Chapter CI: Into the depths of Atlantis Part I

Arriving in moments the female knight, Aqua descended from the skies riding upon her keyblade transformed vehicle, her dark blue armour shone as it reflected the red hue and strong radiance of the land below as her cape blew in the strong ash ridden wind.

The site was horrific as a whole village was covered in burning red flames, the buildings were all beginning to collapse from the pressure and damage from the deadly assault that had occurred only some hours before. There was no movement… no signs of life... at all.

Looking on with shocked eyes she quickly steered her mechanical steed to go down to make more of an investigation. Arriving and landing in moments she summoned her keyblade back into its original form she rushed quickly into the village through its entry gates and into the burning streets desperate to see if there was anyone! Anyone who was still alive!

"Can anyone hear me! If you can! Please! I can take you to-" Suddenly there was a sound of coughing! Turning quickly at this she looked and saw a small shape in the debris of a former courtyard amongst some fallen beams and stones with clouds of dust floating in the air.

Running Aqua got on her knees as she pulled the small shape quickly out of the burning space; she saw then it was a small child, a girl! Seeing this she ran quickly out through the streets again as the other buildings around them both were now fully collapsing. It was mere moments after rolling out of the fiery abyss the whole place was completely annihilated by the fire.

Aqua breathed in and out heavily from the exertion and adrenalin as she calmed herself as best she could. Holding the small child still in her arms she asked her quickly, "Hey are you all right! Hang on there! You'll be safe soon I'll-"

But then the little girl in her arms, her clothes tattered and ragged in the deepest recesses of her nightmarish unconsciousness spoke up her long auburn hair falling off her face as she breathlessly in fear flinched harshly with pain, "please no! I don't have it! I don't!"

Hearing her say this Aqua's eyes hidden behind her helmet widened in moments as she internally shuddered at what else the small child had to say, "please! I don't have one! I don't have a key-…" Her voice quickly became quiet again as her exhaustion took over making her unable to say another word.

Listening to this shuddering revelation Aqua couldn't believe it! "They'd go this far!" Suddenly there was a noise behind her and then-

Blinking her eyes open shocked herself at this vision Nozomi breathed out, "what the-" however it was a short lived experience as she landed with a tremendous thud head first into a metallic surface. In pain she cried out cringing with a couple of tears forming, "oww! What the heck is going on!"

Getting up off the floor as she rubbed her aching nose she asked herself, "Where we this time?" Looking around herself finally she stopped and was silently perplexed at this new space she was in.

Behind her having landed just as painfully, Riku and Mickey along with Cait sith too finally awakenedas well. Shaking his head trying to get rid of the headache that he'd been given from the impact Cait sith spoke up outraged, "aww darn it all! Ya damn banshee! Couldn't land straight could ya! I'll have ta give ya a right-" but the headache only got worse again making him unable to say another word as he held his shuddering head painfully.

Riku just as in a painful state spoke up himself, "yeah we get it Cait sith… don't go over board about it." As he grimaced feeling just as bad.

Mickey spoke up then himself with his own aches and pains plaguing him, though still he once again kept his cheerful disposition as he tried to keep things upbeat, "yeah… well at least we're all together this time right fella's? And maybe this time we can all-"

But he was interrupted as Nozomi asked, "your majesty?"

Hearing her he turned to her and answered, "yeah? What is it Nozomi?"

Turning around with her right hand pointing upwards she asked absolutely bewildered, "um? Are we in an aquarium?"

At the sound of this question everyone stopped in their tracks and became absolutely silent, after a moment Riku asked her looking confused himself, "an Aquarium?"

It was then they finally looked around and saw the setting they were all in, in front of them they saw an enormous sphere shaped like window that on the outside revealed a whole sea of blue as bubbles conjured up around the sides of the window showing they were underwater. There were even some small fish as they darted left and right out of the way as the window revealed them to be moving forward at a gradual steady pace.

Then turning around they looked at the inside of this 'Aquarium' looking at it they saw that they were all on the outer ring of the domed window on a metallic walkway, which was the reason why they had all had a painful entry. Looking above them then and behind them they saw the inner circle of the walkway ring they were on were various other scientific looking devices and apparatus. But as Mickey looked on he noticed on the platform just a little beyond them were a small circle of levers and pulls with a ships steering wheel, as well as some stairs leading down to a lower section where there were even more devices and glowing lights, but in particular there was a certain instrument he spied. A Sonar, it was then Mickey got confirmation and validation where they all were as he finally answered her question, "um? I don't think this is an aquarium here Nozomi."

