chocobo again. "You better hang onto something."
The chocobo cocked its head again, and it could almost say that it gulped. "Kweh?"
-Clear for take-off!- Chip's voice announced from down in the Gummi ship hanger. -Three! Two! One!-
The engines roared, and the flaps opened, and two targeting miniships detached from the Ragnarok's outer hull, orbiting around it. The ship shot into the depths of space like a pebble from a slingshot.
The chocobo wailed, flying back to spread eagle against the back wall of the bridge.
-Entering Hollow Bastion gate! Good luck, Adelle!- Dale exclaimed happily.
Navigating the gate was never a difficult task, plus there were a lot of Heartless and Nobody ships to blow up. It took less than two minutes to reach the edge of the gate, and safely exit. They emerged into open space, the stars all twinkling at them as if saying Welcome Back!
"I hate you! I haaate youuuu!" A shrieking voice said over the comm. system.
Adelle sighed, unfastened herself from the seat, set the ship on autopilot, and made her way to the elevator. The chocobo peeled down off of the wall, and landed on the elevator platform.
"You okay?" Adelle asked.
"Kweh." The chocobo said dizzily.
The moomba leapt from the seat, and joined Adelle as she and the chocobo made their way to the observation deck.
"Oh, really." Adelle grumbled, folded her arms, and shook her head.
A little moomba was plastered to the wide window, its right hand on the comm. button. "Get meee doooown!" It wailed.
Adelle shook her head in amusement, and walked over to the white creature. "You're fine."
"A little warning would be nice! Maybe a "Hey, Mog, better strap yourself in" would be polite!" He roared.
"Hey Mog, better strap yourself in," Adelle teased. "Next time."
Mog wriggled as Adelle pulled him from the window. "There won't be a next time!" He flew up in front of Adelle. "I'm leavin' this sinkin' ship! Where's the exit?"
"We're in deep space now." Adelle called.
Mog stopped, hovering in mid-air. "So where are we going? We better get there soon!"