Chapter 8: Journey Home

I slowly woke up the next morning, too comfortable to get up just yet. Even as the sun shined in the window and tickled my nose, I just laid there in a half awake state. My arms felt like lead from swimming so hard to save Ty, and the rest of my body was sore from the fighting. But I couldn't go back to sleep now.

I open my eyes at last and look around. Solas was still sleeping between Jade, Joe and Penelope, glowing like a lantern. It mush come naturally to him to use his element of light, or this was just a basic skill light dragons held.

Feeling Ty Stir next to me, I turn over and look at him. I blinked, surprised that that I was there, but I relax again. Ty was my best friend like Jade was. I smile at old memories, letting my eyes close again. We did almost everything together. Ate ice-cream, watched scary movies on sleepovers, we even studied together. But after Robert caught me, that all seemed to shatter. It was after that I moved to outside of New York with my mom while my dad and my siblings looked for a new place in Colorado. They thought it would have been cheaper if just mom and I moved until things at court were settled. It was hard fitting in the new school. Seeing as I was still hurt and didn't play with the other kids.

Only one was willing to be my friend there. I played with my Silver The Hedgehog pendant as I thought about him. It was hard to believe that we became such close friends after only a semester of school. After that, I moved back to colorado. We sent letters… but we soon lost contact. I was glad to have found Ty and Jade again. The Three Musketeers were finally together again…

Someone stirring brought me out of my thoughts. It was Riku, walking over to Jade and Joe to check on them. I quietly watch him. Both former prisoners were still asleep, and they didn't seem to be stuck in a shadow.

"How are they?…" I asked, my voice sounding more tired than I thought.

Riku looked over at me and smiled. "They're doing better. King Mickey can probably bring them back the rest of the way."

"And Penelope?…"

"She's actually resting normally now." Riku replied. "Bentley slept in his chair watching over her for the night. But you sound like you could use more sleep."

"I can't…" I told him. "I ache everywhere.."

"Here then." He said, walking over with his Keyblade appearing. "This should help." He gently laid the blade on my shoulder.

a moment later that same warmth washed over me, but this was different. It didn't heal, just made me exhausted. I tried to keep my eyes open, but they soon closed to the warmth and I fell asleep again.

When I woke up, must have been two hours later. Solas had moved closer to me and Ty had gotten up. Feeling me move, Solas woke up and looked at me with sleepy eyes. "Morning Em…" He said.

"Morning Solas." I reply. "Sleep well?"

He nodded and stretched. "Looks like everyone did."

I look around. Jade and Joe were still sleeping, but Riku had said that they needed King Mickey to help them. "Where is everyone?"

"They're with Murray in the kitchen. He's making some pancakes." Solas said. "I didn't know he could cook."

I chuckled, remembering when Shadow had made me breakfast the day after I met him and the team. "Well, we better get something to eat before it's all gone."

Solas trilled and bounded into the kitchen. I followed, soon finding everyone in the kitchen. Ty was heaping Murray in the kitchen while Riku and Roxas got the plates. Bentley was at the table with Sly and Penelope. She seemed a little confused as to what happened, but otherwise she was okay.

"So you don't remember being in the dark ages as a Black Knight?" Bentley asked.

"No…" Penelope answered. "The last thing I remember is walking to the lab to help in the TS Project. But… how'd I get here?"

"My guess is," Sly said. "That the Contessa caught you and brainwashed you into service to Le Paradox. And that was a good…. How long Bentley?"

"A good five months ago." Bentley said. "I thought I did something wrong when I found out that you betrayed u-"

"Betrayed you?!" Penelope asked, clearly shocked. "Why would I betray you? You're the smartest guy I know! And your team use science to pull off your heists, it may not go along with whats in my book, but it's amazing to hear the stories and watch how you guys did it."

Bentley smiled. "So I guess we're back together."

"We broke up?!"

Sly chuckled. "Just a little. We didn't know you weren't yourself."

I listened to them chat for a while until a plate was set in front of me. I look up and there's Ty with his own plate of Pancakes. He smiled as he sat in front of me. I found myself having a de-ja-voo, where Ty was sitting a crossed from me at College, after Samantha and her friends ruined my lunch. For the bad boy of the collage, he was the nicest.

"Morning." He said.

"Good Morning." I replied, cutting some of the pancake with my fork. "Sleep well?"

"I did." Ty replied. "You?"

"Mm-hm." I said. I don't know why I didn't feel much like talking this morning… maybe I was still tired.

We ate quietly when Ty cleared his throat. "Em? Can I ask you something?"

I look up at him and smile, glad for a conversation despite my mood. "Sure. What is it?"

"Well…" Ty started. "We've been together for a while. I think its been at least six months since we met up again."

"Yeah," I said, looking up at him again and wondering where this was going. I hadn't noticed that Sly, Bentley and Penelope had stopped talking and were listening.

"Now… tell me if I'm going too fast," Ty said. "But… I was wondering if we could start dating?" He quickly put some pancake in his mouth.

I blinked at him. Dating? Was my first thought. My second thought was 'But we're barely settled anywhere for a date! Not to mention all the Heartless and Robert and Lord Knows what else!'. But I liked my third thought better. 'We have been friends most of our lives… And I was Heartbroken when we lost contact… and it almost feels like we were already dating…' I took a slow breath. "It is quite a question…"

Ty looked at me, swallowing the pancake. "If you don-"

"But!" I said, stopping him. "We have been friends forever… and to tell you the truth, I thought we already kinda were."

A hopeful look came into his eyes. "So, you'd like to?"

I smiled back. "Why not?"

Ty laughed. "Even with the Heartless, Robert, Mephilis, and any other dark thing wanting our hides?"

I shrugged. "They gotta catch us first."