Blinking for a moment she turned and looked back at him as she asked, "it isn't?"

The king then shook his head as he replied, "nuh, uh, this a submarine."

There was then an enormous pause as everyone took in this information looking absolutely wide eyed with surprise, Nozomi then breathed out, "a submarine?"

"Oh hey!"

Making everyone jump suddenly at this call they all turned immediately and saw someone approach them all with his hand waving to them, "hi there!"

Looking at him this person seemed… a little odd; he was dressed in a buttoned fastened collared light cream brown long sleeved jumper with a brown satchel bag over his left shoulder. Finishing the package he wore long green coloured trousers and safari socks the same colour as his jumper that covered his brown boots.

He definitely fit the description of an explorer of some kind but the thing that made him odd slightly wasn't his clothes but his face, it wasn't that there was anything wrong with, why no, his blonde hair and brown eyes were pretty much no different than anyone else's. But he had rather oversized glasses that made his eyes seem a little smaller than they should have been.

However the young man not noticing their odd looks asked them all, "are you guys all ready for the briefing?"

Thinking to herself, 'briefing?' Forgetting where they were for a moment, but before she could speak Riku got up and dusted himself off quickly as he replied coolly "yes we are though of we have had a bit of a slip up here thanks to a certain someone." As he looked at Nozomi annoyed.

Hearing this she couldn't believe he'd said that and so looked at him really irritated but before she could voice her loud angry thoughts Mickey spoke up instead, "yeah but it was all purely pretty much accidental there, so uh?" The king then giggled a little awkwardly making their new acquaintance look at him a bit perplexed but Mickey asked him, "so do you think you could guide us all there? We're still not quite use to where everything is on this ship."

Hearing him ask for his assistance the young spectacled man lit up with a small smile as he told them, "uh sure yeah! No problem! No problem at all, besides I'm still getting used to things here myself and stuff so I-"

He then continued on talking to Mickey and Riku leaving Nozomi in the background still on the floor, feeling annoyed at being left out and after having Riku be rude to her again she simply turned her face away.

Cait sith on the other hand having now properly recovered from his headache walked on over to her as he popped up and sat himself on her head again as he asked her, "oi! Banshee what's eatin' you up?"

Not responding to him Nozomi was silent, but seeing she was trying the silent treatment on him Cait sith wasn't going to have it and so did one of the few things he knew would make her react, "c'mon! Tell me now!" He then proceeded to smack her head and then, "tell me! Tell me! Tell me!" As he smacked on, one, two three more times.

Her nerve cracking at this Nozomi told him mad, "cut it out will you! I don't need more harassment then I've already had!"

At this Cait sith stopped as he was finally getting to the root of the problem, he in turn lay himself down on her as he spoke in a slightly amused tone, "ahh, so yer in a right old sourly mood aren't ya?"

Looking up at him irritated Nozomi replied, "Do I have to answer that for you?"

Seeing the look in her eyes the small feline was undeterred but knew better than to provoke her further as he told her, "nope, plain as day there lass, but I don't see why ya should be, this ain't no different to any other occasions ya've had with old snow drop there has it?"

At this Nozomi told him, "I know that! But he should treat me a little more kindly with what happened in the last world and I mean after everything I did for them! And him still not telling me what he had to tell me… I just don't want it right now."

Hearing this remembering what had happened in the last world with Kuzco and co, he also did remember that particular promise that still hadn't been fulfilled to her, Cait sith became a little more sympathetic to her as he simply remained silent in this little moody moment of hers.

Nozomi her head down the annoyed look on her face still suddenly saw a hand come in her sights, seeing it she looked up and saw the glasses guy again, he smiled down to her comfortingly as he asked, "hey do you need a hand up?"

Hearing this blinking for a moment surprised Nozomi in seconds as she forgot her bitterness as she smiled gratefully at this one act of kindness as she took the aid and replied, "wow! Yeah thanks!"

Cait sith on her head still thought to himself, 'ya just are too simple for words aren't ya? Hey lass?'

On her feet again the young man had a smile still on his face told them all as it occurred to him, "oh yeah! I haven't introduced myself to you guys yet have I? My name is Milo Thatch."

