Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts nor Final Fantasy XIII.
A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry it's been such a long time since I've updated this. Finals are coming up and I've been wicked busy. Anyway, this chapter gets everyone to where they need to go, plus it helps to reveal some extra plot points that will be helpful later, but that's all I'm telling you! Anyway, please enjoy and review! Thanks!
And thanks to XaccemFlare for all the great reviews that have been super helpful so far!
Chapter XI: Prep for Landing
Kairi and Naminé are coming with us to the gummi ship. I guess this will be our last few moments together for a while I guess. I hate to have to leave her like that, but Mickey said he'll keep them safe, so I really have nothing to worry about. I wonder what it will be like when we get to this Cocoon place. The way Serah talked about it makes it sound pretty awesome. Well, here we are. Donald and Goofy are already inside. I look over to Kairi.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine! Besides, this way I can really help you with your homework when you get back!" I'm going to miss that smile of hers. It's always so bright and it makes you feel warm.
"Ya sure? I mean I could always…" Wow, um…okay, I'll take that.
"I'm sure." I'm still stunned after that kiss, but I guess that means she'll be alright.
"Okay…love you!" I give her one last hug and a smile before turning to the ship. There's a bright flash off to the side, so the others must be ready to go. I can hear Tobi climbing the ladder, so Serah must be right behind him. Look at that Mog can just float…er…fly into the ship, but his wings aren't…moving…uh…okay then. Serah and Tobi sit toward the back while Goofy, Donald and me are up front ready to pilot this thing. Come to think of it though, I don't know where Cocoon is. "Um…guys…where are we going? Like direction-wise?"
"Don't worry, Chip and Dale uploaded the directions Master Yen Sid gave us before we left." Donald was always good about getting things put together, which is a good thing. Well not at first because he always seemed so bossy back then.
"Great! Are they all ready to go?" I can't quite see them outside this ship's windows.
"If by "they", you mean us then yes." It sounds like Van's voice on the radio, but it's hard to tell.
"So, uh…those guys are gonna follow behind us, right?" Goofy's doing something to one of the screens that the ship has.
"Right." That might have been Ven or Roxas, but…well…yeah.
"Watch out for the engines!"
"Sure Donald." Wow, Van sounds even less impressed than usual. "Wagh!"
"Should've listened Van!" Just like Tobi, I can't hold in my laugh. I mean it just kinda came out. Don't worry though, I bet that armor cushioned his fall, so he'll be fine. With that we start up and away from our cozy little home. I know we've only been here a year, but I think I'm going to miss living here, and you know, having a bed. I watch as the buildings get smaller and smaller, Kairi and Naminé are both gone. Looks like our…next…adventure's about to start.
"So, Serah, what's Cocoon and Pulse like?" I turn to Tobi and Serah before walking back to them.
"Well, I've never been to Pulse before…"
"Kupo?" Why did Serah give that look to Mog? Maybe I missed something.
"Anyway, like I said I haven't been to Pulse, but it's supposed to be this hellish wasteland. There used to be people living there, but that was centuries ago. Cocoon though is where I'm from. It's this really amazing place."
"Wait, what are they going to find on Pulse then?" I don't like the sound of "hellish wasteland."
"I've heard it's nothing but monsters, but I think they'll be okay."
"Ven, why did Aqua and Terra want to stay behind? They seemed so interested back at the hospital." That must have been Roxas' voice over the radio. I wonder if they heard what we were saying. Probably not though because I bet they would've said something about it.
"Well, um…hm…I…uh…"
"Come on Ven, what's up?" I make my way back up to the front. Geez, I'm doing a lot of walking on this trip.
"I'm not sure…oh what the heck, Aqua's pregnant. She and Terra didn't want to come because she didn't want to hurt the baby."
"She's pregnant?!" Wow, we managed to get a seven person unison thing. Kind of impressive.
"Yeah, she and Terra found out about a week ago, but they didn't want me to tell you guys."