Ty smiled and gripped my hand. "Then…. thank you. It was easier than I thought."

"Told you!" Sly said.

I laughed. "So that's what you guys were talking about the whole venture!"

"Yep!" Sly said, smiling at Bentley and Murray. "And pay up guys."

Murray and Bentley grumbled but gave Sly at least ten bucks each.

"And you bet?!" I asked.

"Even I didn't know that!" Ty said.

"They…. weren't the only ones." Riku said with a wide grin as Roxas forked over twenty five dollars. This made us all laugh, Even Metal who wasn't big on laughing. But, this was huge for me. I just agreed to date my best friend.

We waited until after dark to get moving again. We all piled into the van, but Metal and Solas flew to make room, both making sure to fly high enough to stay hidden. It amazed me with how quickly Solas was learning. Thanks to Metals and Bentleys instructions he was a skilled flyer.

Ty and I sat beside each other with Joe and Jade beside us. Riku and Roxas sat across from us, Murray drove with Bentley in the passenger and Penelope sat between them. Sly took to the rooftops, saying he needed to stretch his legs.

We reach the Gummi Ship, finding it intact (Much to Roxas' enjoyment). But I couldn't help but think something was… off….

"Em?" Ty asked, drawing me out of my thoughts. "You alright?"

"Yeah," I said. "I'm alright."

I smiled as Metal and Solas landed. Solas trilled and puffed up his chest proudly at his success. "Longest flight yet guys! Mister Merlin is going to flip!"

I laughed. "You'll fall over puffing up like that."

Roxas laughed. "She's right squirt. Big heads only get you stuck in doorways."

"No it won't." Solas said. "It's not physically possible."

Roxas rolled his eyes. Making me roll my eyes at them. It was fun to watch them argue… mainly because they argued over silly things.

Sly soon joined us and smiled.

"Hey Sly!" I said, walking over and hugging him. "Thank for letting us stay a while."

Sly smiled and hugged back. "Thanks for the ride home. And helping us get an old friend back."

"We should thank you guys for helping us get our friends." Ty said. "It's been ages since we've seen Jade, I can hardly wait to see her wake up."

"How about we settle with a simple 'Thanks for everything?'" Murray suggested.

Riku smiled. "Sounds good to me."

"But still," I said. "Thanks guys."

"Not a problem Em." Bentley said. "Enjoy that watch."

I smiled and and looked at the watch. "I'm sure I will."
Sly walked over to Ty and shook his hand. "Remember those pointers I told you. Most are from my family secrets."

"What are the rest?" Ty asked.

Sly grinned. "Personal experience."

I smiled at the two when I felt two large arm wrap around me tightly. "We're gonna miss you guys!" Murray said. "Be careful fighting those Heartless."

"W-We will Murray.." I said, my voice half choked by his bear… or should I say Hippo Hug?

Bentley and Sly laughed. "Be sure to keep in touch, kay guys?"

"We will." Metal said. "I'd enjoy swapping upgrade ideas with you and Penelope sometime."

"Now that sounds like fun." Penelope said. "Never thought I'd meet a live AI Android. You take care of your friends Metal."

Metal smiled. "I will." He said.

"And Solas?" Sly said.

"Yeah?" Solas asked, his head perking up.

"Keep an eye on Roxas."

"HEY!" Roxas objected, making everyone laugh.

"I'll try." Solas replied, giving each of them a dragony hug.

We soon said our goodbyes and stepped into the Gummi Ship. Roxas smiled as he started her up and we took flight. I waved at them from a window as we took to the stars. I was going to miss them. It was interesting finding Sly in the cargo hold. But I'm glad I did.

An hour later, We had Jade and Joe settled in their cots in the infirmary room. Riku, Roxas and Ty were giving King Micky a report and showed him the Element Shard. I stood back a ways with Metal, who had a funny smile on his face.

"So they know where the Door is?" Mickey asked.

"It's possible sire." Roxas replied, getting an eye roll from Mickey at the title. "Thanks to a friend we were able to spy on them and get a fragment of their plans."

Micky leaned forward. "Can you tell me?"

Riku smiled and reach into his pocket for the notes, but the smile vanished as he pulled out soggy, ruined pieces of paper. "Well… we ihad/i a fragment of their plans…"

Metal cleared his throat, making everyone look at him. "If I may Sire, But I have a full recording of what we had heard."

"You recorded it?" Riku asked.

"You made us take notes?!" Roxas asked.

"I did and I did." Metal replied. "We were going into a Water Tower after all."

Mickey laughed. "I would very much like to hear those plans. Can you send them to me?"

"I can." Metal said. "Roxas, if I may." Before Roxas could reply, Metal had practically pushed him out of his seat and plugged himself into the Gummi ship. He sat still for a moment, this eyes gaining a binary code as he sent the file.

Suddenly, the lights went out. Metal snapped out of his trance-like state and looked around. "Something shut us down!" He said. "But the file was sent successfully."

This time Roxas shoved Metal out of his seat and worked to restart the Gummi Ship. It revved, sputtered, but never started. Roxas hit his palm against the panel in frustration. "We're in trouble, The gummi naturally makes oxygen, but if we're out here too long, our supplies will run out."

"Then lets find out what did this." Ty said. "I've worked on cars, so this should be easy. Solas, a little light?"

"Coming up." The Fledgling answered, making his scales glow a radiant gold. But I almost wished he hadn't… We stop at the door as something in the Shadows moved. I almost froze at the sight.

It was a large Black thing that looked very much like a spider. It was robotic from the sound of its movements, but my senses told me there was a pilot. On its back was a sack that moved and groaned.

"This…" Roxas said, as the Spyder dropped the sack, releasing three grub-like things that smelled simply horrible. "Aint good…"

To be Continued…