Hearing his intro the king instantly caught on as he too contributed, "oh! Nice to meet ya there Milo! I'm Mickey and this here is Riku."

Riku listening to his name being called made a slight nod with his head as he replied, "hi."

Nodding at this Milo then turned back to her as she told him with a smile on her face, "I'm Nozomi."

Then finally last but not least, "and I'm Cait sith! Nice to meet ya lad!" As he waved from the top of his rides head.

Milo glad for all the pleasantness in the air replied, "likewise!"

In the midst of this happy occasion though Nozomi decided to speak up about a particular thing, "well I'm glad that's sorted, but um, Milo?"

"Yeah?" He asked her oblivious.

"Could you let go of my hand now?" Nozomi asked feeling a little awkward as her hand was getting hot and sweaty at being held for so long.

Milo then realising his mistake immediately did so almost frightfully as he released her and started apologising in a rushed manner, "oh yeah! Sorry! Sorry! I just got so caught up! I mean I've been so excited about this expedition and stuff so I-" he then continued to ramble on and on with his apology. As he gibbered away though Nozomi couldn't help but smile amused, he reminded her of Odyeux with his blonde hair, glasses and his apologetic nature.

Riku however in the distance felt a pang of annoyance inside himself as he gazed at this little scene with irritated eyes, while Mickey only quietly gazed on at their new acquaintance with a gentle smile on his face.

Standing in a semi-circle with everyone, they were now together with some other new people on a walkway just behind the circled platform, looking around left and right with Cait sith on her shoulder she was still amazed at their new environment Nozomi couldn't believe that they were all together, on a submarine!

It was just unbelievable! Of all places they appeared! It was this one! Suddenly then her attention was diverted away from her amazed curiosity as a new voice spoke up, "okay everybody!"

Turning at this voice Nozomi looked to see an older man rather well built for his age, he had grey hair with a few strands of white spread about in a few places though not all over with brown hard eyes. He was dressed in an officer's military uniform green in colour with four pockets spread about it; these were all fastened with gold coloured buttons along with the coat itself. Around his middle was a dark brown belt that was held fast by a gold buckle and also looking she noticed on his right side was a holder, a particularly dangerous one, a gun.

This definitely enforced his authority in the room, so quickly she stood to attention as the military man continued again, "I want you all to give Mr Thatch your undivided attention!"

With his intro finished the man turned to Milo as he told him, "take it away there Milo."

Nodding as he said this he replied, "yeah thanks, thanks there Lyle," with that Milo walked across and stood in front of everyone. His nerves were clearly getting the best of him as he smiled nervously and waved awkwardly at everyone as he said, "good afternoon! Can everyone hear me okay?"

Hearing Milo say this Nozomi nodded a smile on her face ready to listen, but then beside her she heard something "pop!" Looking she saw a girl dressed in dark blue dungarees with a white long sleeved shirt underneath with big pale blue gloves covering her hands.

She had black hair much the same colour as Nozomi's along with a light blue paperboy hat; she had brown eyes and red lips. Looking at her Nozomi could see that she had a rather bored look on her face and seeing this she wasn't exactly keen on this and she even felt that this girl had been rude making her displeased slightly.

Riku and Mickey were simply silent and still while Mickey smiled calmly waiting with interest himself at what Milo had to explain to them all. The lecturer too feeling just as uncertain about this small little incident was unsure at first how to proceed, but quickly regaining himself he spoke up again, "kay uh?" Suddenly an idea came to him as he said, "uh how about some slides!" With that he began to rummage around frantically for his displaying materials.

Watching him as he struggled Nozomi was silent as everyone else was Cait sith whispered, "not too organised is he lass?"

Hearing him ask this she replied, "no… but he is trying though? Huh?" For talking in front of people like this was always nerve racking.

Cait sith hearing this nodded as he replied, "aye, that it is, I'll give ya that."

Finally then Milo had found what it was he was looking for as he said, "ah! Here it is!" With that he took the one particular slide he'd found and pushed it into the projector. Pushing the button then in moments the machine lit up and on the blank screen opposite an illustrated image was illuminated showing a picture of a city. All of the buildings were all golden coloured and Greek styled with many pillars and columns all over the place and there were lush gardens of Hawaiian coconut trees and rivers of turquoise water.