"Wow, that's cool!" Tobi would find that cool, but I can only think about Aqua and Terra and…never mind. Don't want that image.
"Okay, so what did Yen Sid want then? You know when he kept you back at the tower." I saw Yen Sid take him toward the back room, but I hadn't asked until now.
"Well, you know how you and Riku got to take your Mark of Mastery exam while I was…asleep…"
"Yeah…but what does that have to do with anything? I didn't pass and blah, blah, blah."
"So, this is my chance! He said if and when we get this whole thing fixed, if I made it out "alive", he would make me a master!"
"That's awesome Ven!" Wow, we're pretty good with the whole unison thing, except for Van who I didn't hear on that last one.
"Yeah, so that's why."
"Wait, what's a Mark of Mastery exam? Is it something to do with your Keyblades?"
"Sorta," I guess I'll let Tobi explain it to Serah. "It's like those exit exams we get in school. Like the ones you have to take before most people get to go to college…"
"Okay…"
"Well, it's kinda like that, but with Keyblades. In a kinda simplified description anyway." So, that cheesy smile thing must be genetic, either that or he just stole it from me.
"Well, okay then. I guess that makes some sort of sense."
"Sounds complicated, kupo!"
"So what's your story Mog? How'd you meet Serah?" He and Serah share a look for some reason.
"Well…uh…um…I was out…in…where was it, kupo?"
"Nautilus, remember you were getting pecked at by some Chocobos."
"Oh, right. I tried to get that out of my memory..." Even his laugh sounds like a little kid.
"And you just went along with her after that?" Donald turns away from all the buttons on the ship.
"That's how it works, kupo! I sorta owed it to her after she saved me from all those nasty birds."
"Hey!"
"You're not a chocobo are you, kupo?"
"No, I'm a duck!"
"See, no problem, kupo!" Wow, that really made Donald upset. Guess, he's touchy about the bird thing.
"We can't be too far away by now." Serah joins us up by the front, and Tobi and Mog aren't far behind. I love that Cid was nice enough to add that new warp drive. These trips are so much faster.
"Whad're we gonna do once we get there? Do we know where to look?" Goofy spins his chair around to look at us.
"Well, Eden is where the Sanctum is located. It's where all the best universities are, so we might find something there."
"The Sanctum?" I tilt my head as I look at Serah.
"It's the government of Cocoon. The Primarch, Galenth Dysley, is our leader. The fal'Cie Eden speaks to him, but other than that the fal'Cie don't do much with our lives."
"What are these fal'Cie things?"
"The fal'Cie are these creatures that protect and maintain human life inside Cocoon. They do all sorts of things, kupo."
"They usually let us handle our own lives, unless we do something really bad."
"Hey do any of you guys know what we're looking for on Pulse? It's Roxas." His voice breaks up our conversation.
"No clue Roxas."
"Thanks Sora, but I kinda was talking more to Serah."
"Sorry Roxas. I don't know anything about Pulse. There are no people down there, but other than that I don't know anything about it." Serah looks to Mog before turning to the radio, I wonder why they keep doing that. Must just be a strange thing.
"You might want to check the Paddraean Archaeopolis, kupo."
"You might want to say that so that they can hear you Mog."
"The Paddraean Archaeopolis was this old city, kupo. Where there used to be people, kupo."
"How do we find it?" Van's voice comes through the speakers.
"It's a bunch of ruins near the big flat area. You can't miss it, kupo." I wonder what made him annoyed like that. We didn't really say anything. He must not be used to someone like Van.
"Okay everyone, Cocoon and Pulse, straight ahead." Donald's pressing a bunch of buttons on the ship. Hopefully, the ones to land us safely.
"Alright, guys we'll see you…eventually, I guess."
"Be safe guys." Tobi and I crowd around the radio.
"No problem! We'll be fine. Just don't go forgetting about us!"
"Thanks…uh…"
"Roxas."
"Thanks Roxas!" Hey, Tobi stole my line!
A/N: Alright here we go! Cocoon and Pulse dead ahead! Please review! Thanks!