Chapter 13 - Galascia

After her nightmare, the celestial mage catiously went back to sleep until the rising of her team mate re-awoke her.

"MORNING!" Ichigo screamed. At this point, everyone was too tired to bother answering. The team soon got changed and ready to start travelling again.

"Erghh, how long is it 'til we get there?" Nova whined just before they boarded a patient Apus.

"We'll arrive at about lunch time." Fudo tiredly replied.
"Wha-a-at? It's like six in the morning! I can't be bothered travelling for another 6 hours!" she complained.

"Well, sorry, but to get to Galascia, that's what it's going to take."

Nova moaned.

"Don't worry, Nova, I'll keep you all entertained!" Ichigo came trotting over.

"Go away." she glared back, causing him to take a few steps away.

"Stop complaining, Nova." By this time, Chrys had already made her way up the bird.

"I'm not complaining!" she shouted back up.

"Look, guys, can we all just go?" Fudo remarked, leaping up an incredible distance.

"Yay!" Ichigo followed eagerly. Nova grumpily complied.

Soon enough, the four mages were high in the sky, above the fluffy, white clouds. The sky was a vast blue, but still contained a tint of night.

"Hey, guys... I'm not feeling so good..." the celestial mage groaned.

"What's wrong?" The trying-not-to-care dragon slayer answered from behind her.

"I just...It doesn't matter. I'll be fine."

"Tell us if you want to take a break, after all, it's your magic that we're draining by flying on Apus."

"Don't worry about me."
"If you fall unconcious or something, Apus will disappear. So make sure you tell us, you little brat." She heard the impatient gun requip mage call from behind her.

"I said don't worry about me!"

"It's not you I'm worried about, it's me!"

"Guys, fighting's never the answer!" Ichigo chirped from the back.

"Shut up, Ichigo!" the two girls turned back and holloured.

"Guys, I still haven't properly woken up yet, keep it down." Fudo grumbled. Chrys then remembered Fudo's attitude after sleep deprivation and how rude he was to Hibiki. Then again, it wasn't as rude as some of the things that come out of Nova's mouth when she's in a normal mood.

The last comment from Fudo kept the rest of the team slient until the temprature dropped dramatically.

"G-Guys... Have you noticed that it's suddenly become freezing?" Ichigo trembled.

"Well, I did say we were going to 'Galascia'." Fudo answered.

"Point t-taken..." Chrys shivered, "Where a-are we landing?"

"Try and make it close to town."

"Okay, Ap-pus, land on the outskirts of town." The celestial mage commanded. The bird of paradise cooed softly as she swooped down and landed on a patch of snow. This was the town of Galascia. The four mages slid off and hit the icy ground, shuddering as they felt the cold-ness of the snow seep through their shoes.

"It's freeeezing!" Ichigo yelped, being the first to verbally react to the arctic-like landscape.

"Ret-t-turn, Apus." Chrys quivered, closing the gate.

Unlike the last place they visited, the area was full of life, people walked about everywhere, looking extremely healthy, and a full-fledged community had developed.

"We need to get some suitable clothing. I'm too cold, Fudo!" Nova grasped onto his arm, hugging it tightly.

"I'm cold too!" Ichigo cried helplessly, attempting to grab his other arm. It soon turned out much like the last situation.

"Jeez." the pale-haired mage sighed, face palming.

The team walked along the narrow path to the town centre to find some new clothes, Nova protesting the whole way.

"Nova, I'm getting sick of your complaining. Shut your face!" Chrys finnaly turned around and yelled.

"Make me!"

"Oh, I will!"

"You wan'na go?"

"Fine!"

"Argh, stop it, you two! We're almost at the boutique." Fudo interupted.

"Okay, Fudo!" the gun requip mage's mood suddenly changed.

The four entered the shop and examined the clothes. In the end, Chrys bought a long, dark red coat that flared out into a skirt at the bottom, and a light pink scarf. She kept her usual set of baggy trousers on. Nova changed out of her tight, black dress and exchanged it for a tight, polar-neck, blue jumper and skinny jeans. She also bought a black hat - just to accessorise. Fudo stayed in his usual outfit of dark blue jacket and baggy jeans. Ichigo wrapped himself up in his long, black coat. The four mages were ready to face the next demon.

They exited the shop to once again find themselves in a winter wonderland. Flakes of snow gently passed them as they walked toward the 'tourist information' centre. Inside stood a kind, old man.

"Excuse me, but do you know how to get to the mountains?" Fudo calmly questioned, leaning on his wooden desk.

"T-The What?!" The man gasped.

"The mountains. We are aware of the dangers. Infact we came here to attempt to put an end ot it. Have you got and cable cars leading up?"
"I'm sorry, but we don't have any method of transport leading up there. It's far too dangerous. Good day too you." The four then got almost forced out of the tourist information centre.

"Wow... He seems to be strongly against this. I gues we'll just have to fly up on Apus." Chrys suggested.

"Okay, but he could've atleast told us the direction. What an old fart." Nova added.

"We'll just have to fly up and search. I'm pretty sure that mountains are easy to spot." Fudo reminded that they still had Apus.

"Okay." Chrys got into her summoning stance, "Open, gate of the-" she was about to finish her sentence when she unexpectadly fell to the ground unconsious.

"Chrys!" Fudo cried, lifting her up, "We need to get her to a hospital or something!"

"Are you sure?" Nova questioned, "She only fainted. Hold on... Does that mean we have to climb up the mounatin on foot?! Get her to a hospital!"

Chrys grunted, turning over in her hospital bed. Her eyes flickered open to get a short glimpse of her companions. They were all standing around her, looking over. It was then she began to wonder where she was. She feebley opened her eyes to hear Ichigo shout the obvious.

"She's waking up, guys!"

"Where am I?" was only her first question.

"You fainted whilst summoning Apus, so we took you to the hospital. We thought that your magic power had drained until you threw up a black substance. No one really knows what's wrong with you so we're keeping you hear until they do." Fudo replied softly.

"Thanks... But I'll be okay. Besides, you need Apus for flying up the mountain."
"See? I think she'll be just fine, we don't have to postpone the mission." Nova said bitterly.

"No. We'll take a break from the mission if you're not well." Fudo enforced.

"But, Fudo!"

"It's okay. If you don't want me to come when I'm injured, you can all go by yourselves." Chrys suggested weakly, although she wanted to see Ichigo in combat.

"Poor Chrys!" the light mage didn't mean to sound patronizing.

"Fine. But we'll share the reward money with you when we get back. We'll have to go on foot." Fudo finnaly backed down.

"What?" Nova protested.

"Do you want to go or not?"

"Fine."

Chrys lay back down in her comfly hospital bed whilst she saw her three commerades walk away, ready for combat.

Hey again! So hopefully it will be longer and there will be some more battle action in the next chapter, I'm having writers block when it comes to the uploading of Fairy Ball, so I'll try and come up with something quickly. Stay tuned ;D