Looking at it the picture reminded her a little of Hercules's world and a bit of Kuzco's but the image made her feel slightly in awe for some reason. Just mostly probably because of how radiant it was with its strong vibrant colours and scenery that was extremely appealing and tropical.

Milo then spoke up once more, "all right everyone! As you all know this artist's illustration is of the very place we are all searching for…" then giving that dramatic pause for effect he looked at everyone with excitement in his eyes. However they were less than enthusiastic however it was clear Nozomi was intrigued excitedly herself like a child. Satisfied with the amount of pause and feeling awkward again Milo let them all know, "Atlantis!"

Hearing this name Nozomi repeated really now intrigued, "Atlantis?"

Milo though not noticing continued on with his lecture, "now as you all know! After many endeavours and research and from the help that you guys gave to my grandfather in finding the one particular jigsaw piece that is going to lead us to this legendary historical city."

With that out of the satchel hanging from his right shoulder he took out a book, quite moderate in size with a leather binding tied down by metallic lines, decorated in colours of brown and lighter greys, in the middle was a small symbol a ring like shape on it with a small dot in its centre.

Looking at this book everyone was quiet as Milo then told them all what it was, "the Shepard's journal!" Silence again Milo opened the book as he continued on with his lecture, "now with this I have been able to pinpoint exactly where the city is and now I will demonstrate how we are going to get there!"

Quickly then looking through the slides he had in his hands he looked for one slide in particular, finding it he talked once more, "okay! Now first we are going to be on the look out for this particular depiction shown in this slide!" He turned to everyone again as he told them looking slightly nervous as he told them, "It is a creature so terrifying! That sailors were said to be driven mad by the mere sight of it!"

Hearing this though mostly everyone else in the room was unmoved however Riku, Mickey, Nozomi and Cait sith were all on alert after the many encounters they'd had so far, they had to be ready for anything!

Milo slid the slide into the projector.

Laughter burst out in moments as one particular older woman droned, "hubba hubba!"

For in the picture the 'monster' was actually Milo himself standing with his hand waving to the person holding the camera with a goofy smile on his face. He was at the beach wearing a stripy swimsuit, armbands fully flatted on his elbows along with flippers on his feet with his toes exposed, a dragon ring dingy around his middle, which too was smiling. Over his left shoulder was a fishing rod with a small fish dangling off a hook, which his white cat was busy trying to get at.

Getting embarrassed in moments he quickly took the slide out and uttered awkwardly," ha, ha… that's not right."

Still smiling Nozomi fought back her giggles, but then behind her she heard the girl in dungarees speak again as she said rather bored now with this long winded session, "geez, I used to take lunch money from guys like this!"

At this Nozomi turned and looked at the girl as she heard this, her giggles stopped in moments, seeing this girl with that annoyed look on her face made herself feel annoyed too. She wasn't so keen on this person so far.

Milo though finally found the slide he was looking for, "anyway this, okay this is an illustration of the Leviathan a creature guarding the entrance to Atlantis."

With that the image was revealed, it was a simple black and white illustration showing some unusual letters next to the drawing, but the thing that drew everyone's attention was an image of a giant lobster of some kind emerging from some simple lines of curled water attacking and breaking in half a boat with oars and two people jumping trying to flee for their lives.

Seeing the image Nozomi felt a small shudder inside herself imagining that situation actually happening, it was absolutely terrifying and she didn't want to dwell on it.

On her left side though a man with a black moustache, wearing a jumper and a lead breastplate, his hands were covered by brown gloves his arms folded with a just as bored look on his face with a match in mouth. It was obvious he was not taking this picture seriously or the info either so far as he joked," with something like that I would have, white wine I think."

Hearing this joke though no one laughed and Milo didn't either as he continued with his explanation," it's a mythical sea serpent described in the book of Job, the bible says out of his mouth go burning lights, sparks of fire shoot out, but more likely it's a carving or a sculpture to frighten the superstitious."

Hearing this info Nozomi felt a little relieved inside at this as let out a sigh of relief, glad that they wouldn't have to fight something that huge, Riku and Mickey as well were just as relieved though the new crowd they were with didn't notice at all.

The commander Lyle then asked their researcher and interpreter, "So we find this master piece then what?"

