Whoa," Sora breathed, taking in the gummi ship before him. He slid his hand down the side of the ship before whistling in appreciation. "It's even more awesome in person!"
"Cid really out did himself this time," Azami admired. "Alright, let's see what this baby can do!" Sora, Donald, and Goofy nodded eagerly and clambered up the gangplank that led into the ship. Laughing, Azami started to run after the three until the brooding figure of Riku caught her attention.
Despite their obvious dislike for each other, Azami found herself stopping to wait on the boy. "Why so down, slowpoke?" Azami asked, lightheartedly. The boy merely ignored her attempt at a light conversation and brushed past her without so much as a glance her way.
Fighting off the urge to smack him in the back of the head, Azami took a deep breath and yelled after him, "So we'll work on your communication skills later!" Forcing herself to stay positive she followed him into the ship, the doors closing behind her.
"So where exactly are we headed to first?" Sora asked. He was perched comfortably in the driver's seat. Azami made quick work to remedy that. She easily pushed the brunette from her spot and began to pull up the map to the worlds in need of immediate assistance.
"Hey! That's my spot!" Sora protested childishly. Azami lazily looked over her shoulder at the pouting boy.
"If that's the truth then why am I sitting here?" she challenged. Her hard gaze quieted the boy's whining and made him take the seat designated to the co-captain.
"Now then," Azami said, turning back to the computer panel. She pressed a few buttons and a blown up picture of a vaguely familiar world. The most prominent structure of the planet was the beautiful, white castle towering over the many trees that surrounded it. Not a lot more could be seen on the planet save for a small village nestled just outside the forest's perimeter.
"Hey!" Sora exclaimed. "I've seen that place before; is that…."
"It's the Beast's castle!" Donald exclaimed. He jumped to where his rather large duck butt was blocking anyone's view of the computer screen. "I don't remember there being any village there though." Before the bird could make any further inspection however, he was thrown violently across the ship. He quacked loudly in protest as he collided within the seat of a chair just outside the navigation area.
"Are we going to see the Beast?" Sora asked eagerly, taking the spot Donald had previously occupied. His bright eyes glowed with delight at the thought of seeing his old friend again.
"Hey!" Donald quacked, now over his initial shock. He lunged at the brunette and successfully managed to knock the boy to the ground where the two instantly struck up a wrestling match.
Fist and feathers flew left and right as they two rolled about on the ground, each shouting insults to the other as they fought. It seemed that the two would keep it up for hours if it weren't for Riku's abrupt intervention.
The irritated boy grabbed the two by the scruffs of their necks and threw them down in the closets seats next to him. Giving each a glare that could scare even the toughest of Heartless, Riku said through gritted teeth, "Sit there and be quite." Sora and Donald, not wanting to anger the boy, quietly nodded their heads, afraid to make even the slightest of noises.
Sighing loudly, Azami turned her attention to the worried Goofy who had been watching the scene from behind his fingers. "Goofy, do you think you could help me navigate?" Much to her dismay the Captain of the Guard shook his head.
"Gwarsh, I'm sorry Azami but ya see I have two left thumbs! Maybe Riku could help ya?" Azami knew the dog meant well but inwardly she cringed at his harmless suggestion. However, she didn't have much of a choice – Sora had been put in time out and she couldn't trust Donald around too many buttons – that just left the brooding teen. Reluctantly, Azami swiveled her chair around to meet the boy's gaze.
"Riku?" she asked in a quiet tone. She didn't want to sound as if she were begging – she'd man the entire ship herself before she resorted to begging – but she really needed a navigator. Thankfully, the white haired male fell into the navigator's seat without so much as a smart reply or glare. Azami could feel herself smile.
"Alright, full speed ahead; next stop, Beast's Castle! Hope you're buckled up!" Azami exclaimed. Maneuvering the gummi ship into the air, she flipped on the engine thrusters, revved the engine and shot off for the acquired destination.
Preview:
"The King says you and Sora have been fighting the heartless for a while now," Azami said, "must suck to fight this seemingly losing battle." Azami chanced a glance in Riku's direction. When she saw his intense glare focused on the side of her face she immediately looked away.
"You should know better than most, Incomplete," Riku muttered bitterly. "The heartless will never stop coming as long as there is light in our worlds and Sora holds the Keyblade. However, Sora seems to believe that we can win this battle and despite my personal opinions I won't make the same mistake of abandoning my friend again."
Suddenly, something large hit the side of the ship, throwing the occupants of the ship forward.
"What was that?" Riku demanded. He quickly pulled up an image of the outside of the ship and bit back a curse at the scene before him.
"Heartless!" Sora exclaimed.