Chapter 14: Stars
Gummi Ship...
"A bit MORE crowded than earlier, BUUUUUT I think we can manage." Joyex said as they entered their…quite rundown-looking Gummi Ship.
"The crazy lady almost had us back there." Sakuzy observed, "But then that…uh, Theme Song Guy pulled us outta the fire."
"Music's powerful, Koozie." Joyex grinned, "Speaks to something so deep even a guy without a heart has to get goin'. Makes folks just wanna get up and dance. Though never felt a rhythm quite that hard before…"
"I agree. That was really something." Becca said, sitting in the driver seat.
"NOPE." Joyex said, pulling her away with his magnetic powers, "I'M the driver here. Only I get in the driver's seat."
"Killjoy…" Becca murmured.
"Tell me about it, I haven't had that feeling in a long time! It was nice!" Lucy said as she leaned back in her seat.
"Sorry you kinda got…mixed up in this." Sakuzy said to Yozora.
"Don't worry, it'll just be the one trip." Yozora reassured them with a shrug, "Just gotta get to Traverse Town. And, this time, I promise, I won't slice THIS SHIP in half."
…
"WHAT?!" Joyex shouted.
"Focus, Joyex." Sakuzy said.
"Right, right…next stop, Traverse Town. Then going on our way." Joyex murmured.
POHPOHPOHPOHPOHPOH
With a screeching noise, Sapphire led Emerald and Amber into the middle of a room filled with jagged, crystal chairs. Amber kept a hand on her shoulder, protectively, as Emerald looked as if he was approaching his death. From one of the chairs, a female figure in turquoise observed, silently.
"Lower peons do about as well as expected?" asked a light, smug voice as a young man in a purple robe walked up.
"Yeah, and where were YOU? Too busy brooding in the corner with your arms crossed and your nose up in the air?" Emerald shot back, "'cause that seems to be all you ever-"
"Because Sapphire asked you to. Unlike you, he out-ranks me." Said the man in purple. He took a step, but was halted by a muscular figure, wearing greenish-blue robes. He shook his head. The man in purple only sighed as he seemed to concede the point.
"ENOUGH." A towering figure in vibrant, yellow robes sneered, his voice deep and smooth, "I'll say this. He's stubborn. I'd have thought he finally learned his lesson by now…"
"Indeed. He is quite bull-headed. If only he could act his age." Said a curt voice, coming from a short, feminine figure with a purplish-blue robe.
Amber kept her hand on her gem. All things having happened, she had dreaded coming back empty-handed. Now that she did…
Sapphire seemed to notice this as he walked by, saying with an oddly reassuring voice, "There will be no shatterings today. Put those fears to rest."
"Thank you, sir!" Amber said, relieved.
"So, what's the plan now?" Asked a lithe, feminine figure in a red cloak.
"I say we track them down and make sure this time he STAYS dead." The yellow robed figure growled.
"Whoa, whoa, WHOA! That's a li'l extreme, Topaz-" Emerald hastily said, raising his hands, "We don't need to do that, maybe just, uh, y'know…a stern talking to?"
"You're getting too sentimental, Emerald."
"No! We need him ALIVE, remember?" asked someone as a small, feminine figure in a pink robe ran up, "The…master wants him, remember?"
"Yes. The MASTER wants him." The woman in red said, regarding the one in pink with a scornful air. Her compatriot withered a bit at this.
"Unfortunately, she's right." the man in purple shrugged, "Though Spinel, you might want to keep a handle on your subordinates."
"Hey, they're capable of handling things themselves!" snorted a feminine, but clearly well-muscled figure in a reddish-violet robe, "And they did. Good job, Ems and Ambs. NOT dying, good on ya!"
"Thanks, Spinny! You're a real pal!" Amber said, patting her superior on the back.
" Maybe you ought to keep a handle on your big fat head, Amethyst. Any more hot air in it and you might float away!" Emerald shot back in protest, marching forward.
Only for the yellow-clad figure to, effortlessly, hold him in place. "What even is so special about his entourage this time anyhow, Sapphire? They are PRIMITIVES."
"You shouldn't just disregard those who came before, Topaz…and it doesn't matter who he believes will hinder us. He wishes to try this again, then he shall suffer the same fate." Sapphire said, looking to a nearby pillar of ice. Within, someone appeared to be inside, "But now, we know where that entourage is and can act accordingly. Emerald. Amber. Though you failed to capture the stowaway, but you still helped us gain vital information. So, you can claim some victory in this."
Amber nodded, smiling as Emerald gave a shaky laugh.
"So, uh…" Emerald coughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "What now, boss?"
"We know where they're going. That gives us an advantage." Sapphire said. He looked at the others, "Ruby, Pearl. I need you to go to the desert and keep vigil. Opal and I will observe them. Emerald and Amber…rest for now."
Amber nodded walking off, Emerald leaving with a sigh of relief. The woman in turquoise watched them leave before stepping off her chair and following them. She'd seen all she needed to. The two women looked at Sapphire before bowing. The one in red walked off with a more confident stride while the one in pink seemed a bit more…hesitant.
Sapphire looked up as…oddly enough, music began to play as if cuing something.
Sapphire: There…
Out in the darkness,
Are fugitives running.
With polluted hearts,
Fallen from grace…
Hearts be my witness.
I never shall yield.
'Til we come face to face…
'Til we come face to face.
Sapphire folded his hands as he turned, walking along.
Sapphire: He knows his way in the dark…
Mine is the way of the Door.
Those who follow the path of the brightness
Shall have their reward.
And if they fall as Xehanort fell…
The flame…the sword…
"Perhaps THIS is where they got it." Opal observed as Sapphire turned his head upward to the stars.
Sapphire: Stars…
In your multitude
Scarce to be counted
Filling the darkness
With order and light.
You are the sentinels
Silent and sure.
Keeping watch in the night…
Keeping watch in the night.
Topaz merely folded his arms with a "hmph". The sword, hmm?
He'd be happy to provide.
Sapphire: You know your place in the sky.
You hold your course and your aim.
And each in your season returns and returns
And is always the same.
And if you fall as Xehanort fell…
You fall in flame!
He held his arms out wide as he flung his head back.
Sapphire: And so it must be!
For so it is written
On the Door's way to paradise,
That those who falter and those who fall
Must pay!
The Price!
He held out his hand, showing a single, jagged shell. It was a dark bluish-green color, but had specks of bright red flicked across it. He turned to the frozen form and knelt.
Sapphire: Lord, let me find him…
That I may see him…
As one of ours!
I will never rest!
Till then, this I swear…
He looked up and let out the last line…
Sapphire: This I swear by…
The Stars!
There appeared to be a figure locked in the ice, large chunks of crystal jutting out from it. Sapphire stood and took a deep breath. They had some work to do…