Suddenly appearing from nowhere appeared a man dressed in a very large grey coat with a brown furry collar as he asked with a hyped up French accented voice revealing big mouse like teeth and wearing bizarre goggles with little gadgets here and there, "when do we dig?"

Looking at this person Riku and the others were all perplexed looking at this 'person?' Oddly.

However Milo continued as he explained on, "well actually, we don't have to dig." With that he quickly turned the projector off and went to the white board he'd been using as the screen as he quickly sketched out a small diagram, "according to the journal, the path to Atlantis will lead us to a tunnel at the bottom of the ocean and will curve into an air pocket right here."

His drawing quickly coming together showed the water of the ocean and then underneath there was a tunnel that wound down and twirled turning slightly upwards leading to a hole where the water ended making a pocket of some kind.

Understanding this simple diagram everyone was silent as Milo continued on with his explanation, "where we will find the remnants of an ancient highway, that will lead us to Atlantis." With which he finished the drawing with a simple squiggly path that lead to a letter 'A' showing their destination simply and effectively. Milo then finished off by further simplifying, "kinda like the grease trap in your sink."

Getting it but not quite about the part to do with the 'grease trap' Nozomi was in total understanding, a woman though spoke up to the commander Lyle, "Cartographer, linguist, plumber, hard to believe he's still single."

Looking at this person Nozomi noticed her for the first time and saw she was blonde, a mole on her left cheek. She was definitely an attractive woman no question about it, she was wearing a black long sleeved top, brown leather gloves and a belt along with green trousers on along with high heeled leather brown boots. She was clearly a very serious determined woman as she held a gun in her right hand twirling it to and throw. At this Nozomi definitely felt there was something sinister about her as she looked at her suspiciously as she smiled to Lyle.

Suddenly on her left sleeve the odd furry collared man shook it as he asked her mad, "you said there would be digging!"

However irritated at him she swatted him away saying annoyed, "go away, Mole!"

With that the commander there Lyle spoke up again as he clapped to them all, "okay, class dismissed! Everyone get your stuff to your bunks and then report here for duties!" With that the military man went on his way with the very serious sexy woman trailing behind him.

Seeing it was over the lectured group all began to walk and make their way to their lodgings, as the moustached man walked past Mickey he dropped something from the backpack he had on him.

Noticing this the king quickly picked it up as he held it out to the man saying, "uh hey there, fella ya dropped this."

Hearing the king stop and pick up something Riku turned and looked back, he immediately paled slightly as he called out, "your majesty!"

Turning around in seconds hearing Riku shout Nozomi was on her way to follow the dungaree girl to the female's room, she looked on just as alarmed as Cait sith shouted out to the mouse king, "ya dummy! Look at what yer holdin!"

Mickey baffled not understanding why they were all so alarmed looked to his hand and then suddenly saw with alarm himself what it was, a stick of red dynamite.

The black moustached man seeing what he'd dropped and thinking nothing of it quickly took it from Mickey's out reaching hand as he said, "oh thanks," in his bored drone.

Mickey replied still feeling a little unsure, "uh, no problem there." Ending with an awkward laugh.

Nozomi looking at the man as he headed in her direction, feeling really curious she just had to ask, so as he passed by her putting the dynamite into that one particular place, "um sir?"

Turning to her he asked, "yeah what?"

She then asked rather nervously, "um… what else have you… got in there? In that backpack?"

Hearing the question the man told her in his relaxed manner, "Um… let's see, I've got um, gunpowder, nitroglycerin… uh, notepads, fuses, wicks, glue… " As this list went on Nozomi became a little more and more worried as he went down the list with Cait sith tightening his claws into her shoulder feeling the same way she was. She definitely would not be casting any magic around this guy anytime soon.

Finally the man had come to the end of his list, "and paper clips, " he then brought out his hands as he showed her they were, "big one."

Daunted at this Nozomi was silent as he told her relaxed still, "you know, just, uh, office supplies."

To which point she just nodded slowly an awkward smile on her face as the man just walked off to do whatever thing it was he had to do.

As he walked away Nozomi just wondered, just who on earth were these people on this submarine? But then Nozomi had to ask one question, "Cait sith?"

Hearing he asked finally releasing the grip of his claws, "what lass?"

Nozomi then asked, "Why would he need paper clips that big?"

At this question Cait sith replied absolutely appalled, "how the heck would I know that lass!"

With that the exploration had begun…